all the photos using an array of lovely smelling chemicals. My mom’s creative outlets were cake decorating, writing, and fashion design. She always tells me, “I wanted to go to fashion design school in New York, but I gave birth to you instead.” I always reply, “You should have gone to fashion design school.”
The techniques that I employ are photography, 3D digital renderings, fractal generations, music, writing, and sculpture. I also created audio / video installation, but I dropped that after we moved. We just don’t have the space to keep the materials, and my writing picked up considerably, so time became a problem. Most of the time, I choose the techniques depending on my mood and the subject matter I want to bring out in the piece. For my 3D Digital Renderings, they focus on social commentaries, or the stuff of nightmares. My fractal generations are tripped out, and now I mix photography with them. My photography is a documentation of the life and death of structures in our communities, and it’s also somewhat of a travelogue. My music and writing focuses on the absurdity of existence with a little social commentary thrown in as well. My sculpture signifies reusability and sustainment in our “throwaway society.”
As for the question, “when do I use one media on what particular day?” it all goes by how I feel at the moment. Some days I feel like assembling recycled materials, another day I feel like just using a pen and notepad – it all depends. I try to carry my cameras with me everywhere I go. And I have been known to stop the car and jump out for a picture in between my travels. Sometimes during a break from a piece I will imagine new ideas to add – these ideas will just appear in my imagination, sparking an even longer session to complete the project. It helps to take a break every now and then to recharge and return fresh with vigorous concepts. Then other days, I only take a break to eat (and maybe another reason or two) because the thoughts fire nonstop.
How do you see the relationship between emotional and intellectual perception of your work? In particular, how much do you consider the immersive nature of the viewing experience?
I plan out my procedures to reach the overall vision. Especially in writing and 3D Digital renderings, I imagine the finished product and work backwards to get there. But that being said, I don’t spend endless time at the planning stage. I know many artists who spend an inordinate amount of time at the beginning stages, so much time that they don’t get to ever finish their project. I do everything I can to finish what I start. Many times I imagine myself as different people in various situations, and ask myself how would I create my artwork as this person if I were in this position or situation. I create many works in many different categories and subjects. I have millions of interests and this helps many people of different demographics to relate to my artwork.
What is the role of technique in your practice? In particular are there any constraints or rules that you follow when creating?
I tend to stay away from “stoner humor” and what I call second grade humor, where people just blurt out names for body parts as if they are a little kid or vying for attention by use of shock humor. I also stay away from preset effects in my media, which is sometimes difficult to do when using digital media. I don’t just use the standard Photoshop filters, or the standards instrument sounds in my electronic music. I bend, shift, and mold the images or sounds to make a unique experience. And above all, I use tons of color! I love color, and can’t seem to get enough of it!
Before leaving this conversation we would like to pose a question about the nature of the relationship of your art with your audience. Do you consider the issue of audience reception as being a crucial component of your decision-making process, in terms of what type of language is used in a particular context?
I very much appreciate the audience’s comments and expressions. Even though I cover a vast array of subject matter in my artwork and writings, I like to see what people gravitate towards. I do a little bit of market research on my Instagram page to see what pieces get positive responses. And as for my art shows, I know to make more prints or create similar artworks of the pieces that sell quickly. Sometimes it has me laughing since some people will say, “No one will like this,” but so many times that piece sells first. I attend two writing workshops, and they have helped me progress considerably. Sometimes, they encircle me and beat me with baseball bats, but it’s always for my improvement. And much of my writing has been placed in various literary venues. And by the way, I have created a series of interactive art pieces (complete with LEDs) in which I encourage the audience to touch the art.