Interview with Dean McDowel

q)Who are you? Where are you from and where do you live now?

a)Dean McDowell, a Northern Irish born artist currently living in small grey city that is commonly known as Belfast.

q)What is it that you do? What media do you use?

a)I walk a fine dark line between lowbrow and fine art. My preferred medium is oil on canvas but for deadline reason acrylics can be used extensively.

q)What do you think sets your work apart?

a)That's a hard question that might be better answered by someone who has stumbled across my work for he first time however, if you had to pin me down on the subject, I would say the emotion I try to put into every painting I produce regardless of subject matter.

q)How long have you been showing your work for? Did you have a “big break?”

a)Probably around the 10 year mark. I wish I could say a 'big break' just happened on a certain date or event, the reality is I struggle emotionally with my work to the point I only produce a very limited number of paintings each year. Rather than grasping opportunities or 'breaks' I generally shy away from them... I hope and am currently trying to change break that cycle....

q)What are some things that have inspired you?

a)Life, it's that simple. I know that is a common answer I give in most interviews but it is a simple truth, to watch life's goings on whether that be through the media, web or simply lifecasts you really can't get away from the inspiration good or bad that surrounds us on a daily basis.

q)What have you been working on recently?

a)Having recently taken a 2 year break from art for purely personal reasons I'm just now getting back into things for 2011. At present I'm working towards supplying galleries both in theUK and US and working towards upcoming shows in 2012. The current works are a mixture of lowbrow and fine arts depending on the mood, I've picked up on my old style but throughout 2011 people should start to see something a little different.

q)Do you listen to music while you create your work? If so, would you give some examples?

a)It's not often I work without music in the background, it's become a bit of a necessity. I'll listen everything from the kidney thieves to suede, I guess my preference is for music with an alternative edge.

q)Do you do work in any other media? Other projects not necessarily related to your main body of work?

a)I do but under an Alis, maybe one day I'll come clean....

q)What advice do you have for artists looking to show their work?

a)Art is fickle, and the art world can be extremely fickle... Simply believe in your work and not the almighty dollar, once you produce work for monetary value alone your art will have lost it's soul.

q)Do you have any upcoming exhibitions of your work that you can mention?

a)I have just accepted my first show in March 2012, the work will be on show in the Rothick Art Haus, California.

q)Where can people see more of your work on the internet?

a)www.deanmcdowellartist.com

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Interview with David Orfé

q)Who are you? Where are you from and where do you live now?

a)I am David Orfé. I'm from Lille, north of France. It's pretty hard to say where I live cause I've been travelling a lot this last 4 years. Ireland, Australia, New-Zealand and Canada now. I'm in Montreal at this time and I'm not sure where will be my next address?

q)What is it that you do? What media do you use?

a)I mostly paint and draw. Little stuffs with simple media on paper while I'm travelling in my "studio house" car. Bigger stuffs with paints on canvas when I'm not moving. I use acrylic, water colors, indian ink, sharpie, pencil, found papers, canvas... Sometimes I like to do prints on Lino as well.

q)What do you think sets your work apart?

a)Wow, That's not my role neither my place to give you an answer. I just try to be true and honest with what I'm creating, let the people talk about that.

q)How long have you been showing your work for? Did you have a “big break?”

a) Showing is a pretty new concept for me, I didn't make lots of show cause I was constantly on the move.

q)What are some things that have inspired you?

a)A big mix. Primitive art, ethnic and folk culture, mysticism, mythological, natural and spiritual theme meet colorful psyché patterns in a geometrical world.

q)What have you been working on recently?

a) Finishing a serie of portraits and a large canvas.

q)Do you listen to music while you create your work? If so, would you give some examples?

a) It all depends of the day! Sometimes everything and anything in my playlist and some days I don't want any noise at all. But I have to admit that I love Rock'n' Roll!

q)Do you do work in any other media? Other projects not necessarily related to your main body of work?

a) Yes, I do some kind of outdoor installation with wool, cardboard, paint and trees. I try to find a beautiful natural spot and have fun. when I've got the opportunity, I love screenprinting.

q)What advice do you have for artists looking to show their work?

a) Pretty hard to answer that cause I don't have a lot of experiences. I should say don't be afraid to accept small stuff, cause you're learning everyday. Never adjust what you're doing for somebody, stay true to your vision, see big, be brave and move your ass!

q)Do you have any upcoming exhibitions of your work that you can mention?

a) I've got a show at the beginning of march at "Maison Kasini" and a group show for April at "Usine 106U". You can find some of my prints at "Monastiraki" too. All this places are in Montreal.

q)Where can people see more of your work on the internet?

a)Most of the photos of new work will be found on my flickr: www.flickr.com/orfe_art or on facebook at David Orfé

Interview with Enrico Pitzianti

q)Who are you? Where are you from and where do you live now?

a)I am a visual artist, currently living in Sassari, Italy.

q)What is it that you do? What media do you use?

a)I work mainly on collage and painting, but I like to explore other media, using photography and bricolage for instance.

q)What do you think sets your work apart?

a)The most distinctive features are the use of black and white as well as color choice in general, and the spirituality in the compositions. In particular reference to my collages I think the peculiarities are the kinds of material I use, often result of a good mix of research and selection, and the right hint of subconsciousness.

q)How long have you been showing your work for? Did you have a “big break?”

a)I never had a "big break". I have never stopped drawing, a really important moment to me has been the beginning of my passion for graffiti, but post-graffitism boom was what most fascinated me. After several years of passion for public art I began to believe more in the human and anthropological value of the individual, consequently creating a personal production; personal but not an end in itself, though. Since then urban art has given place to spirituality, reflection and relieve in an more intimate dimension. What I have been showing is various, aside public art experiences and first canvases what most matters to me are the occasions of collage and composition works exhibitions.

q)What are some things that have inspired you?

a)In this very period my biggest influence comes from nature, especially from the mountain. I have always been bound to it but lately, for some reason, this feeling has grown. Atmospheres, aesthetical logics, even just the "mountain dimension", influence what I do. Although there is no influence in the works but in the phase precedent to their creation. Even aesthetic philosophy and its evolution are a big influence, most of all the one between the the thirties and the seventies.

q)What have you been working on recently?

a)The last thing I have been working on is a serie of big sized collages. It is something I really care about because of the use of color besides black and white, fairly unusual to me. I hope to show it soon.

q)Do you listen to music while you create your work? If so, would you give some examples?

a)I do often, though not always. Lately I have been accompanying my work with drone, industrial and psychedelic rock: Bardo Pond, Sunn O))), Isis, Current 93, Maurizio Bianchi just to mention a few. Referring to something that influences what I do I would say late New Age.

q)Do you do work in any other media? Other projects not necessarily related to your main body of work?

a)A musical project, still in development though.

q)What advice do you have for artists looking to show their work?

a)I do not think I can say it, I am neither a gallery manager nor an expert, but in my opinion timing, spaces and choices made about showing one's work must be taken considering working modalities and types.

q)Do you have any upcoming exhibitions of your work that you can mention?

a)The presentation of a fanzine entirely dedicated to collage, "mekanik copulaire", edited by Willaim Turlisky, featuring several european artists, besides me. Other upcoming events are two collective exhibition, a fantasy-themed one in Cagliari and another entirely dedicated to collage art. Soon there will be more informations.

q)Where can people see more of your work on the internet?

a)I have a temporary site on ptznt.tumblr.com where people can find links and updates.

Interview with Eric Hibit

q)Who are you? Where are you from and where do you live now?

a)I was born in Rochester, NY, in western part of the state. This is also where I spent my childhood. Now I’m in NYC.

q)What is it that you do? What media do you use?

a)I do acrylic paintings on paper. I also do sculptural paintings, made by stretching fabric over wire armatures.

q)What do you think sets your work apart?

a)Sensibility is what sets any artists work apart.

q)How long have you been showing your work for? Did you have a “big break?”

a)I’ve been showing my work since undergrad.

q)What are some things that have inspired you?

a)Mysteries. Nature. New York.

q)What have you been working on recently?

a)Well, recently, there is a lot going on. I am planning an installation, containing images and objects presented in a very specific way. Wish I could say more, but I can’t divulge the themes until the work is complete.

q)Do you listen to music while you create your work? If so, would you give some examples?

a)Well, my musical tastes are not very evolved. I’m really an idiot about music, always been. As a teenager I had no sense for what was cool. People had to really spell it out for me, I had no idea. The contents of my ipod are truly too humiliating to list :( Next question....

q)Do you do work in any other media? Other projects not necessarily related to your main body of work?

a)I do not work in other media.
Besides art, I enjoy running, vegetarian cooking, all types of cookies and cakes, coffee, my pet turtle Ginger, meditation and yoga, state fairs, astrology, Scrabble, excursions into nature, dancing, and interesting wines.

q)What advice do you have for artists looking to show their work?

a)Honor inspiration.

q)Do you have any upcoming exhibitions of your work that you can mention?

a)I will be ready to announce that soon.

q)Where can people see more of your work on the internet?

a)erichibit.com, curatorsoffice.com, annakustera.com,

Interview with Erin McCarty

q)What is your earliest art-related memory?

a)Every thanksgiving (when I was really little) I used to make these festive, super elaborate sets of the Native Americans dining with the Pilgrims. This involved life size paper cut outs of characters fully accessorized in head dresses and those little pilgrim shoes with the buckles, a full on construction paper thanksgiving meal and table, and a bunch of little piles of fallen tree leaves. There are all these really creepy pictures of me posing in front of the scene (which I taped onto the wall by the dinner table) in a bonnet and looking really pleased with myself.

q) Who has had the greatest influence on your work?

a)I don’t think it is one particular artist so much as it has been my surroundings and experiences. I grew up in Alaska, and the intense weather conditions and towering, craggy landscape has definitely had the biggest influence on my art. It’s made my paintings more epic, concerned with extremes, and bent on communicating the awe-inspiring. I’m definitely more excited to work on a new piece after going on an outing of some kind rather than trolling around online. There is so much jaw-dropping talent out there that it can get pretty overwhelming and even discouraging at times. If I’m feeling down on myself, it just creates icky feelings that aren’t good for motivation. A good time spent in the mountains or forest always, always puts me in a frame of mind where I become overwhelmed by beauty in a good, healthy way that feels meaningful and not forced. Then I’m more driven to create something that is unique to my experience and perception, as opposed to copying someone else’s techniques.

q) What are the main tools of your craft?

a)Gouache, ink, 400lb archival watercolor paper. I’m really into Holbein Acryla Gouache right now for the insane color options.

q) Is a formal education important?

a)Depends on the individual. All I can say is that it really helped shape me as an individual. I became more serious and engaged. If I hadn’t gone to college, there would have been more potential for me to be aimless. Initially, going in to art school I had a pretty bad attitude about it, and was even embarrassed to tell people that that was what I was doing. It sounds cheesy, but I started to take myself more seriously the minute I took art school more seriously.

q) What is the biggest misconception about art?

a)That you always have to suffer for it.

q) Which is more important in art - concept or execution?

a)It varies piece to piece and person to person. For me, concept is more important for now. This is because I can’t get excited about a piece if I’m not excited about an idea first. However, the concept can be as loose as “okay, today I want to make a painting that describes how bright the sun feels”. It doesn’t always have to be major.

q) What theme or aesthetic are you most drawn too?

a)Rendering the grotesque in a way that is really beautiful to look at. Lately I’ve been pretty fixated on the human body…veins, pus, bones, rot, and all that.

q) What is your favorite piece of art in your home?

a)At my childhood home there is this big goat head on the wall. It is the one & only thing my dad has ever hunted and had mounted. He did it alone in Alaska when he was a young man and I think it was a pretty big deal for him. I remember him saying he cried afterwards, and ended up eating some of it that night. It is one of those stories that made my dad seem larger than life when I was a little kid, and feels mythologized to me at this point. Usually people that have animal heads on their walls have about 5-10 heads. We just have the one, and it stands out so much in our little tv room.

q) If you could collaborate with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

a)Gustav Klimt. I know we could make some ultra patterned, pervy stuff together. William Blake for his boldness, storytelling, and compositions.

q) What has been your greatest achievement to date?

a)Seeing how much stronger my work has become over time. It is a huge motivator to keep doing this.

q) What has been your biggest roadblock?

a)Fear & self doubt, the biggest killer of creativity.

q) How do you define success?

a)Getting to a place where I feel stable enough financially to support myself, as well as help emerging artists make a career for themselves in some way. It is important to give back to the community that opened the gates for you, and after so much time of self reflection I think focusing on other people would feel like a vacation!

q) What is the best piece of (art-related) advice you’ve ever been given?

a)A teacher of mine said something along the lines of , “half of succeeding as an artist is talent, and the other is just pure serendipity”. That just feels really true to me. You can’t always force things, and sometimes the most perfect opportunity comes out of nowhere.

Interview with Winston Chmielinski

q)What is your earliest art-related memory?

a)Crimson berries grow wild around my childhood elementary school... I would mash them up, smear the color on cheeks, into my hair, and since my hair was already quite dark brown I would sometimes involve the blondes.

q) Who has had the greatest influence on your work?

a)Francis Bacon, Egon Schiele

q) What are the main tools of your craft?

a)For now, Golden Open Acrylics on canvas, panel, clay board. Really old brushes.

q) Is a formal education important?

a)As for painting I’m self-taught. An effective artist is perceptive, and effective schooling opens up the eyes.

q) What is the biggest misconception about art?

a)That it can be confined to a category.

q) Which is more important in art - concept or execution?

a)Both have their place, maybe at different times. If I try to follow the oscillations between the two I get confused; I theorize outside the studio (I think a lot, a lot,) and let loose inside.

q) What theme or aesthetic are you most drawn too?

a)Confined accidents, moments of menial rendering beset by freefalls and vice versa.

q) What is your favorite piece of art in your home?

a)Of my own, “Color Me Quiet” – it resonates with memories, and powerful objects are exhilarating

q) What has been your greatest achievement to date?

a)Sticking with it

q) What has been your biggest roadblock?

a)Someone else will determine that in retrospect.

q) How do you define success?

a)If intense individuals find my artwork intensely relatable

q)What is the best piece of (art-related) advice you’ve ever been given?

a)Just do