Q&A:
What is your art background? Do you have any degrees? If so which?
My whole family is into art, so it’s been a way of life and fun. I guess my mom started me on the art thing as a way of keeping me busy….since before I could walk. These days, I spend hours & hours each day drawing. Sometimes it’s just me, other times one or more of my 3 kids are drawing with me. Not trying to dodge the question, though. I really don’t have any framed, matted, glass-covered, & hung on the wall degrees. I never even give my art that sort of treatment. I’ve just always drawn, and I always will. I guess I’ve been attending the Jim Phillips "Phillips Studios" school for like the past almost 2 years.
How did you get hooked up with doing graphics/art for Lib Tech?
My friend Huntz Hager worked for Lib for quite some time, so I just started sending him stuff. When it was time to clean his office, it was either throw my art in the trash, or show it to Pete. I can’t quite remember what Pete said, but it was positive enough for me to submit a total of 68 paintings that first year. Only one was chosen for use.
How does skateboarding and snowboarding relate to your art?
Well…I do those things, so, whether subconsciously or otherwise, they inspire each other.
It’s all about creating the beautiful line…whether it be on paper, ‘crete, or snow…high on a mountain, or in the dungeon valleys below, or wherever in the world around I go…it’s the line and the flow, and the yearning amid the turning. …and the hidden joys revealed amongst it all.
Is your art in any galleries?
At times.The halls of Volcom in Costa Mesa are a gallery of my art (amongst others) right now. There was Volcom’s Volcomics show that traveled the world. The final show in Tokyo was inSANE! Thousands of people showed up for that one. There was also a show at MTV Australia, that I was a part of awhile back. Skate decks with the art cut in with a laser, instead of printed with slkscreen. What a trip!
Do you sell your art? If so how would someone get your hand on some?
Yes I do. For the right customer, at the right price, one of my oversized, multi-media pieces can be acquired.
Where do you get your ideas from?
All over the place. The world is an amazing place, and I’ve got an overactive imagination, to boot. Outdated magazines are a riot.
How long does it take you for a painting from start to finish?
It depends. I just paint till I’m done….whether done equals 2 hours, or 2 weeks…or sometimes even more than that.
What mediums do you prefer to use?
Medium tshirts…or actually, could you make that a double extra medium?
I do lots of inkwork on Bienfang Graphics 360 marker paper, Faber-Castell Pitt pens, acrylic craft paints along with various additional acrylic media.
What other artist from past and present inspire you, do you admire?
If I said everyone, that would be a MASSIVE list. I’ll try to name a bunch, though.
My Grandmother Mary Doubt, my mom Susan, my sister Rachel, my aunt Kathy, Jim Phillips, VC Johnson, Jamie Lynn, Mike Parillo, Nick Russian, Rob’t Williams, Toby Stanger, MC Escher, Salvadore Dali, Mike Fleemon, Sean Cliver, Jesse Winestock, Patrick Woodroffe, Ramsey Robin Rye, Steeb Russell, Carl Smith, Todd Bratrud, Travis Millard, Michael Sieben, Mel Kadel, Ethan Anderson, Mike Aho, Aaron Horkey, Stanley Mouse, Rick Griffin, Aaron Fillion, this sucks because I know I’m forgetting a ton of greats, but I guess I’ll hear about that later.
What was your worst painting/drawing experience you ever had?
Every time I get artist’s block, I guess. I just hate that.
What was your best?
Every time I’m happy with the end result.
Have you ever gotten in trouble for a painting or drawing, if so how?
In 1993 I got arrested for graffiti. Apparently graffiti/flarn isn’t legit in some eyes.
I did a grip of community service painting murals in the local animal shelter, then they decided that I needed a month in the county jail to be fully rehabilitated. While in jail, a murderer & a few others hired me to do graphics on their envelopes that they were using to mail home their words.
When I got out of jail, I decided to do some Thrasher graphics on envelopes, and send them to Thrasher magazine. Jake Phelps or somebody decided to publish some of those envelopes in Thrasher, and those became my first published works. After that, it was Lib Tech, Bent Metal, GNU, Volcom, Pig Wheels, & so on.
Last words:
Pete Saari has helped me out more than I can repay, and Jamie Lynn has put in the good word for me quite a few times as well, so I just want to thank them, Jake Phelps, Tod Swank, Richard Woolcott, Ethan Anderson, Daven Pierce, Emily Hoy, Marty Jimenez, Chicken, Remy Stratton, Christian Hosoi, Jim Phillips, & VC Johnson. These people have all helped me in very big ways.
