Monday, September 21, 2009

Interview with Ralf Obergfell






q)please tell us a brief info about yourself.
 
 
a)I was born in Freiburg, Germany and grew up in Staufen, a small town 20km south of Freiburg. First picked up a camera at the age of 15 and documented my friends at school. Confused and curious about my sexuality, I decided to move to London age 20 to explore what's out there...personally and creatively.
 
 
q)Tell us about your humble beginnings, When did you you first realized that you wanted to be an artist?
 
 
a)As teenager I was very much into the music of  80's British bands like The Cure, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode and Eurythmics and was transfixed by London's New Romantic fashion. This, together with my passion for photography as well as my sexual curiosity, made me think 'I think I'm a bit different from my mates at school'. 
 
 
q)What are your tools of the trade and why?
 
 
a)A lot of my work is based around my immediate surroundings, like my friends, where I live and the GutterSlut club parties that I put on with the Dalston Gay Mafia. Tools of the trade? Perhaps personal relationships and a love for the crazy, weird and wonderful. 
 
 
q)Who or what gives you inspiration on your morbid art?
 
 
a)My boyhusband and friends, GutterSlut, other artists whose work I admire. Greenpeace, music, magazines, books, films.... Fantasy and desires, every day happenings really.
 
 
q)Is your artistic background self-taught or did you go to college to study?
 
 
a)My dad was an enthusiastic amateur photographer. When I was little he would teach me a few basic elements of photography in terms of exposure and lighting. From there on I taught myself. Later I studied and graduated at London College of Printing, however not in a photography relating context.
 
 
q)How do you keep ?fresh? within your industry?
 
 
a)I look into other artists, friends and areas of photography and art that I find fascinating. Though generally I just keep shooting whatever catches my eye and inspires me at a specific moment of time. 
 
 
q)What are some of your current projects?
 
 
a)My new show 'Beautiful Freaks'  (a collaboration with artist and set designer Tony Hornecker) opens in London on 24 September. The body of work that makes up Beautiful Freaks finds its origins specifically back in 2005, at the time when East London's Electro scene started to gain real momentum.
Beautiful Freaks is a celebration on the new generation of exotic creatures at a new wave of events including Gay Bingo, GutterSlut, Trailer Trash, Horse Meat Discos NYC Downlow and the Pale Blue Door.
 
 
q)Which of your works are you the most proud of? And why?
 
 
a)I've been shooting for over 20 years, so to pin point specific proud moments is a hard one. 'Thomas and Marc frolicking in the bath' is a memorable picture as it was one of the very first photographs I ever took. The 'Beautiful Freaks' and 'Last Stop' works have been labour of love projects. As well as some individual images of my friends and lovers. 
 
 
q)Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?
 
 
a)I've been working on some new ideas. Watch this space. ..
 
 
q)What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?
 
 
a)Exercising, nature, traveling, Berlin, a healthy diet, plenty of sleep, regular breaks, reading and quality time with my friends, boyhusband and Lucky (the dog).
 
 
q)how do you spend most of your free time?
see question above
 
 
q)What contemporary artists or developments in art interest you?
 
 
a)Per QX, Tony Hornecker, Antonio Urquillo de Simon, Ryan McGinley, Slava Mogutin, Alexey Kiselef, David Lynch, Larry Clark...are all very exciting artists that keep re-inventing and push boundaries, I'm very much into that... 
 
 
q)We really like some of your pictures, how can we get our hands on them? Do you sell them? How?
 
 
a)Just  shoot@ralfobergfell.com
 
 

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Interview with Patrick Winfield





q)please tell us a brief info about yourself.


a)for my job i am a graphic designer. my personal work gets done in the night time and on weekends. i love nature, good grief, bad hair days, silly dogs and nice people.



q)Tell us about your humble beginnings, When did you you first realized that you wanted to be an artist?


a)when my dream of becoming a giraffe dissolved i started to draw. this got me attention within my family, so i continued. then the girls liked it. now i do it for myself.


q)What are your tools of the trade and why?


a)whatever is at my disposal, anything goes. computer, printer, paints, spray paints, found material, film, pens and pencils, chalk, crayon, ink, fabric, etc.



q)Who or what gives you inspiration on your morbid art?


a)my morbid self ;) also books, music and walking around outside.


q)Is your artistic background self-taught or did you go to college to study?


a)both, i went to school then taught myself some things. always learning.


q)How do you keep “fresh” within your industry?


a)shower daily.


q)What are some of your current projects?


a)more collage work and music.


q)Which of your works are you the most proud of? And why?


a)the next one. it motivates me and makes it fun and really tough.


q)Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?


a)so, so many.


q)What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?


a)keep my mind open, no chemicals other than coffee, exercise and meditation. relax and smile. spend quality time with family and friends.


q)how do you spend most of your free time?


a)being happy. (see above)


q)What contemporary artists or developments in art interest you?


a)creative poodle grooming.


q)We really like some of your pictures, how can we get our hands on them? Do you sell them? How?


a)thanks! i sell them through my site. i can ship them out anywhere.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Interview with Joe Wilson





q)Please introduce yourself.


a)My name is Joe Wilson, and im an illustrator.


q) Where do you live and work?


a)I live in the middle of England and work from my home at the moment.


q) How would you describe your work to someone who has never seen it?


a)Its Disgustingly groovy.


q) How did you start in the arts? How/when did you realize you were an artist?


a)I have always been a drawer, for as long as i can remember. I got serious about doing nothing but art when i was about 13 or 14.but i didn't think i could make a living out of it until i was about 18.


q) What are your favorite art materials and why?


a)I find that i am totally comfortable with pencils, pens and paper. nothing else can compare, i need the discipline.


q) What/who influences you most?


a)In terms of artists i love Aaron Horkey, Tyler Stout and Jorn Kaspuhl. Also got to big up Alex Trochut, Oscar Wilson and Harry Malt at Debut Art.


q) Describe a typical day of art making for you.


a)Get up, drink some tea or coffee, check my emails,blogs etc. Get down to some actual work and pretty much remain in a state of hypnotic drawing for the day. I'll stop at about 7 if i have the choice. If i have nothing else to do i might carry on into the night but it depends how much work i have on.


q) Do you have goals, specific things you want to achieve with your art or in your career as an artist?


a)Theres a few things that i would consider milestones on a personal career note, but as long as i can live im happy.

I would love to design some skateboards as i was a big skateboarder when i was younger so that would be huge for me.


q) What contemporary artists or developments in art interest you?


a)Well, like ive said before im really into Aaron Horkey and Tyler Stout and that whole american rock/film poster scene is really pushing out some great work. They have huge dedication and productivity that i would love to recreate here in England. Also, British illustration is really awesome at the moment and events like Printclubs 'Blisters' shows, are really helping to push awareness of that.


q) How long does it typically take you to finish a piece?


a)This depends on whether its a piece for a client or a piece for myself. I tend to do nothing but commercial work these days and its hard to find the time for personal stuff.

I usually spend about 4 days on a commercial piece if they give me that, and a personal piece can take up to 2 weeks on and off. I do like labouring over details but i like to get sections done in one stint so i dont lose interest.

so i'll often pencil in one day, pen the next one or two days, and colour in a day. This seems to work nicely for me.


q) Do you enjoy selling your pieces, or are you emotionally attached to them?


a)I love selling my pieces although they are very often screenprinted editions that i sell, therefore the original remains mine.

I guess i am attached to the original drawings as so much energy, mental and physical, has been required. i like the idea of having a lifetime of catalogued drawings when im old, but i'll sell for the right price. Im only human.


q) Is music important to you? If so, what are some things you're listening to now?


a)Music is important to me, and also my work routine. I love to listen to loud music when i draw so i zone in on what im doing. create a sort of bubble to work within.

At the moment im listening to a lot of Shuggie Otis, The band, some Neil young and early Black Sabbath.


q) Books?


a)I dont read many novels, i read watchmen a while ago but i tend to dip into books about nature and science.


q) What theories or beliefs do you have regarding creativity or the creative process?


a)errr, i guess i believe in the idea that creativity breeds creativity. Ive also found that if i draw nothing, then i will have no inspiration.

sometimes the only way to formulate ideas is to put pen to paper.


q) What do you do (or what do you enjoy doing) when you're not creating?


a)I enjoy films, and going to the pub. Im partial to the odd ten pin bowl and i play keyboards and organs in a band. but thats creating.


q) Do you have any projects or shows coming up that you are particularly excited about?


a)Ive been doing some regular drawings for GQ magazine so i enjoy the discipline of having to create new images, quickly and on a variety of subjects.


q) Do you follow contemporary art scenes? If so, how? What websites, magazines, galleries do you prefer?


a)I follow the american poster scene, i love some of the artists doing that kind of work. I just keep my eyes on gigposters.com and http://omgposters.com/.

I keep my eyes on the creative review blog and a few others. but i like to follow individual artists blogs and sites to see what other illustrators are up to.


q) Ask yourself a question you'd like to answer, and answer it.


a)I always ask people what there guilty pleasures are so if i ask myself i would have to say, girls magazines and poor BBC3 surgery/brat camp type TV.


q) Any advice for aspiring artists?


a)Keep your pencils sharp and your brain sharper.


q) Where can we see more of your work online?


a)you can see more of my stuff at:

site: www.joe-wilson.com

blog: www.jonieslow.blogspot.com

agent: www.debutart.com