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giovedì 19 febbraio 2009

Interview with Sterling Hundley





q)Please introduce yourself.


a)My name is Sterling Hundley. I have made a living with my illustration work for nearly a decade. I have worked for a number of the major publishers of books and magazines in the United States. My work has been recognized with multiple awards from the Society of Illustrators, New York, and has appeared regularly in the pages of American Illustration, Communication Arts, 3 x 3, and many others.


q)Where do you live and work?


a)I live and work from Richmond, Virginia, on the east coast of the United States.


q)How would you describe your work to someone who has never seen it?


a)I strive to marry the aesthetic to the idea in my illustrative work.


q)How did you start in the arts? How/when did you realize you were an artist?


a)I have given this a lot of thought, and I can trace back my life as an artist as early as first grade. When I saw my drawing next to the other students in class, I knew that it was better. This wasn't coming from ego- I had no self confidence then. I simply new that it was better. The class and teacher responded in a way that was consistent with what I knew to be true. This one moment was the first time that I remember sharing my work with anyone else, and it was my first memory of excelling at something. I have always had art as a constant in my life. I feel that I've always noticed the things that others seemed to miss.


q)What are your favorite art materials and why?


a)I use everything that I can get to stick to a support including acrylics, watercolor, oils, pencil, tar, collage, wire, plaster, etc. I am currently producing a body of personal work that is created in oils. Oils are currently winning the battle, but I love the fight.


q)What/who influences you most?


a)In the beginning, my appreciation of art was limited to my experience in art- work that allowed me in through things that I aspired to be able to do. As I have become more facile, I am not as easily impressed with how things are done. I find inspiration in why things are done, and I often intellectually appreciate things that are not easy aesthetically.


q)Describe a typical day of art making for you.


a)My mind never stops moving. I am overwhelmed with images of things that I would like to make. I take on too many projects at once (most self imposed), and my days are spent on ideation for illustrations (I prefer to do this at coffee shops, and it is my favorite part of illustration), painting on large canvases for my show, painting the final illustrations, developing my story ideas, drawing comic book characters for stories, etc. I teach two days a week at Virginia Commonwealth University. I avoid starting paintings, but I love them once I have begun, and I hate them when I'm finished. I prefer to work in a clean studio, but I am rarely tidy. I get started when deadlines overwhelm me, or guilt and/or fear prevails. I work for long periods at a time, and I often lose track of time, finishing up in the early hours of the morning. All of these standard artist qualities considered, I feel that I am a balanced person, and I give my time to others when they ask. I equally enjoy my time away from my studio.

q)Do you have goals, specific things you want to achieve with your art or in your career as an artist?


a)Absolutely. Now that I have achieved most of my goals in illustration, I am setting new goals in very different directions. I am trying to do something completely different with my personal work. A friend of mine said that in illustration you serve to many masters. I want to be solely responsible for the successes and failures in my personal work. I also want to create characters, and bring them to life in graphic novels/comics. I enjoy the challenge of writing, and novels may be on the horizon in the future.


q)What contemporary artists or developments in art interest you?


a)I appreciate that technology has given artists new tools in which to pursue their vision. There are some amazing things happening in animation, and video.

Still, I am not a fan of things that are easy. I see too much sameness in art these days. There are individuals who have taken digital art to a new place, and are creating amazing work. But for the most part, digital work omits the human character that is evident through the mistakes that we make. I search now for decisions that masters make in their work. Wether or not Degas laid down a color, and decided to paint over it. Where Bernini felled an errant stroke (he said he never did). There is an honesty to seeing through layers of paint into the mind of an artist.

There are a lot of artists who create bad art "intentionally" without any content or intent. You can look at Picasso's later stick figures and assume that his work is accessible and easy. Can you imagine how difficult it was for an artist that facile to create something that simple? His struggles are well documented, and you can see the effort that he went to analyze his own drawings. That is what interests me. Not to mention the endless lessons that one learns from drawing, painting, composing, and thinking with intent.

I don't appreciate art that intends to draw attention to itself through methods of shock and awe. Poor taste seems to be a new direction in work. What point is there to this, if it doesn't have a point?

Even though much of this work falls into the mediocre, or worse (in my opinion), I still appreciate the new thresholds that are being set by those who are true to their art form.

Images draw me to them, but it is the ideas that stay with me.


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


a)I try to give a day for ideas, and a long night to paint the piece. My personal work is taking months to develop.


q)Do you enjoy selling your pieces, or are you emotionally attached to them?


a)I do like to have my work in the hands of people who appreciate it. I am emotionally attached to certain pieces. The illustration pieces that I truly love (there are very few), I will never sell. I am creating my personal work with a sense of detachment, and I intend to sell them.


q)Is music important to you? If so, what are some things you're listening to now?


a)I love music, and I wish that I could carry a tune. I don't miss music when it's not there- my mind is always filled to the point of distraction, but I love it when it is there. I listen a lot to public radio, I love anything classical with great violin pieces, and I am currently listening to an alternative acoustic station that I love: Acoustic Alternative


q)Books?


a)I am close to finishing up 'Fountainhead' by Ayn Rand. I am enjoying it, but I feel that there are about 300 pages that were tough to get through. I enjoyed the book "Art and Fear" recently. I am a sucker for self help books.


q)What theories or beliefs do you have regarding creativity or the creative process?


a)That it is a process. Working under deadline forces an illustrator to develop a system for making ideas, as much as there is a system for making pictures. I have many theories, but the constant is that Art is Patience.

My mantra in illustration is "Blue Collar Ethic, White Collar Aesthetic".

q)What do you do (or what do you enjoy doing) when you're not creating?


a)I love being on the water with my wife. I wish that I owned a boat. I am never more at peace. I love the idea of being healthy- I have been at variables in my life, but I'm currently not. I miss playing basketball. I teach.


q)Do you have any projects or shows coming up that you are particularly excited about?


a)Yes, I am showing at the Ghostprint Gallery in Richmond, Virginia on September 4, 2009. This is my first one man show, and I hope that just one piece accomplishes what I am set out to do- find honesty in my work.


q)Do you follow contemporary art scenes? If so, how? What websites, magazines, galleries do you prefer?


a)I look at images, paintings, sculptures, artwork, all the time. I visit Chelsea when I am in New York. I follow illustration through many of the annuals. I am trying to educate myself in the world of contemporary fine art- any suggestions?

My students do a great job of keeping me current, as well.


q)Ask yourself a question you'd like to answer, and answer it.


a)Shouldn't you be working? Soon, I would like to finish this interview first. Are you avoiding starting? Probably- okay, yes. Why? I'm scared of the judgement that comes with each new piece. But don't you know what is wrong with a piece before you show it to anyone? Yes. So start already. Okay...

q)Any advice for aspiring artists?


a)I keep an advice blog: http://advice.sterlinghundley.com/

All are welcome!


q)Where can we see more of your work online?


a) www.sterlinghundley.com


www.illustrationacademy.com


http://www.richardsolomon.com/


http://www.artonagrandscale.com/

http://www.storyopolis.com/gallery.html

domenica 15 febbraio 2009

Interview with Raul Egido






q)Please introduce yourself.


a)My name is Raúl Egido, I´m a 22years old artist,

designer and inventor born in Zaragoza, Spain.


q)Where do you live and work?


a)I live and work in Zaragoza.


q)How would you describe your work

to someone who has never seen it?


a)I´m a surrealist artist. Since the

2003 I´ve been playing and working with

the automatic method. All the things I do

come from my subconscient.

I don´t do any sketches or plans.

Just take pen, colors and everything

and let my hand work by itself.

The idea of planning a paint just

bore me. I enjoy painting or drawing

directly because the aspect is different.

My art is not attached to any conscious

drawing or painting rule. I try to make

something different each time I take

the materials.

My art is constantly changing because

each day is a new day for me and I try to

add or change something to make it more

interesting for the people.


q)How did you start in the arts?

How/when did you realize you were an artist?


a)My father is a writer and editor,

my mother Studied Arts and interior design

and my grandfather was a classical painter.
There´s been always a tradition in my

family for the arts, so I started painting

since an early age.
My relationship with arts has been

very strong since the beginning. I began

drawing machines for everything.
I always loved mechanichal complex and

machines and I loved to play with that

idea of inventing something, so I passed

my early age
drawing machines... Everybody was like

that kid is crazy because while most of

my friends were drawing Mickey Mouse

and that type of stuff
I was designing complex rockets or

cars with all that interior design and stuff.
I also found breakdance as a way to

express myself when I was 16, so I

continue drawing and dancing at the same time.
First time I was thinking seriously

about the "artist" word and idea wast

when the unknown people came to me and said,

"your art is great, you´re an artist".
I loved the fact to make people feel

something and the idea of living doing what you love.

q)What are your favorite art materials and why?


a)I´ve worked with lot of materials,

but my favourite are color pens.

I really enjoy the sensation of drawing

with thouse pens fast over a white paper

and let my subconscient doing the next thing.

It’s something fast, the colors are vivid and the

results are amazing.


q)What/who influences you most?


a)I’m influenced by everything,

painting artists like Dalí, Miró,

Warhol, Saura, architecture, artificial

objects, nature...casual people...

I can´t say something or somebody which

influences me more because I´m always

curious about new artist and ways to

look at art and I´m

a very open minded person so I try to

take inspiration from everything.


q)Describe a typical day of art making

for you.


a)There´s no typical day for me because

each day is different.

One day I´m just listening to music,

watching nature or documentaries and

the other day I´m

painting for more than 10 hours without

stop.

Normally I know when I´m going to do

something interesting so I don´t stop

and try to take all the stuff out of my head.

Is something strange because sometimes I

don´t sleep because I have the feeling of

not letting everything go out and I can´t

sleep with that sensation of doing a mid work


q)What contemporary artists or

developments in art interest you?


a)I´m interested in works by known or

unknown artist. In the world of contemporany

art I´m more fan the artpiece than the artist

because sometimes I find just one thing

amazing from one artist. But solid artist

for me are Bruce Nauman and Jeff Koons.


q)How long does it typically take you to

finish a piece?


a)It depends of the day.

Sometimes it takes me 5 minutes, but

it can take up to hours, because I can

add or change something.

Anyways, time doesn´t matter for me,

you can do something splendid in 10

minutes and horror pieces in an hour.


q)Do you enjoy selling your pieces,

or are you emotionally attached to them?


a)Is a two sides face for me.
Is something good and necessary,

because with the money support I can continue

living doing what I love doing, and

in the other hand
I suffer because each of my pieces have

something of me, my deepest sensations

and thoughts are in my art so is like

selling yourself.

q)Is music important to you? If so,

what are some things you're

listening to now?


a)Music is something neccesary for me.

I´m always listening to music and is

one of my big inspirations

I´m opened to listeng stuff from

different styles, My favourite bands

are really different each other.

I love electronic music such as

Boards of Canda and Aphex Twin.

And more "traditional" bands like

Joy Division and Depeche Mode.


q)Books?


a)I have a big collection of Art Books.

Business books are also interesting

for me.


q)What theories or beliefs do you have

regarding creativity or the creative process?


a)To me, Something creative is something

which let you feel something about and

comes from somebody which gives in there

some from itself.


q)What do you do (or what do you enjoy doing)

when you're not creating?


a)I love dancing, being with

my girlfriend,

listening to music, reading,

checking the web..


q)Do you have any projects or

shows coming up that you are

particularly excited about?


a)I´m very excited about the

new version of my website. www.raulegido.com

The exhibition of some of my works in

London and here in Spain.

I´m excited about the possibilty of an

exhibition anywhere, anytime

Some posters I´m working on for a

luxury firm in UK and a secret art

project I can´t talk about.


q)Do you follow contemporary art scenes?

If so, how? What websites, magazines,

galleries do you prefer?


a)I check often artnewsblog,

artinfo, artnet, juxtapoz and fecalface


q)Ask yourself a question you'd like to

answer, and answer it.


a)Where I´m going to be in 10 years?


a)I don´t know.


q)Any advice for aspiring artists?


a)Don´t try to be somebody.

Just open your mind, Don´t bite artwork .

Artist is not just art, being an artist is

a way of live and act. Be humble, work hard,

and try to find your own style.


q)Where can we see more of your work online?


a)You can check my new website

www.raulegido.com
and my flickr photoset
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raulegidoval/sets/72157603320611921/

If want buy any of my art pieces you can email me egido@raulegido.com

Thanks!

martedì 3 febbraio 2009

Interview with Bruce New





q)Please introduce yourself.


a)Bruce New, dreamer


q)Where do you live and work?


a)I currently reside in the wilds of Kentucky,

with a bird and our son, on a mountain top,

right next to the sun, where I create my work high

on butterfly wine


q)How would you describe your work to someone

who has never seen it?


a)Visual dreams in primary colors and black lines


q)How did you start in the arts?

How/when did you realize you were an artist?


a)By failing at most everything else.

I have this obsessive-compulsive need to make

things,I am not really sure where the need comes

from, some defect in character I suspect


q)What are your favorite art materials and why?


a)Lately pen, paper, and collage.

They are all easy to obtain materials

and rather inexpensive


q)What/who influences you most?


a)Love, dreams, music, poetry,

everyday life, my beautiful wife and son


q)Describe a typical day of art making

for you.


a)I try to be in the studio every morning

by seven.

I pace around a lot, look at the things

I have been working on, force myself

to get started, make a line, perhaps another,

try to find the “form”, it is usually hit and

miss with me, some days are better than others.

I take a break around midday, eat lunch,

check emails, perhaps a short nap.

Back in the studio by one or so,

work until dinner or later depending

on how well everything is going


q)Do you have goals, specific things

you want to achieve with your art or

in your career as an artist?


a)Not really. I just want to work, to hone

my skills, to hopefully grow as an artist,

and a human being. I know it is a long shot

but I have time


q)What contemporary artists or

developments in art interest you?


a)For the last couple of years I have been

heavily influenced by the whole “outsider” low-brow,

underground, street-art movement.

I am not sure if that makes sense, but

I think most people interested in the

contemporary art scene will know where

I am coming from


q)How long does it typically take you

to finish a piece?


a)Depending upon the size of the piece,

a few hours to a few days


q)Do you enjoy selling your pieces,

or are you emotionally attached to them?


a)Yes and no. it is nice to be validated

by monetary sales, but I usually just blow

the money and end up wishing I had the work back.

Every once in awhile i will make a piece, and think,

this one

is mine, i would rather have it than money,

but the feeling usually fades in a day or two,

or by the time the bills arrive


q)Is music important to you?

If so, what are some things

you're listening to now?


a)yes, very: Miles Davis, Wilco, Iron and Wine,

Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Black Keys,

Sabbath, Modest Mouse, Mc5, Ray Lamontagne,

Wagner, John Cage, Philip Glass.

Blues, jazz, reggae, punk, classical, bluegrass, country,

I admire someone in almost every genre


q)Books?


a)Here are a few of my favourite writers:

Henry Miller, John genet, Richard Brautigan,

Hubert Selby Jr., Hermann Hesse, Louis-Ferdinand Celine,

Burroughs. I have always been attracted

to madness and chaos it seems


q)What theories or beliefs do you

have regarding creativity or the creative process?


a)I heard a friend, seattle artist Jack Daws,

once state that his only regret in life was

that he would not live long enough to refute his last belief.

I always found a lot of merit in that statement


q)What do you do (or what do you enjoy doing)

when you're not creating?


a)My life is basically centered around my work.

I am a bit of a recluse, I am not a consumer,

I just make art and spend time with my family


q)Do you have any projects or shows coming

up that you are particularly excited about?


a)Well I am happy to be doing this interview with you,

Medium Magazine will be posting some of my work

in their upcoming spring issue,

I will have a few pieces in an upcoming group

show at the hive gallery in Los Angeles


q)Do you follow contemporary art scenes?

If so, how? What websites, magazines, galleries

do you prefer?


a)I try to keep up as best I can.

The House of Tate is a cool site, the Lumper, Boonika,

your site The Extra Finger, Proteus Mag, Art Renegades,

Art in America, Juxtapoz, Beautiful Decay, Raw Vision.

The usual stuff


q)Ask yourself a question you'd like to answer,

and answer it.


a)I don’t know? How’s it hanging?

To which I would reply “pretty good, I guess”


q)Any advice for aspiring artists?


a)Do the best you can, stay disciplined,

find yourself in the work. Don’t be a poser,

it gives working artists a bad name and makes

you look sad


q)Where can we see more of your work online?


a) www.thehouseoftate.com


www.artrenegades.com


www.discosalt.com


www.boonika.com


www.mungbeing.com


www.blanketmagazine.com


www.brucenew.com