Melissa Kowalczyk, Redefine Magazine. What's your name, dear?
Michael Katchan (MK)

Have you ever taken any art classes? If so, how long? and what kinds? If not, what got you interested in art?
I’ve taken art classes like the art classes you take in school as part of the curriculum. Outside of them.... I took an Adobe Illustrator course late 2002. That was productive, but I think I forgot most of it. It went for 8 weeks. Oh, about two months ago now, I finished my diploma in an animation course that went for 6 months. I did that mainly to get the diploma under my belt in case I want to pursue animation at a later date. Looks nice in the CV, too. As far as getting interested in art goes... I’ve been drawing since I was 2. But then, I only figured it could probably make a decent career option about 4 years ago, and I started focusing on my art. About two years ago, I realized it was what I definitely wanted as I hated everything else, and I don’t want to be working in a job I hate, even if it doesn't offer the best pay (thanks, Chasing Amy, you’ve fucked me now. Oh, um, watch that movie.).

How would you describe your art that you do, and how would you classify it?
The art that I create is more... not a message per se, but a window, I guess. It's the only real conduit my soul has to the real world, and the best way I can get the demons of my mind and heart out. I’ve often been slotted Into the dark art category of art, so I guess that would be the classification, as my images are generally rather.. macabre - or at the very least - distorted.

Would you say that you are more a part of your art or that your art Is more a part of you?
I’d say Its a bit of a mix, really. almost a symbiotic relationship, If you will. I put myself In everything I do. You'll always notice with my work a rather large (or generally anyway) emphasis on hands... or mouths, for Instance. I find the body to be very expressive and use myself as the basis for that, but symbolically too, I find myself thrust Into my work. I don’t think anybody could pick up on half of the little messages I leave In what I do, but then by the same token, the art is a part of me, as I’m never without a pen or sketchbook, I draw naturally just to think, and sketching I fInd... very therapeutic. Its definitely a lifestyle.

What kind of art do you most enjoy to look at?
Strangely enough, I’ve really started to enjoy looking at photography, but I still read and religiously collect comics like there's no tomorrow. I do so love my comics.

What interests you aside from your art?
Interests... as in hobbies and what else I do in my free time?
Yes, exactly, things like hobbies, etc...
Well in that case, many things, I guess. I love the wacky, different things in life that one could consider pretty damned cliché: having a luncheon with someone at an Italian cafe on a small round, plaid table under an umbrella, for instance. But yeah, I love my computer games, socializing, staring at clouds.. almost sounds pretentious in that real artsy way, but I’m not going to lie. I USED to collect those god-awful Magic: The Gathering cards (wizards don’t read this do they?). It's a scandal. Don’t buy them.

What Inspires you?
Many things. As far as artists are concerned, I could give you quite the long list. My main inspirations there would definitely be whoever drew the old school Ghost rider comics (got me into drawing muscles as a wee boy), Todd Mcfarlane, Greg Capullo, Angel Medina, whoever inks Spawn (soooo much inspiration there. I can't tell you how much.), my old metalwork teacher (weirdly enough, that guy introduced to me the concepts of light and how it hits things when drawing, and that just blew everything into a new world for me), H.R. Giger, Salvador Dali, and Jhonnen Vasquez. As far as other inspirations go, I’d have to say my past, my mind, and all the other cliché things that follow depression would be my other main inspirations for what I do.

How'd you get the screen name on DA?
Boredom, really. At the time I figured the name suited me as I was starting to question my beliefs as a Christian (early this year, in mid-January, I left God).

Did you ever notice how the main character in a lot of movies have their own theme music?
Hehehe yes, and not only in movies, but many TV shows and cartoons as well!!! I don’t care what people say, I’m a fan of DragonBall Z, simply because I love the thing that Vegetta has going wIth Goku. He's a very well-created character, and he's all about theme music.

Last, but not least, what do you thInk about the color red?
Funny you should ask. That's my favorite color. The deep passionate color of love, and the raw, hot color of slaughter and hate. I use it often. It works best with white and black, I think, which in itself is rather funny when you think about it *twitches*




Please visit Mike's site on DeviantArt, or rasterized.org, which currently features two of his pieces as well.


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