Interview with Jorden Haley

q)What is your name?

a)Jorden Haley

q) Where do you live and work?

a)I live and work in Brooklyn, New York.

q)What is your creative process like?

a)I start out with many drawings and sketches. I refine the ideas as I work according to the medium I am working in. In regards to drawing and painting, I often work the original sketch directly into the piece. Even after a quick start, I often leave pieces nearly completed for quite some time before I finish them to make sure they convey what I want.

q)What is your favorite medium?

a)I prefer mixed media (gouache, inks, gesso, cheesecloth, nails, found objects and bones)

q)What is your current favorite subject?

a)Hi-contrast esoteric graphics and the female face.

q)How long does it take for you to finish a piece?

a)It really depends on what the piece is. I finish some pieces in a day or so. More conceptual pieces take longer. I often like to spend a little extra time with the work before I add the finishing touches.

q)What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

a)I tend to view continuing to have the courage to carry on a pretty big accomplishment so far.

q)Are there any contemporary artists that you love?

a)John John Jesse, Kenzo Minami, Anthony Micallef, Joshua Petker, Amano, Jenny Saville, John Baizley, Baron Storey, David Choe, Floria Sigismondi

q)Can we buy your art anywhere?

a)From time to time I offer prints from my website, karbine.com. I also have my own clothing company called Bird Ov Prey, and at birdovprey.com my art can be bought in the form of t-shirts.

q)Anything that people should know about that we don’t??

a)I work best in the middle of the night so maybe I am part bat.

q)What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?

a)Draw everyday and stick with the goal to achieve more and grow no matter what

q)What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?

a)I just love creating so much that I really do not have a choice but to continue. If things do get frustrating or tough it means its time to take a break, and usually that break entails something that gets me excited again. There is also such a wealth of inspirational material on the internet that just taking some time off to read about other artists and see how they are using their work to transform their life will reignite my excitement and desire to do the same with mine.

q)How do you describe your work to those who are unfamiliar with it?

a)Conceptual and intricate

q)What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?

a)While I was in school I took as many diverse classes as I could. I took illustration classes, but also graphics and sculpture classes as well. In addition I interned at fashion houses.

q)Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?

a)I love most how I can use the computer as an artistic tool to mix all sorts of media together and get such instant gratification with color.

q)Who are your influences?

a)Francis Bacon, David Lynch, Dave Mckean, Jasper Johns, Alberto Burri, Alberto Giacometti, Charles Rinne Mackintosh, Jan Saudek

q)What inspires you to create?

a)Everything inspires me to create in some way. I get excited about so many things, from fantastic design to clouds to bones to discarded machinery. I just love huge ideas and the process of attempting to make them a reality, or at least attempting to describe the idea. The idea that I can transform my own life though my artwork is very exciting to me and inspires me to continue.

q)…your contacts…

a) My portfolio website is karbine.com

My clothing company is birdovprey.com

My blog is jordenhaley.blogspot.com

My myspace is myspace.com/karbine