Interview

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“My background is in illustration and my art journey began when I was a kid getting into comics. I would use the envelopes with the cellophane window and trace over comic book panels. In high school, I learned to paint and focus on the human anatomy, and started working for the school newspaper while having my own comic strip. I wanted to be a comic book artist and went to a few conventions to show my portfolio for work. Then a few years ago in 2016, I began using Photoshop, then evolved into Procreate. Although no career in the art field, I do art for myself.”

What inspires you?

“My emotions. Sadly, (and I don’t mean this in a bad way) I do art when the emotion overwhelms me. When I drive home from work and see a skyline with colors and clouds, I want to then doodle, illustrate, or paint what has moved me. Other times, it’s looking at my partner and just deeply gazing into her eyes when I see different specks of colors in them. I’m an emotional artist and display my art on my sleeve! My deepest (and I think humbly) and best art comes from my all emotions- good, bad, happy and sad.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“I think the theme I’ve focused on in my 40- something years of art, is the human form. Bodies of all shapes, sizes, and colors. The message for me isn’t underlying at all- it’s that the human body is a beautiful piece of machinery in all its diversity and I wish to always celebrate it. The idea that we must always paint, draw, illustrate lean and muscular bodies has always confused me. I would look at art from The Harry Volk Jr. Studio clip art book and wouldn’t see a diverse form of figures unless it was cartoonish. Even in comic books- no one had love handles or voluptuous curves. It forged my mindset in such a way, that started me on a path to illustrate people of all shapes, curves, heights, and sizes.”

“I’m an emotional artist and display my art on my sleeve!”

How would you describe your work?

“I don’t have one particular work style. I like to refer to my work as constantly evolving; an illustration base partnered with a painted aesthetic. When I first started to learn digital paint and art, I wanted to be one of those artist who would do an Alex Toth type piece and color it like Norman Rockwell, Alex Ross or Drew Struzan. I’m happy to know my work is a constant evolution.”

Which artists influence you most?

“Artists that have influenced me are comics books illustrators Ike George Pérez, Neal Adams, John Byrne, Jerome Moore, Adam Hughes, Terry Dodson, Bart Sears, Keith Giffen, John Buscema, Hal Foster, Frank Cho, Steve Rude, Gene Colan, John Romita Sr., Denys Cowan, Kevin Maguire, and Alex Toth. Other artists include Drew Struzan, Patrick Nagel, Boris Vallejo, Julie Bell, Frank Frazetta, Alberto Vargas, Alex Ross, Caravaggio, The Hildebrandt Brothers, Fred Gambino, Thomas B. Sawyer (Harry Volk Jr. Illustrator), Maxfield Parish, Norman Rockwell, Gustav Klimt, George Petty, Burne Hogarth, and Alphonse Mucha.”

What is your creative process like?

“I check in with myself- my emotions, then what the subject matter I want to work on. If I’m in a good place, I can work on it, For hours. If not, then I doodle until I can feel my mood change. Then, I’m ready to work. Music helps moves this process along, usually playing classical, orchestral, or symphonic music. Artists like Hans Zimmer, Leonard Bernstein or Nicholas Britell are usually the artists that get me there and ready to illustrate. Then, I sit down and picture in my mind what I want the background colors to be. This is truly inspired by music. Then, I’ll start a thumbnail, expand it in the Procreate app, do a few run through trace passes of the image, then start tight pencils. A decision of moving into ink or staying in pencil will be made after flipping the image a few times to work on image balance. This is followed by the digital brush I want to use for the look which can go from a painted canvas feel to a watercolor look. A few days of this happens, then I have to stop before I over work, but patience is temped with my music.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“The role to me, is to be a teacher. Lead and teach by example. To inspire really. Whether it be Banksy on a wall, Alex Ross posters in the window of a comic book shop, or an art table top book featuring work from Pixar movies, artists in society are meant to inspire people to do better things. To stir emotions with the intention to contribute positively to our society. To see the colors of the world outside of the black and white that has been present the last several years/ decades. We however have to evolve to ensure our work inclusive, diverse, and celebrated with encouragement to those who want to be an artist no matter the age.”