Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? What’s your background in Art?
I grew up on an island. Constantly seeing the sea changed me. It is beautiful, yet everyone is always away.
- Science fiction illustration
- Comic books
- Science fiction movies
- Godzilla
- Bill Sienkiewicz
- Degas
- Edward Hopper
- Anselm Kiefer
- Julie Mehretu
- Joseph Beuys
Do you have people who inspired you to create? In what way?
Yes! There are many artists who are excellent, and I appreciate their excellence. There are artists who have something specific for me to learn. There are few artists who share my sensibility. Finally, there is me, with a unique inner vision emergent and reconciled between internal human paradoxes and the energetic beauty and cruelty of the world.
You have two Master’s Degrees in Art. What made you decide to get a drawing degree after receiving a degree in painting?
My first degree was interrupted between year one and year two of my program of study of all but one faculty. The departing faculty were clearly better than the incoming. Furthermore, in the first year I had experienced such growth, I was eager to continue making progress.
What part of your art-making process do you enjoy most?
Many parts of the art-making process are enjoyable for me. Conceptualization, sketching, drawing/painting, installation, and eating little cubes of cheese at opening receptions! The difficult part is the business around it.
What made you decide to use office supplies instead of traditional art supplies in your recent work?
Much of my career as an artist is the removal of barriers to art making. The psychological cost of getting started, the cost and obscurity of materials, traditions, and outdated ideas of exclusivity have all hurt or delayed me at various times. Slaying these beasts is an ongoing theme in my life, art, and teaching.
Do you have a favorite product or tool you wouldn’t mind sharing with other artists?
At the moment wide markers are a delight. They speed the drawing process greatly.
Where do you create?
I have a lovely studio at home that is quite important to me. However, in my current practice, going out to draw is almost necessary. So family vacations, coffee shops, libraries, and time traveling are far more productive.
Do you have advice for other artists who might be thinking of following in your footsteps?
Don’t! Be yourself! Whomever that is. Or do follow me! Try these ubiquitous materials. Their presence everywhere helps greatly. Having a little fun, or discovering joy, recognizing that you are connected to the grandeur of human creativity and possibility are your rights. Everyone and everything that has ever denied, limited, or tried to disavow your presence or access to art is wrong. Humans make. We make ideas and physical things like birds singing to each other. On gallery walls, reproduced as digital images distributed through the cables under the sea and broadcast from one satellite to another we send forth our humanity, our identity. These objects we make sail through time and space to other human beings.
Where can someone purchase your creations? Do you have any shows coming up? Are you on Social Media? (links)
Nope. As stated previously, I am bad at the business of art. That said I am working on getting my Instagram account up and running. It has existed for years but not had a posting. Yet keep an eye on it. Something may happen.
