I read that some of your earlier influences as an artist were video games, skateboard graphics, and good ol’ Saturday morning cartoons. When and how did enjoying the media shift from observing to creating?
Ever since I was a kid, I doodled in class. My books were covered with creatures I would put in all these horrible situations. I actually
used to draw Donald Duck a lot, but it was really never a conscious decision of drawing what I saw; it was just something I did all the time.
What did you want to be when you grew up as a kid? Did it change?
I always wanted to be an artist, but I also wanted to be an archaeologist to study man and dinosaurs. I was really into dinosaurs. I guess I
wanted to be an animator or some sort of cartoon style artist.
Did you ever create art for a family member or someone special to you?
Yeah, totally. I used to do it a lot for family and friends when I had the time, especially for birthdays of friends and family. But now,
I’m so overwhelmed with projects and stuff that I just can’t make the time.
What kind of art courses did you take in high school, college, or elsewhere?
I didn’t take any in high school, I have a minor in studio art in college. I took lots of classes in ceramics, drawing, and art history - things
like that.
Your website sells your toy creations and says you’re a toy fanatic. Why toys?
Mostly it’s just because I still have this kid inside me that thinks toys are awesome. But to me, as far as inspiration goes, a lot of the toys out now are like 3-D prints. I love toys and I have a lot in my studio. There’s all sorts of them lying around to inspire me. Mostly though, it’s just that kid inside me who still totally digs toys.
Is there a sense of science fiction or even politics in some of these pieces? Is it intentional or just a bonus?
There definitely are some politics incorporated in some pieces. I use a lot of bombs on poor little bunnies; it’s intentional. I draw from
some experiences and things I see everyday. Some of the painting definitely has to do with the war on Iraq; it’s an influential issue.
How long does it take you to finish a project, from the point you get the idea to completion?
It’s hard to say, cause I’m usually doing a bunch of pieces at once. I can do a painting in 2 days, I guess. Typically, I’ll do
about four or five paintings at once, and it takes about one and a half weeks for all of them to be finished.
Color seems to play a significant role in your paintings, placing emphasis on the feeling of the piece and less on the characters. How do you choose your colors? Do you choose your colors first or the scene? Does one lead you into choosing the other?
I usually pick my colors after I’ve already established the scene, just because the colors I use are really spur of the moment. They are whatever I feel like using at the time, and what I feel will help the piece in toning it up and shading it down. Sometimes I’ll get a bunch of colors I want toned in the piece together and mix up some crazy color.
Which was the first piece you sold, and which was your favorite at the time or now? How do they compare?
The first piece I sold was ‘The Talk.’ It was a really fun piece. The guy that bought it contacted me later and made a deal with me to use it as an album cover for a band called All Systems Go. Typically, my favorite piece is the last piece I’ve done. I try not to get too attached to most of my pieces, cause I’m trying to sell them. I guess my favorite piece right now is “Hungry Travelers.’ [In it] I was creating this ghost town with weird people, focusing on a man smoking a cigarette. All the colors were dark. All my newer pieces have reoccurring characters, but tend to be very different pieces.
What does the color red mean to you?
I use it a lot for power and anger. It was also one of my favorite colors when I was little. I have a twin brother; he always wore blue and I wore red, so yeah, I like red.
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