I don’t really know. It always sneaks up on me when I least expect it. Or worse, when I’m in no position to do anything about it. Often when I’m laying in bed at night, or in the middle of a long drive. I guess times when my brain is free to roam around and explore. It’s frustrating!
I’ve tried to take quick notes in my phone about the idea that just popped in my head, but that has yet to work out too well. Often, I’ll forget I even had an idea, and a few days later I’ll find a note on my phone that just says “Christmas cards” or something, and I won’t have any idea what that meant. I suppose I should start making better notes…
If you could steal someone’s talents who’s would you steal and why?
That’s tough. Honestly, before I steal someone’s talents, I’d rather steal someone’s motivation. I feel confident enough in my ability, but I just have a hell of a time getting my ass in gear. Now that I think about it, I’m kind of jealous at YOUR ability to always be working on projects, so maybe I’d steal that from you. But then you’d get lazy and this interview would never get posted, so the whole thing would end up biting me in the ass. Drats.
What is something you would say you are obsessed with at the moment and why?
I recently stumbled onto this artist by the name of Hydro74 He has a very clean, minimal, black and white style that I am just head over heels for. I think it’s wonderful being able to say so much with so little. Otherwise, my semi new artist obsessions are Audrey Kawasaki and Tara McPherson.
If you were to produce a new art exhibit what would you name it? What kinds of pieces would you include?
This is something I’ve danced around with for a number of years now. Getting a handful of friends together, finding some smallish space up in LA and renting it out for a couple weeks and have an art show. Everyone gets their own wall to do with what they please. The idea sounds amazing.
I think it would go a long way into motivating me to create some amazing work. I’m lucky enough to have some very talented friends. However, we are all secretly (and sometimes not-so-secretly) very competitive. So it would really be an opportunity to step up and make something awesome.
As for a name, hell if I know. Naming things has never been my strong suit. I really love numbers, so maybe it would have some number in it somewhere.
Before you sit down to create a piece would you say there is a story behind it or are you just making pretty pictures?
Nine times out of ten, I’m looking just to make something pretty. Most of the time I’ll be flipping through a magazine, or watching a movie, and see something and say “That’s a cool idea, but I could do it better” and that kinda starts the wheels spinning. I’m pretty sure most artists are like that.
Last year, however, I got myself on a really huge Janelle Monae kick. Her music is remarkable, and I just fell in love. Her album is a bit of a concept story about a human trying to reunite with his android girlfriend. And somewhere on my 300th listen through the album I thought about creating a series of pictures inspired by the album. But these story based ideas of mine are pretty few and far between.
If you woke up one day and your hands had fallen off what would you do?
Easy. I’d have samurai swords embedded in my stumpy arms and go out and seek revenge on the bastard that stole my hands. Then I would kindly return the favor.
What kind of ice cream do you like?
So I’ve been trying to do the whole “eating better” thing these past few months, so ice cream is pretty out of the question most of the time. However, I am on a huge Golden Spoon frozen yogurt kick. For all of their great flavors, I really keep coming back to the plain vanilla. It just hits the spot.
What is your favorite color? Do you find that you use it a lot in your art?
As anyone who has ever seen my wardrobe knows, I’m rather partial to black. I do use it a lot, but I think it’s more because it’s black, which is a pretty easy and common color to use when making stuff.
What is your favorite music to listen to or movie to watch while you are creating art?
I go back and forth. Sometimes I just get really tired of music and it starts to make me feel claustrophobic. It becomes incredibly hard to work with music playing. It’s weird. So I’ve started putting TV shows on my iPad next to my monitor and it seems to work wonders. Just something to make some background noise to listen to while I work.
What is your earliest memory?
I think I can go as far back as around 5th grade. Trading comic book cards on the playground, trying to collect the whole set. (I still have them, and I’m told they’ll be worth something any day now!) Most of my super young childhood memories are really just memories of watching home movies. I really don’t remember things that far back firsthand.
Why are you an artist/designer?
As a career, I kind of fell into it. It was never my intention growing up to do this for a living. Mostly because I don’t think I ever knew these kinds of jobs existed. But as a hobby, growing up, it was all about creation. Which is really what it comes down to for me today, too. I enjoy creating things. Making something out of nothing, or better yet, creating an emotional response in someone who is experiencing something I’ve made. That’s the sweet spot. That’s what keeps me going.
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