Scott Belcastro

Scott Belcastro : Questions & Antlers
Interview by Jen Zern
Photography by Love Ablan

Scott Belcastro is known for painting lush, evocative, meticulously detailed landscapes, many of which feature lone woodland creatures. His scenes exude a childlike sense of wonder and a resonant stillness — the kind you might experience in the wake of a snowstorm.

Growing up in upstate New York, Scott spent a lot of time in the woods, and he continues to draw on these memories for inspiration.

So, for our photo shoot, we took Scott to L.A.’s Griffith Park where we watched him climb trees and chase wily brown squirrels. Then, as a tribute to one of his favorite subjects, we asked him to pose with antlers sprouting out of his head. Luckily, he was game.

After we got our snaps, traversed the hills and sat down for avocado sandwiches at Trails Cafe, we shot him some quick questions.

I’ve seen your paintings interpreted as a statement about our relationship with nature. What’s your take on that? 

My paintings are not so much a statement of nature, but a statement of where I see myself as a part of this place. The things I paint are more for myself. I think of them as a private place that no one can go, or ruin with their bullshit. Like a nice forest that will never be ruined by some asshole throwing his McDonald’s bag in the middle of it… Well, not so much that material, but you get my point.

What most inspires your work?

When I’m painting these landscapes, I feel like they could be the moment I’m in right now or the past. Usually I reflect on the past, it seems to give me a melancholy feeling. I don’t know why, but it feels satisfying. I get inspired by the strangest things: Christmas trees all lit up in a dark back yard, or looking at lights inside a warm house from the outside. Rainy Sundays, going underwater at night… I’ll stop there. But the point is, it doesn’t have to be a forest or a certain place, it mostly has to do with light from what I figured out. 

A lot of antlered animals appear in your work. What do stags and elk, etc, represent to you?

I like that imagery, it reminds me of being strong, but not a big dumb strong, a strong that says ‘you need to be wise, too, because you’re not the only one here’. It’s also one of those animals that just looks like what you want to see in those environments.

What tools do you use to get your details so surgically precise?

Deep, slow releasing breaths.

What do you listen to when you paint?

Ohhh, so much. I’ve been listening to so much classical lately. I just hook the Bose speaker system up to the computer and go to commercial-free classical on the iTunes radio all day.

You exhibit quite a bit, and yet you seem like a really private guy. Is that ever a conflict for you?

Yes, I like to spend a lot of time alone. It’s hard to isolate yourself and then try to expose yourself to mass audiences to get to where you want. It’s a bit ironic at times. 

Who are your comrades (your artist friends who inspire you)?

I don’t know, really; I get inspired by other things. My friends are my friends and my art is my art. Usually, when I’m with my friends, it’s time for my brain to rest from thinking about painting.

You’re self-taught, which is inspiring in and of itself. What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

I can’t see myself being important enough to give advice… I can say, “Don’t get mad and burn all of your paints and brushes.” It sucks when you realize you have to paint again and need to go buy them all over.

Your first European solo show, “Nothing Gold Can Stay“, just opened in London. What’s next for you?

I have a really important show coming up in December. I say it’s really important, because I’m going to try to paint some stuff that goes beyond anything I have ever done to date. 

If you could go camping in the woods one night with one person — real, historical or fictional — who would it be?

Hmmm, I would like to go with Pollack, but we would probably get drunk and fight each other… that might not be fun. My Dad, that would be a good time; we haven’t done that in a long time. Buster from Arrested Development. Yeah, that would be great.

• Scott Belcastro’s first European solo show “Nothing Gold Can Stay” opened Sept 18 and runs through Oct 5th at London Miles Gallery, Notting Hill, London.
• Read Scott’s blog
• Read Scott’s in-depth interview at Erratic Phenomena

Paintings by Scott Belcastro