Archive for April, 2009
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.
Q & A: PATRICK HOELCK PHOTOGRAPHER + DIRECTOR
by CHRIS GROSSO on Apr.16, 2009, under PATRICK HOELCK
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ART?
In a way since I was a little kid. I always felt really outcast and alone and art was a way of amusing myself.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN ARTIST?
I moved to NYC when I was young and started running with the downtown art scene. They would talk shit about entertainers and how unimaginative they were, coming from LA this was news to me. My friend, Vincent Gallo, would invite me to these dinners and gatherings to and sit listen in awe. I was a young fly on the wall collecting mental notes. I used to get laid a lot by borrowing their stories and metaphors and points of view.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS?
The ones from those days Jean Michel Basquiat, Vincent Gallo, Francesco Clemente, Richard Serra. Of those I didn’t meet Jackson Pollock, Diego Velasquez, Ed Ruscha, the list could go for miles. I don’t know all of the names of artists nowadays, I just like movement. Damien Loeb is amazing, David Shadi Perez, Jose Parla and Richard Prince all have really interesting work I have seen recently.
Q&A: PATRICK MARTINEZ X SOUL ASSASSINS
by CHRIS GROSSO on Apr.07, 2009, under PATRICK MARTINEZ
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ART?
I’ve been drawing ever since I could remember. It started out as drawing stuff from my imagination. Then I was interested in cartoons and comic books because they where easy to connect to. So I started copying cartoons and comic book characters in my sketchbook. So that was when I was like six or seven years old? So I would say about twenty-one or twenty two years or creating. Drawing was an easy fix. All you need is a pencil and paper and your ready to roll. It’s direct you know…no pressure. That’s why that was the first medium I picked up. Then I started messing with graffiti in middle school years later when I picked up spray can art. Then started painting with acrylics and oils in high school but I always kept a black book. I always tripped out on how I started messing with spray paint and markers before an actual brush, canvas and paint.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN ARTIST?
I have always been interested in art and creating, so it wasn’t hard to choose that path. I was always looking at art books. I was lucky enough to get involved with art programs that helped me push my art when I was a teen. This is why whenever I get the chance or I am asked to speak to the youth about my work I jump on it. It’s important to connect with the youth and inspire. They will use your work as a foundation and build from there.
Q & A: ASH FROM CONART
by CHRIS GROSSO on Apr.04, 2009, under ASH
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE GRAFFITI INDUSTRY?
SINCE 1984
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INVOLVED IN THE INDUSTRY?
WILDSTYLE THE MOVIE, SUBWAY AND SPRAYCAN ART BOOKS?
Q & A: JERO ICR UFK
by EDDIE DONALDSON on Apr.01, 2009, under JERO
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ART?
Since I Was A little Kid… I used to watch my mom’s paint and try to imitate it… (Shes really Good)
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN ARTIST?
Mom’s and all the Graffitti on the walls in Queens… LA Gang Blocks…
