Q: Do you have a favourite holiday destination? Why?

 

Italy - Because of the food , the landscape, the history, the people and the culture.

 

Q: Do you find that items of food that you’ve grown familiar with in foreign lands have crept into your work? 

 

Not really, I have always eaten and been aware of different foods from “foreign lands”, but I suppose that going to more Asian markets have involved more discoveries of ingredients that I have started to draw upon a little more.

 

Q: Do you have a favourite place in London or Liverpool? It could be anywhere. 

 

I suppose Borough Market is my favourite place in London, it’s a foodie mecca which is always very inspiring. I haven’t been back to Liverpool in years.

 

Q: Do you have any travel nightmares? 

 

Missing a flight has to be the worst, I took my family on holiday one year and left the passports in the car we had been held up in traffic and by the time we got the passports and ran to the gate sweating with all the bags and kids I nearly passed out. Thankfully we just made it! So now I always leave with plenty of time to spare and would rather wait for an hour than leave it until the last minute.

 

Q: Where do you feel most inspired? It could be anywhere in the world.

 

Inspiration comes from many places, at home in my study, at work in the studio or up a mountain! If I wanted new inspiration I would go to the places I haven’t been yet as a new environment brings new imagery as well as ingredients.

 

Q: In your experience what enhances your creativity? Do you have a ritual before you start to paint? What is it? 

 

Not being stressed or worried is a great help. I normally lie on the sofa with a glass of wine and some chill-out music and this sets the mood for being relaxed and creative. There are other activities too that benefit from this kind atmosphere!

 

Q: What do you think draws you to the field of surrealism in your work?

 

I suppose the fact that a lot of my early influences were surrealist painters, and as an only child I would often create other worlds to escape into from the boredom of being alone.

 

Q: Which three artists would you say have influenced you the most? 

 

Roger Dean, Patrick Woodroffe and Salvador Dali.

 

Q: In a round-about figure how long does it take for a food landscape set to be prepared for a shoot?

 

Normally a day or so to prepare the set and then one to several days to shoot it.

 

Q: Why do you choose to focus your landscapes around food? 

 

I use mainly food as the organic material is natural and mimics the larger as aspects of nature in shape, structure, texture and colour. Though I do make landscapes from clothes and cities from office supplies and ironmongery.

 

Q: What’s your favourite type of food? 

 

I think it has to be Italian food, though I do love roasted lamb cooked in Moroccan spices!

 

Q: What would you consider to be the wackiest thing you’ve ever done in life? 

 

Eating magic mushrooms!

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Carl Warner was speaking to Seb King . Read Seb's blog here.

 

 

Above: Example Of Carl Warner's Work In 'Food Landscapes'. 

 

Carl Warner’s ‘Food Landscapes’ was released on the 1st October and is available at any reputable bookshop for £15.99. Buy ‘Food Landscapes’ online here.