Q&A: BRANDY FLOWER FROM THE HIT + RUN CREW
by CHRIS GROSSO on Sep.23, 2009, under BRANDY FLOWER
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS?
Robert Rauschenburg, Banksy, Kofie’One/Draftsmen, Chaz Bojorquez, Restitution
Press, Andy Warhol, Retna, Kime Buzzelli, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Donny Miller,
Katharine Hamnet, Maya Hayuk, Christopher Wool, Mike C and Peter Young.
HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIMENTED WITH SPRAY PAINT, GOTTEN UP ON ANY WALLS?
SPOONFED
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU COULD BE AN ARTIST FOR A LIVING?
In 1995 I interned in the Art Department at Sony Music and got a job there soon
after I graduated from Cal State Fullerton. I ended up working there as an Art
Director for 9 years, so before I realized it I was already doing it.
Q&A: ARTIST + MUSICIAN AXIS
by CHRIS GROSSO on Sep.23, 2009, under AXIS
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ART?
My first works were created in 1976, when I was three. Been doing it ever since.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN ARTIST?
If memory serves, my earliest inspiration to draw was sparked by my parent’s record collection, and cartoons. My folks really exposed me to some amazing music at a young age, as well as my oldest sister that indirectly introduced me to punk in the late 70’s, early 80’s.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS?
I have many. Rick Griffin, Norman Rockwell, J.C. Leyendecker, John Fogerty, Jim Phillips, Preston Blair, Ub Iwerks, Keith Moon, R.Crumb, Stanley kubrick, and Gil Elvgren to name a few.
Q&A: ARTIST + GALLERY OWNER FREDDI C
by CHRIS GROSSO on Sep.23, 2009, under FREDDI C
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ART?
I’ve been drawing seriously since i was about 12 yrs old i had my first art show at school when i was 13 but my first real gallery show was in Soho in NYC in 92. It was group show called “Ten Women” at a non profit gallery that still exists in Soho.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN ARTIST?
I was an awkward kid and used to spend a lot of time along just drawing. I always wanted to go to art school but couldn’t afford not having a full time job so I went to study Textile design after graduating I moved to work in NYC it was here that most of my friends just happened to be working in art galleries, working for well known NYC artists or where young emerging NYC artist or curators. By accident I ending up being convinced to show some small collages i had made as a gift for a friend in a group show and it went from there. I’d work full time in the Fashion industry as an art director by day while making art in my kitchen, going to exhibitions and curating exhibition by night.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS?
I studied artists from Renaissance though to the Impressionist periods at school -my favorite artists stem from the such movements as the Pre-Raphalies - I love art history and am draw to how artists and art has evolved to its current state of being. Along with this fascination I love to watch how today how artists pull from the masters a great example would be the young artists Kehinde Wiley who has selected to morph hip hop influences with classic Flemish painters portrait postures. Now that I’ve been In living in LA for over ten years I’m very much drawn to the works of the Ferris Gallery artists and all that stemmed out of that whole movement.
Q & A: ARTIST MIKE MAXWELL
by CHRIS GROSSO on Jul.26, 2009, under MIKE MAXWELL
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ART?
I’ve been making things my whole life, but I’ve been doing it full time for 7 years.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN ARTIST?
My Mother and Grandfather were both really good artists and trying to be as good as they were was a huge inspiration. Now my ma’ asks me for art tips.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS?
I get enjoyment from anyone doing their thing and creating the work they want to make. Artists who live it. There are tons on the list!
Q & A: NEW YORK GRAFFITI ARTIST KET
by CHRIS GROSSO on Jul.22, 2009, under KET
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ART?
As a kid I drew a bit but I started to take it a bit more serious in 1987 when I started to write on trains.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN ARTIST?
I was inspired by the writers i met in high school and by the writer’s whose names I saw on the walls and the trains in my neighborhood. I wanted to be like them, to paint like them, and I wanted to be up. My neighborhood looked better as a result of the writer’s pieces and throw ups. I loved it.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS?
As far as writers go its Phase2, Stayhigh149, MICO, Part One, Chain 3, Kel First, Sonic, Ghost, Sento, Reas, Case 2, Wane, Wolf, and Pure in New York City.
Outside of the NY area I would add Charlie, Risky, Denz, Revok, Hews, Ease, Apex, Persue, Saber, Ich, and Space.
Worldwide there are too many but a few are: Neon, Mode 2, Sabe, Rusto, Smash 137, Askew, Atome, Delta, Oclock, Banksy, Os Gemeos, and Oker.
Besides that Emory Douglas, John Byrne, Jose Parla, Doze Green, Van Gogh, Kandinsky, Rodin, Mare 139, Futura, Jon One, Romare Bearden, Hank Willis Thomas, Steve Marcus, Lee Quinones, Dredd Scott, Murikami, and too many others to name…
Q&A: TREVOR TRAYNOR| PHOTOGRAPHER
by CHRIS GROSSO on Jul.10, 2009, under TREVOR TRAYNOR
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ART?
All my life. if ART is the expression of human creative skill, then I’d like to think that most of us express ourselves creatively one way or another. My public ART form is photography. I Shoot Everything.
HOW DID YOU BREAK INTO THE INDUSTRY?
My Family are creative thinkers, Individuals, with that my photographic art form was born. I fine tuned it with some schooling, persistence, and practice. Hip Hop culture has always been a part of my life. I Started shooting friends and emcee’s that my older brother Shel Shock was producing for… Dres, Casual, Vast Aire, AG, etc..
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS?
Vicente Fernandez
Bjork
Mike Patton
Malex1
Louis Armstrong
Mos Def
Tricky
De La Soul
Sum Majere
Q & A: BRIAN MCCARTY| PHOTOGRAPHER
by CHRIS GROSSO on May.20, 2009, under BRIAN MCCARTY
When and how did you realize McCarty Photoworks was the path for you?
Honestly, having my own studio was always the path. It just took a few years of working for various companies to build my confidence and skill set. In early 2003, everything just clicked, and I finally took a leap of faith. To look back now, I couldn’t imagine any other path. The life I’ve chosen can be challenging at times, but it’s also more rewarding than anything else I’ve ever done.
HOW DO YOU CREATE OR AQUIRE TOYS THAT ARE EXCLUSIVLY USED AS SUBJECTS?
To date, the toys I’ve shot aren’t exclusive subjects. The beauty is that they are plastic and plush works of art, made by a variety of brilliant designers. Anyone can buy them. I’m extremely fortunate and honored to have
close relationships with many artists and art-toy companies. All but a few of my photos involve direct collaboration, even if that’s just having a toy sent along with character information.
As for toys that are exclusive subjects, that’s the next chapter. I’m working on a new fine art series that’s going to have characters designed and built specifically for the it. I’m then going to shoot for several
months, documenting the reality of the characters’ imagined world. This probably won’t come as a surprise, but it’s an enormously expensive endeavor. I’ve had some generous support thus far, but I anticipate another
six months to a year of fundraising before the project fully gets off the ground.
Q & A: JIM MAHFOOD AKA FOODONE| 40oz COMICS
by CHRIS GROSSO on May.06, 2009, under JIM MAHFOOD
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE GRAFFITI WRITERS?
Dondi White was the illest. I’m into Futura, Lee, Haze, Keith Haring, Basquiat (not sure if those two are considered graf writers, but fuck it, their shit was dope), Retna, Revolt, Zephyr, Skribe, Gear, Kofie, Codak, Dave Choe, Anthony Lister, Twist, Miss Van, etc etc.
HAVE YOU EXPERIMENTED WITH SPRAY PAINT IN ANY OF YOUR MURALS?
Yep. Been using it for the last couple of years, doing mixed media stuff. I don’t really know what I’m doing, it’s just all trial and error, ya know, me making shit up as I go along. That’s the best way
to learn.
WHICH MURAL ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
Probably the one I did in the coffee shop for the Sarah Silverman Program. There’s this one episode where Sarah thinks she’s a lesbian and she’s sitting right in front of my mural, signing this lesbo folk song, and it’s really funny and bizarre that my art would be part of something like that. I laugh every time I see it.
Q & A: DAVID WHITTLE FROM BRISTOL, LONDON
by CHRIS GROSSO on Apr.28, 2009, under DAVID WHITTLE
DAVID WHITTLE "A BOY CALLED JESUS"
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ART?
pretty much since i could hold a pencil. I’ve drawn o everything in sight since i was about 4 years old!
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN ARTIST?
I don’t really know to be honest, as far back as i can remember i have loved drawing. My older brother Ian was always drawing and designing stuff, so I’m sure that rubbed off on me a bit.
DAVID WHITTLE COLLISION WALL
Q & A: HENRY ST. LEGER FROM BRISTOL, LONDON
by CHRIS GROSSO on Apr.28, 2009, under HENRY ST. LEGER
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN ARTIST?
I think when i was young I used to copy my brother. He’s an exceptional artist and i used to try to do what he was doing. As I got older I started developing my own style and getting my own influences. I used to read a lot of comic books. I was obsessed with Spiderman and used try and create my own comic strips with him interacting with new enemies i had made for him.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS?
I love so many different artists. People like Mike Giant, Ralph Steadman, Mike Mignola, Katsuhiro Otomo. Most of my favorite artists are comic book artists. I think Chris Ware draws some of the most beautiful imagery I have ever seen. When ever I hear he has some new work out I hunt it down as soon as I can. I’m also a huge fan of Charles Burns. His dark and surreal black and white work is truly amazing. Also The late, great Jack kirby has to get a look in here.
