Question: how do you make a painting without using a paint, a brush, or canvas? Answer: ask David Wilhelm. The guy makes paintings out of light. Light, people! And when he's not doing that, he's making insanely cool steel sculptures, and when he's not doing that, he's sitting down with us to talk about his unique process, where he got the inspiration to paint with light, and the public's reaction to his unconventional style.
Question: how do you make a painting without using a paint, a brush, or canvas? Answer: ask David Wilhelm. The guy makes paintings out of light. Light, people! And when he's not doing that, he's making insanely cool steel sculptures, and when he's not doing that, he's sitting down with us to talk about his unique process, where he got the inspiration to paint with light, and the public's reaction to his unconventional style.
VITALS:
Nickname: ArtandSteel or Sweet Cheeks depending on who you talk to
Place of birth: H-Town, Texas
Hair color: Brown
Shoe size: 10 1/2
Favorite Chinese food dish: Sesame chicken
Talents besides art: Dispensary Tour guide for Doitinalimo.com
If we had a party, what would you bring for food? My mom's slow cooked ribs and you’d thank me
Favorite music to work to: Whatever's loud
One thing you want to do before you die: I want to go to outer-space before I die. Absolutely no closer now then when I was five.
One cause you stand up for: Hard to narrow that down but probably child abuse
Ok, enough beating around the bush, how do you make your art? Not even gonna take me to dinner? Just right to it huh? It depends, with the LightPaintings I start in a dark area with my camera mounted to a tripod. Then adjust the camera settings, a good start for anyone who wants to try is Exposure 30” ISO/250 F-stop 8.0 then I set my focus and use different lights to draw in mid air with. With my stainless steel artwork I use lights, automotive paint and abrasives to make the steel reflect light. I want to trick the eye into seeing fluid motion of light. The pieces look different from every angle, if theyre outside they change with the movement and color of the sun.
Where did this light-inspired artwork come from? You must be a raver. Light painting has been around since the late 1800’s there have been some amazing light painters in the past. I'd have to say Man Ray is the grandfather of light painting. Now with the digital camera a lot of the things that were holding it back (ie. film, cost, developing time) have been solved. Pablo Picasso did a LightPainting that made the cover of TIME magazine in 1949. I've taught kids as young as four years old how to light paint and I love to see them take to it so quickly. Most adults are stuck seeing a camera the way they always have, but the kids have no preconceptions of a camera; it's just box that absorbs light to them. I haven’t been to a rave in a long time … Do they still have those?
How long does a single piece take to construct? Thats like asking what a unicorns farts smell like … I DON'T KNOW.
Is there a message within your pieces? Your subjects seem so pensive. There are messages in some steel pieces, but with the people in my images, looking so stoic is because they have to stay still for around 30 seconds
You have a website, artandsteel.com, what’s that all about? You can see upcoming shows, videos of artwork, hook me up with your email, buy prints, coffee mugs … all sorts of stuff. Check it out.
With your work being so different, how has the reception by the general public been? I try to stay away from my work when it's around people. I know what it means to me. The moment I'm done with a piece, I got what I came for. There are some great galleries in Denver I'd like to show at. I just wont be at the openings. With the light paintings, I’ve never shown my work as an artist. Besides Good Day Colorado, Rooster is pretty much the first time Im showing over 10 years of images to the public.
What excites you most about what you do? Being able to have the physical art. I love this stuff.
Do your parents question your LSD usage? All natural — just green! But I like that my work makes you think that!
What’s one thing you want to tell people about your artwork that they might not know? When I have an idea I see in my head, I have to make it. Commissions are very rare exceptions.
What do you love about the Denver art scene? The people are great, the art is solid. Santa Fe Artwalk and Blake Street artwalk have great turn outs and there are amazing sculptures all over the city.
Final thoughts: I just want to say that I relocated here back in June and have felt so welcomed into this city. I just want to take a second to thank everyone in Denver. Without you, this city wouldn’t be the amazing place to live that it is!.
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