A/S/L?
39/Male/St. Petersburg, Fla.
What's your preferred medium to work with?
I create my illustrations using a Wacom Cintiq graphics tablet and Adobe Photoshop. From there, I have the artwork printed, laser etched, or silkscreened directly onto various substrates, such as layered wood, acrylic glass, metallic panels, foil posters and skateboard installations.
In your eyes, how has social media changed the art world?
One big effect from social media that I’ve noticed, is that fans these days are not only interested in the images artists create, but they also want to intimately know the artist behind the curtain. People have become interested the process and not just the end product. It’s forcing introverted artists like myself to break out of the comfort of the studio to find avenues to connect and share with others in ways that we likely wouldn’t have done otherwise.
When was it you knew you wanted to be an artist?
In my junior year of high school, back in 1995, when hardly anyone around me owned a cell phone, before I even knew how to use a computer and when files were saved onto 1.44 MB floppy disks, I got my first introduction to Apple Computers, and Photoshop version 2.5. I had signed up for a program called ‘Commercial Art’ at a local, technical institute after a representative had visited and spoke to my art class. From that moment, I decided that this was going to be the way for me to create artwork for a living and not just as a hobby, which is exactly what I was looking for, but previously had no idea how that was going to be realistically possible.
If you had to pick one song to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?
‘Dopesmoker’ by the band Sleep.
Do you have any other hobbies/interests people might be surprised to hear about?
I am very much a psychonaut and feel most at home when journeying inside my own mind. I enjoy practicing meditation, sensory-deprivation and lucid dreaming — as well as listening to binaural beats audio to facilitate various brainwave states throughout my day. About once every quarter I’ll also take heroic doses of psilocybin or join Ayahuasca circles to explore alternate states of consciousness, with the intention of reconnecting to the source of all life and cultivating personal growth and increased awareness of SELF. I also enjoy studying ancient mythology and esoteric scripture, specifically the Hindu epics like the Ramayana, the Bhagavad Gita and the Katha Upanishad. And in the Buddhist tradition I’m fascinated by the teachings of the Tibetan Book of the Dead, the Dhammapada.
When art gets commodified, does it hurt the craft or better it?
The more art and opportunities for artists to work and earn a good living the better. I think we are in somewhat of a golden age of art here on planet Earth and I am thoroughly enjoying all of the incredible eye candy that so many creative individuals, as well as companies, are producing. In the past, it was the Catholic church commissioning the masters of the time and now it’s the corporations. If brands are going to spend boatloads of cash trying get us to buy their products and services, I’m thrilled that at least some of those dollars are going towards supporting artists and encouraging creativity.
What's your favorite piece of art you've done?
I’m most satisfied with my latest diptych that was created for a recent group exhibit curated by Cass Contemporary Gallery. In addition to the larger gallery pieces, I also adapted the artwork as screen-printed gig posters for Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age.
How long do you think you spend on one piece (on average)?
If I have a decent time period available to create a gallery piece, like the ones I mentioned above, I let them emerge at their own pace for a month or so and I don’t rush the process. I like to keep the sketches fluid and evolving over time, adding to them as new ideas and inspiration arise and not rendering final linework until I feel they are ready. I balance my gallery and personal illustrations with an array of client projects which are much more demanding and generally require long days/nights and fast turn-arounds to meet deadlines. In this case, a detailed illustration will usually take around 4-7 days to complete.
What shows you're binging on right now?
I’m more of an audiobook guy than a television fan, but a series that I really enjoyed recently was American Gods based on the novel by Neil Gaiman.
If someone's broke but still wants to create, what's the best way to start?
I think most artists generally start creating when broke and by using whatever means are and materials available to them. The key is to never give searching for your life’s purpose and true potential. Though we are all connected, we are all totally unique beings with our own, personal visions and stories to tell. The most important element to creating something meaningful is inspiration. Get inspired by facing your fears and getting out of you comfort zones. See new things. Read new books. Meet new people and open your mind to receive creative insight wherever you are. These things are all freely available. Then create as much as possible.
Best advice you've ever gotten (and actually followed)?
I really like what Joseph Campbell says, because I’ve found this to be true so many times in my career, that I now trust it as divine truth. He says: 'Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.'
Shameless plug(s):
I’m releasing this 5-color screen-print with www.collectionzz.com that I think came out really stunning. A main edition, as well as gold and red, mirror foil variants will be available. The artwork is my homage to Black Sabbath and is inspired by the song ‘War Pigs’. My hope is that the piece will be a visual reminder when hung that what we really are, beyond the physical body cannot be killed or harmed by war and violence.
Site: PalehorseDesign.com
IG, Twitter & Facebook: @palehorsedesign
Leave a Reply