mercoledì 30 luglio 2008

Interview with Angelina Wrona

q)What is your name?

a)Angelina Julia Wrona

q)Where do you live and work?

a)I am a registered Nurse at a long term care facility.

q)What is your creative process like?

a)When an idea strikes-I cannot focus on anything else well. My house could fall down around me. I can sit in front of a painting working for sometimes10 and 12 hours a day.

q)What is your favorite medium?

a)I work with acrylics,however sometimes I will wash it with oil.

q)What is your current favorite subject?

a)My favorite is a painting called DeeDee's hideout. Its funny really ,there aren't many who like it and it still hangs for sale in the town I live in.


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

a)It varies on the size of the painting and the detail I put in it. I have worked for 2 months at most and sometimes a week I can finish one off.

q)What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

a)My biggest accomplishment has been my two girls of course, but in way of the art world-I just signed on with Bruce Mcgaw graphics which is one of the biggest graphics companies in North America.

q)Are there any contemporary artists that you love?

a)The list is so many...Mark Ryden..Marion Peck. Craola..Naoto Hattori...NC Winters...and many many more

q)Can we buy your art anywhere?

a)Right now it can be bought at Distinction Gallery in San Diego, Canal gallery in Canada and Thinkspace gallery in Los Angeles. Or...On line directly from myself as I have original pieces at my studio.

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

a)I do not look anything like what people think when they look at my work. I have no piercings and no tattoos. I live in a very small tourist town in a three story Victorian house called Villa Villekola.

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

a)Like anything else-There is no substitution for hard work...and it helps if you are passionate about it.

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

a)I give myself personal deadlines. Even when I come up with a new idea for a different painting I won't allow myself to begin another until the one I've started is finished.



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

a)Dark, emotional,big eyed girls.

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

a)I have no formal training at all. In fact I failed art in high school because I couldn't follow the course outline.It was so boring!

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

a)I guess a brush of course.Although the paint does come in handy!!

q)Who are your influences?

a)Well that would definitely be Mark Ryden,....and my two wonderful girls who are 10 and 11.

q)What inspires you to create?

a)The creativity is in me,and when something like that is-you have to get it out somehow,someway!!I can never tell what will inspire me next...It's a big world out there!!


q)…your contacts…

a)
http://www.angelinawrona.ca/

sabato 26 luglio 2008

Interview with Nuria Mora

q)What is your name?

a)Nuria Mora

q) Where do you live and work?

a)Madrid,Madrid

q)What is your creative process like?

a)Think,drowing, writing going out to paint on the street

q)What is your favorite medium?

a)I use always latex paint and brushes

q)What is your current favorite subject?

a)I don’t know what to say check my site you will get

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

a)It depends on the size , normally 1 hour to 2 days now I’m more on slow truck

q)Are there any contemporary artists that you love?

a)Yes Jhony Cash !!!!


q)Can we buy your art anywhere?

a)yes

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

a)I stay working alone and with "Eltono " just in case of any misunderstanding

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

a)The best for me it’s always the last one so when the last piece has been made yesterday and you can keep on saying that the best it's the piece you did yesterday it means you will inprove so much .There is no trick !!!!if you have something to saythe point it’s drawing and work

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

a)For me painting its the only prescription for life so I don’t know how to live without it ,so it’s never a hard work it’s a pleasure that give me the energy to do the rest .frustrating and tough its working down the earth on a mine !!!!Not painting and doing art projects


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

a)It’s always better to see ,but my goal it’s to propose a neutral space on the city for stop and think about.....what ever... it’s open meaning and a free space without noise for a free interpretation.

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

a)Interior design , and fine arts !!!!

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

a)In fact no I don’t need any special thing because I can use any thing to make something for example like the favelas we did with Eltono are made of rubbish

q)Who are your influences?

a)JS bach,Gordon Mata-clark,Julio jara ,Jhony Cash,Sonia Delaunay my friends from el equipo plastico :Tono,nano4814 and sixeart ,Fra angelico ,Proust ,T.Berhard Gavina Ligas ....and my family they are all so creative

q)What inspires you to create?

a)JS bach,Gordon Mata-clark,Julio Jara ,jhony cash,Sonia Delaunay my friends from el equipo plastico :tono,nano4814 and sixeart ,Fra angelico ,Proust T. Berhard ,Gavina Ligas ....and my family they are all so creative


q)…your contacts…

a) www.nuriamora.com/

Interview with Allan Deas

q)What is your name?

a)Allan Deas

q)Where do you live and work?

a)London, UK

q)What is your creative process like?

a)For personal work I keep sketchbooks of ideas that I can refer back to. I usually scribble down any ideas as they come into my head then transfer that into a more understandable working sketch which I can work from later. So from the sketch I usually work up a more final drawing to scale then refine that and clean it up both with pen and ink and in the computer. I like to draw all the elements of my designs seperately so I can manipulate them easier once scanned in. I then finish off my designs on the mac, composing & adding colour etc in illustrator. I suppose it's kind of like digital collage!

q)What is your favorite medium?

a)At art school I used to do a lot of printmaking that was fun and quite therapeutic but way to time consuming for illustration jobs now. Apart from that I suppose my favourite medium would just be simple black and white pen and ink.

q)What is your current favorite subject?

a)I don't really have one favourite subject though I do like drawing high heel shoes!!

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

a)Depending on the piece and how long it takes me to come up with the initial ideas. Anything from a few hours to a few days.


q)What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

a)Being selected for the association of illustrators 'Images 32' book.

q)Are there any contemporary artists that you love?

a)These have no direct influence on my work but I really like Anthony Gormly, Andy Goldsworthy, Ron Mueck, Julian Opie. I also really like photography in perticular Martin Parr, Gregory Crewdson, Andreas Gursky & Tim Walker ( even though he's technically more of a fashion photographer...)

q)Can we buy your art anywhere?

a)l be shortly releasing limited edition giclee prints available from the shop (soon to open) on my webste. In the meantime if anyone is interested they can email me with queries. I recently did an illustration for Amelias Magazine and you can by prints of that from her website -
www.ameliasmagazine.com - Go to the shop! http://www.ameliasmagazine.com/product_info.php?cPath=6&products_id=35

There are also selected pieces available from gallery Nucleus in LA from group exhibitions I've had there

http://www.gallerynucleus.com/artist/allan_deas


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

a) I don't think so... Apart from the top secret stuff!

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

a) Keep on inspiring yourself, Work hard and keep on trying even if it takes a long time to get it right. Never give up and most importantly just enjoy creating your work!

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

a)Good music and chocolate/wine/cigarettes!!! If that fails then taking some time out to just look at something else; something inspirational like a nice book, a good exhibition or a nice movie. Sometimes just a good nights sleep helps too!


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

a) It's always hard to describe your own work but I suppose I would say it was quirky, bold, simple and slightly naive with a strong importance placed on line drawing and slightly retro or vintage feel.

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

a)I was always interested in art as a kid. I did it all through high school and then went on to do a degree in illustration and printmaking at art school. After that I spent 8 years working as a graphic designer in the fashion industry which also taught me a whole set of different skills.

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

a)My macbook pro... we are joined at the hip!

q)Who are your influences?

a I'm really influenced by illustrators I remember when I was a kid. I really love the work of Dick Bruna, David McKee and Richard Scarry. Though I'm also inspired by 70's & 80's kids TV, vintage packaging and generally any 'eyecandy'. I'm a bit of a visual magpie and tend to have scrapbooks full of tears - anything that might spark an idea! I'm also inspired by the work of Saul Bass, Seymore Chwast, the film Yellow Submarine, Terry Giliiam's animations for Monty Python and the fashion drawings of Ozzie Clark.

q)What inspires you to create?

a)I suppose it's a driving force. I feel frustrated if I don't create - sometimes it takes me a while to get started but ultimately I suppose it's knowing at the end you will have created something that you can be proud of and enjoy showing people - seeing them enjoy or be inspired by it & thinking to yourself 'I did that!'.



q)…your contacts…

a)
www.allandeas.com

venerdì 25 luglio 2008

Interview with Rachel Graves

q)What is your name?

a)Rachel Graves

q) Where do you live and work?

a)Nottingham. I have a tiny office/studio in my house which serves most of my creative purposes. I’d like to have a separate studio space at some point in the future, but all in good time…

q)What is your creative process like?

a)It’s quite haphazard. I find it nearly impossible to force ideas, and I always find ideas come to me much more easily when I make time to visit exhibitions, go to the cinema, and generally just forget about my own ideas and explore everything else that’s going on in the art world. I never start work until I have a good vision of what I want to finish up with, even if that’s not what actually happens.

q)What is your favorite medium?

a)I try to be aware of and explore all kinds of media, but I always come back to photography. Whether the final piece I create is solely photographic or a combination of a variety of different approaches most of my work relates to themes and characteristics of the photographic image.

q)What is your current favorite subject?

a)I’m fascinated by memory; the practice of remembering, how we remember, why we remember some things and forget others, and how external influences affect our memories. This is being explored through my series Fragments, but I’m also interested in the subject of memory in a wider sense as well. I also think a lot about the concept of time. I’m often acutely aware of the passing of time and it brings about a state of anxiety in me. I like working with photography because of the way it functions in relation to time; isolating appearances from the relentless moving forward of time, and potentially preserving them much longer than our own lifespans.

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

a)It really depends on what it is that I’m working on.

Generally speaking, once I have an idea I know exactly what it is I want to create, how I want it to look, etc. So usually from that moment on it doesn’t take me too long to start producing things. Menagerie, for example, is a piece that I produced in a matter of weeks, simply because I knew what I wanted to do and had the resources to go ahead and complete it in a short space of time.
More recently I have been working on pieces that are taking me longer to complete for a variety of reasons. Fragments, for example, is taking a long time because of the process involved – producing the final images is quite a labour intensive task, and the process is fairly expensive, which also limits the speed at which I can make the images. I expect that it will take me at least another year to complete, possibly much longer.

q)What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

a)The most recent accomplishment for me was in June this year when I finished my photography degree. I’m now looking forward to continuing to produce work and exhibiting. Aside from those rather general aims I’m equally thrilled about every opportunity I’ve had over the past few years to show my work.
q)Are there any contemporary artists that you love?
a)The main artist I always find myself coming back to for inspiration and reflection is Christian Boltanski. I find his work incredibly beautiful and thought provoking. Also: Idris Khan, Tacita Dean, Barbara Ess, Simon Norfolk, Taryn Simon, Gabriel Orozco, Hiroshi Sugimoto and William Basinski for his Disintegration Loops… There are so many, but those are the ones that spring to mind at the moment.

q)Can we buy your art anywhere?

a)All of my photographs are available in limited editions. I don’t have the specific information on my website but all sales are organized through Unseen, the collective I am part of. If you are interested in finding out more about prices, editions and availability of my work you should contact: sales@unseenphotography.co.uk.

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

a)Two things:
1. I’m a member of Unseen, a group of young contemporary photographers born out of the need to share resources and skills, and the mutual desire to create an environment in which we can continue to develop our individual practice with the support and feedback found within a group structure.
www.unseenphotography.co.uk

2. One of my favourite events in Nottingham: Annexinema. If you’re ever lucky enough to find yourself in Nottingham at the same time as one of these nights make sure you go, it’s an experience not to be missed! The next one is scheduled for the 9th August. Join this group for updates: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6691908319

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

a)I can’t stress enough how important it is to work very hard at acquiring the technical skills necessary to realise your ideas. You can have the best idea in the world but if you don’t have enough control over your technique or a good enough understanding of what your gear is capable of then you’re setting yourself up for frustration and failure.

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

a)When I find myself getting frustrated with my work I either work on something else or stop working completely and do something entirely unrelated. If that doesn’t work I’ll seek out the other Unseen members to discuss ideas and then I usually feel re-inspired to get back to work.


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

a)I struggle, and usually end up pointing them to my website. It’s so varied in terms of content and style that I have trouble finding words to describe it all at once. If anyone would like to help me out with words I’d be very grateful!

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

a)I studied photography for 5 years. First at college level which developed my technical ability, and then went on to university which surrounded me with the type of environment that nurtured my critical thinking and pushed me to develop my ideas and practice further. But the non-formal training is just as important – years of looking at photography and art books, going to exhibitions and talks – it all works towards developing your own practice.

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

a)Not really. I have a good amount of cameras and other equipment that I use, but I don’t really feel attached to much of it. If it weren’t there I’d find other ways of making work. Last year the house I was living in got broken into several times and my computer and scanner were stolen. It was a real inconvenience and a pretty horrible experience but aside from the financial cost of replacing it I was surprised at how quickly I adapted to working without it. That said, I wouldn’t want it to happen again!

q)Who are your influences?

a)Every aspect of my life, my family and the people around me. It’s not limited to people; books I’ve read, places I go, things I find – there’s really no limit to what can influence me. I try to look in all directions for potential influences. I know some people who very strictly only take interest in photographic things, only look at work by photographers, only read about photography, but I think it’s very important for me to be open to anything and everything. I’m afraid that if I don’t my work will quickly become narrow and repetitive.

q)What inspires you to create?

a)I have no idea. I can go weeks and months without feeling the inspiration to create something, but when I have an idea it will appear very suddenly and I get a strong urge to go and work on it immediately.


q)…your contacts…

a)You can see my work either at:


www.rachelgraves.co.uk, or on the Unseen website (where you can also see lots of other work by young contemporary photographers):



giovedì 24 luglio 2008

Interview with Justine Faye Ashbee

q)What is your name?

a)Justine Faye Ashbee

q) Where do you live and work?

a)Currently in Seattle, WA at my home studio and in the back of the gallery I co-own with my partner.

q)What is your creative process like?

a)Very organic, very intuitive. I can't have too much distraction or too much thought. I must be completely alone in order to relax, and not be conscious of what I am doing. It is more of a process of letting something reveal itself, allowing myself to let go and surrender to other energies that are very subtle. It's kind of like a secret.

q)What is your favorite medium?

a)Lately, pencil & gouache

q)What is your current favorite subject?

a)Gardening, planting and growing food

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

a)Sometimes a few hours, sometimes days at a time. It depends on the circumstance.

q)What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

a)Staying in one place long enough to create a body of work, become part of a community, and open a gallery with my partner.

q)Are there any contemporary artists that you love?

a)Sarah Sze, Tara Donovan, Andy Collins, and Paul Wackers

q)Can we buy your art anywhere?

a)From me directly, and at Pierogi 2000 Gallery in Brooklyn, and FiveTen Studio in Oakland, and at Cairo Gallery in Seattle.

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

a)Everything that exists is vibrating, and making sound on some level.

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

a)Keep working. The deeper you invest yourself, the more it shows.

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

a)Hm..necessity. I find that if I haven't been working for a while, I lose touch with my sense of self. the most frustrating times, are usually the most fortifying experiences. When the work becomes really challenging, and uncomfortable are usually times you have to relinquish concepts that you are attached to about your work. I find that those experiences of transcending the attachment to the work are liberating, and I usually end up with something totally unexpected, new, and what I could not have necessarily thought of before
I think frustration is meeting your limits, and there is a momentary battle between your ego and the unknown, and if you allow yourself to relinquish - oh I must sound so abstract right now. For me, creating is a very spiritual process.

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

a)Line drawings. abstract organic line drawings.


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

a)Art school. I studied weaving and textile arts at the Rhode Island School of Design.

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

a)Scissors

q)Who are your influences?

a)My mother. David Hockey. Brian Eno. Devendra in 2005. Arthur Russell. Sound artists.

q)What inspires you to create?

a)The ocean. The stars. Time.


Interview with I’M NOT I’M NOT AN ARTIST(Gaetano Leonardi)

q)What is your name?

a)I’M NOT I’M NOT AN ARTIST

q)Where do you live and work?

a)I LIVE BETWEEN ROME, SICILY, PARIS AND SAU PAULO IN BRASIL ,BUT I ONLY WORK IN MY FARM IN THE COUNTRY NEAR ROME FAR FROM EVERYTHING WITH MY DOG LICIAWOLF.

q)What is your creative process like?

a)MY WORKS DEPENDS ON MY INSTINCT, HOW REALITY IS CHANGED AND AFFECTED BY MY MEMORY.

q)What is your favorite medium?

a)EVERYTHING FROM OIL TO CHINA, TO COLLAGE, SKETCHES, TO EVERYTHING AGAIN….I PREFER HAND AND GESTUAL SIGNS, BUT AT THIS TIME I’M STUDIYNG HIERARCHIES ON COLOURS, HOW CREATE EMOTIONAL MOODS WITH FEW COLOR WORKING ONLY WITH THEM SATURATION E BRIGHNESS.THE ANCIENT XIX° PAINTINGS TECHNIQUES APPLIED TO NEW SUBJECTS.

q)What is your current favorite subject?

a)VINTAGE FUTURISTIC SUBJECTS JOINED TOGETHER WITH VIDEOGAMES MEMORIES …MY NEW SERIES OF WORKS IS ISPIRED BY AN OLD ENEMY OF MINE WHO PLAYED AGAINST ME IN THE “NUTRIE” CLAN IN THE VIDEOGAME “BATTLEFIELD 2142”

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

a)NO STANDARD TIMES, IT DEPENDS, I CAN GO ON RE-DRAWING MORE TIMES THE SAME SUBJECT UNTIL I’M SATISFIED OR I CAN START AND FINISH WITHOUT LEAVING MY BRUSH FOR ONE MOMENT-THIS IS MY ART.

q)What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

a)TO BE MYSELF, THE OLD YOUNG BASTARD!

q)Are there any contemporary artists that you love?

a)Guillaumit, SCOTT RADKE, MANNELLI

q)Can we buy your art anywhere?

a)For limited edition prints, numered on http://www.graphola.com/artist_detail.php?id=106
For original paintings by contacting
redaction@gaetanoleonardi.com


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

a)I’ m proud to have some secrects only for me

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

a)DO IT DO IT

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

a)HANDMADE SICILIAN COFFEE GRANITA AND TOXIC OIL SOLVENTS!

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

a)EH...NOTHING TO DESCRIBE, JUST LOOK AT IT AND FEEL IT.

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

a)LOOK AND SEE SEE DRAWING SEE AND DRAWING


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

a)NO TOOLS IN PARTICULAR, I CAN USE EVERYTHING TO EXPRESS, DOESN’T MIND TOOL OR MATERIAL, I NEED ONLY MY EYES

q)Who are your influences?

a)American and french COMICS, XIX° e XX° paintings, videogames

q)What inspires you to create?

a)Everything I explaned since now. I create to live and to express, I can’t explain differently.


q)…your contacts.



mercoledì 23 luglio 2008

Interview with Marco Wagner

q)What is your name?

a)Marco Wagner

q) Where do you live and work?

a)I live and work in Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany.

q)What is your creative process like?

a)I don't do scribbles.
When I work for magazines for example, I often start drawing or painting the rough idea
just to have an illustration that I can improve. Sitting in front of a white board or paper
makes me uninspired. I try to realize my first ideas, but during the process everything can happen.
When I work on a personal series everything is a little bit different. I spend much time in thinking,
reading and the trial and error in medias. Because it's hard for me to find a realisation that enthuses me
for about 10 or 20 illustrations and to find a technique being an improvement to my older works.

q)What is your favorite medium?

a)I love using different medias to put them together
in photoshop and compose illustrations,
but when I do originals, I prefer pencil on paper
or acrylic on board.

q)What is your current favorite subject?

a)At the moment I work on a new series for the old German childrenbook
Struwwelpeter von Dr. Heinrich Hoffmann.

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

a)Sometimes I am very fast and euphoric when something looks like I want it to look like.
In this case I can finish two pieces a day, meaning working nonstop.
But when I work for agencies or magazines for example, it takes a few days
because of the corrections and agreement with the AD.

q)What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

a)Well, I am very proud of my achievements at the Eurpean Design Awards 2008
and the Communication Arts Illustration Competition 2008 for my Illustrations
to Grimms Rothkäppchen (Red Riding Hood).




q)Are there any contemporary artists that you love?

a)Sure and to tell you all of them would last a long time..
Just to name some of them: David Hughes, Lars Henkel, Nicoletta Ceccoli, Olaf Hajek, Camilla Engman, ....

q)Can we buy your art anywhere?

a)Take a look at my online-shop
www.marcowagner.net

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

a)Puh, meaning something private? Mostly I work I wear my pyjamas.

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

a)I am not the right man to do advices but to myself: work hard, listen to criticism, do it always with passion.

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

a)If it is time enough, I take a break and do something completely different.
Also important is, to take a look at other artist. Often it helps me with getting
inspired when I've got a frustrating period.

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

a)That's the hardest question. Now I asked my wife and she said: dirty, cruel and kind of end time.
Thank you, Darling.

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

a)I learned so much during my studies from my Illustration Prof Nicolai Sarafov.
For him, it was important to know so much as an illustrator so that you can make
allusions in your illustrations. And he told me to exaggerate in illustrations.
Meaning exaggerate movements, facial expression, gesture, figures, characters...
so that they are noticed exactly.

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

a)I really love my different pencils and my Computer.

q)Who are your influences?

a)When I started getting interested in Illustration and Art
I discovered Egon Schiele, Horst Janssen, and David Hughes.
These are my earliest Influences and I love them until now.

q)What inspires you to create?

a)I really don't know.
q)…your contacts…

a) Marco Wagner
St.-Brunostr. 10
97204 Hoechberg/Würzburg
Germany

info@marcowagner.net


www.marcowagner.net

venerdì 18 luglio 2008

Interview with Yoshi Tajima

q)What is your name?

a)Yoshi Tajima

q) Where do you live and work?

a)Tokyo, Japan

q)What is your creative process like?

a)It always starts from my fantasy. I make a rough photo collage using magazines. Then I start drawing using a pencil and ink. Scanning a drawing, finish a piece by Photoshop and Illustrator.

q)What is your favorite medium?

a)Pencil and colour ink

q)What is your current favorite subject?

a)A fairy tale from Germanic, magic, a wizard

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

a)It depends on a piece. Normally it takes about a week.

q)What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

a)Not yet.

q)Are there any contemporary artists that you love?

a)I like Amie Dicke, Terry Rodgers, Loretta Lux, Julie Mehretu...

q)Can we buy your art anywhere?

a)No. However, my T shirts are now available from 2K by Gingham.

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

a)I love cats!
q)What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise intheir level of artistry?

a)Going out and having fun!

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

a)Night clubbing

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

a)Fantasy and dream

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

a)D.I.Y (Do It Yourself)

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

a)iPod

q)Who are your influences?

a)Surrealism

q)What inspires you to create?

a)Fantasy
q)…your contacts.

a) info@radiographics.jp

www.radiographics.jp

giovedì 17 luglio 2008

Interview with Chris von Steiner

q)What is your name?

a)Chris von Steiner.

q) Where do you live and work?

a)I’m Parisian, but live/work in Brussels since 2008.

q)What is your creative process like?

a)First comes the concept of the project. Let it grow until images come to my mind. Begin to work randomly on various studies. When satisfied with about 10 of them, begin to work on the final pieces.

q)What is your favorite medium?

a)Print on canvas

q)What is your current favorite subject?

a)The series I’m working on now is mostly about the loss of innocence when you grow up as an adult.

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

a)From 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the size and the subject.

q)What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

a)Hope it is yet to come.

q)Are there any contemporary artists that you love?

a)They are so many, but if I have to choose, I would say Gilbert & George. Because of their slogan “Art For All”, because they place a striking importance on the role of the viewer of their art, because don’t want their art to be elitist, because they want to be understood by the vast public in general, and most of all because their art is - as they say - “ … full of content and meaning and thoughts. And feelings. An art for people in fact.”


q)Can we buy your art anywhere?

a)Yes, upon request directly from my website or in the galleries where my work is or have been shown

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

a)Look deep in yourself. Find who you are, what you want to express and why. Work, work, work.
Never forget what makes you unique.

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

a)The fear of dying before achieving the project I’m working on.

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

a)It’s quite narrative, but in an abstract way… I like the idea of people making their own stories out of my work.


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

a)Writing novels in the late 90’s helped me a lot to know more about me and what I wanted to express.
Before that period, I worked for many years as an art director in advertising, and this kind of job, even if highly frustrating if you’re an artist, is a very good training to be creative “on demand” and to focuss on a project in a very short period of time.

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

a)Computer

q)Who are your influences?

a)To name a few, in no particular order: Larry Clark, Dennis Cooper, Jeff Koons, Michelangelo, Dubossarsky & Vinogradov, Egon Schiele, Chiho Aoshima, David Bowie, Antony Micallef, David Lynch, Takashi Murakami, Camille Claudel, Jake & Dinos Chapman, Gilbert & George, Walt Disney, Jenny Saville, Gustav Klimt, Matthew Barney, Peter Paul Rubens, Paul Mc Carthy, Maurizio Cattelan, John Singer Sargent, Gregg Araki, Rita Ackerman, Harmony Korine, Hayao Miyazaki, Henry Darger…

q)What inspires you to create?

a)Dreams, fears, frustrations, fantasies, teenage/chidhood memories, death, love, sex, nature, music…


q)…your contacts…

a)
www.chrisvonsteiner.com


mercoledì 16 luglio 2008

Interview with Zara Kand

(Courtesy ''Clair Obscur Gallery'')

q)What is your name?

a)My name is Zara Kand.

q) Where do you live and work?

a)At the moment I live and work in Long Beach, California.

q)What is your creative process like?

a)Well, it varies. Sometimes I think for a while about what to create, and even draw out sketches first before painting. Other times I get impulses and start creating right away, not knowing exactly where it will lead.

q)What is your favorite medium?

a)I started painting with acrylic, but once I discovered the magic I feel when painting with oils, I have never gone back. I like taking time to blend colors and Acrylics just dry way too fast.

q)What is your current favorite subject?

a)Within my subconscious my favorite subject remains pretty much the same, and that is the connection we all have with nature and going beyond the surface realities of society, and into our dreams and surreal thoughts. I always find a new way of expressing this, depending on what visuals influence me at the time.

(Courtesy''Clair Obscur Gallery'')
q)How long does it take for you to finish a piece?
a)Usually (if I’m not too distracted by other things) it takes me 1 ½ -2 weeks to get everything onto the canvas. Then it takes me an additional week to do all the touching up and adding of details if I need to.

q)What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

a)Definitely coming to the realization at age 18 that instead of having to CHOOSE a career and go to college to earn a degree, I knew all along what I wanted to do with my life: BE AN ARTIST! Since then I’ve worked on many projects and collaborations, and I would say my second biggest accomplishment has been being part of a recent group art show titled “Story Book Paintings”, held in downtown Los Angeles at the Clair Obscure Gallery. It was definitely a successful show.

q)Are there any contemporary artists that you love?

a)My immediate response would be Paul Hogue, whom I know very well, because he always has original ideas and no boundaries. I’ve seen a lot of art work that I admire, but it’s hard to name other current artists that I am a FAN of, as I don’t spend as much time as I should researching and really seeking out. Something to work on!

q)Can we buy your art anywhere?

a)You can check out my website (It needs updating): http://thearthouse.us

Or http://clairobscurgallery.com , which shows my latest collection of paintings.

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

a)Yes, I plan on producing more & more collections of works and doing many more gallery showings with time, so stay tuned!

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

a)Distractions and doubting oneself are normal obstacles amongst the path of being an artist, but overcoming these by staying focused and true to your natural form of expression will always be the most rewarding thing you can do. No one else can tell you what is right for you, only you know and will really feel it when you are living up to your fullest creative potential.


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

a)As I stated in the last response, there are always those obstacles, and I try to work through them. Some times when I feel blocked or drained, I challenge myself to keep going and see if I can break down that block. Other times I will allow myself to take a break and regenerate new ideas before I return to the piece.

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

a)Surrealistic-some pieces more than others, dreamy, nature influenced, portraying interesting characters (typically humans) and their intimacy and response to their surroundings .

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

a)I did take a beginning drawing and painting class a few years ago. The rest has just been lots and lots of practice!

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

a)A surface in which to put my ideas onto. q)Who are your influences?

a)All the members of my creative family, my boyfriend, and to name a few art pioneers: Salvador Dali (of course), Frida Kahlo, Jan Svankmeyer.

q)What inspires you to create?

a)Nature, Love, seeing beauty in dark places, music, animals, surreal and absurd visuals.

(Courtesy''Clair Obscur Gallery'')
q)…your contacts…