Interview: 10 Questions With The TERRIFYINGLY AMAZING Kamila Mlynarczyk!

10 Questions With Kamila Mlynarczyk
Kamila Mlynarczyk
facebook: Kamila Mlynarczyk Woodedwoods Facebook Page
images copyright  Kamila Mlynarczyk

 1.... what medium and tools do you use to create art? 

I use black pen to sketch, if I like the gesture and movement and idea of a sketch I'll continue with washes of acrylic paint. I've never been one to use pencil, I like the permanence of pen- forces me to make every stroke count and I know there's no room for mistakes.

My sculpture are mixed media, start with a wire armature then polymer clay. I paint with acrylics, use real hair and wool. I use vintage fabrics and lace for the costuming, I also age, stain and distress the fabric so it looks worn and old.

 2.... what is your creative process when making art? 

 I try to draw everyday, every week I have one or two days where I'm just "on" and I can't put down my pen- usually everything around me is put on hold until I can get my ideas down on paper.

My sculpting is a lot like my drawing, I work in energetic bursts. I never plan what I'm going to sculpt or draw, I may have an idea but I let it happen. My best work comes when I'm not forcing anything to happen, very organically- thats why its very hard for me to accept commissions, I like the freedom of letting whatever comes to happen.

3.... who are your favorite artists?

My biggest inspiration is Edward Gorey, I found his work at my local library when I was very young and just fell in love with his darkness- his work was the most interesting thing I had ever seen at that age and it really just let me know there was a place in this world for the things I loved and found interesting and wanted to pursue.

I also love the aesthetic of the children's books illustrators of the golden age-
Edmund Dulac, Aubrey Beardsley, Arthur Rackham etc.

4.... for you what is the biggest motivation to create art? 

I've always drawn, as far back as I can remember. I guess my motivation is to express my ideas and feelings, tell the stories I want to share, and to satisfy that urge to create. I'd be lost if I couldn't draw or sculpt. I think I can do a way better job of expressing my feelings through art than talking- it's how I communicate best. It's what I have to offer, in school when I was young there were charismatic people and funny and beautiful people and what I had to share was my art and its how I got to know people and made friends.

5.... what attracted you to the genre of art you work in? 

I've been drawn to ghost stories and dark humor all my life, sometimes it landed me in a lot of trouble but it's what I found fascinating and addictive. It couldn't have been anything else for me, I can only be passionate and obsessed with what I love and what I love are monsters and the dark side of humanity.

6.... where would you like to see your art career in ten years

I just want to create as much as I can and share it with as many people as I can. I'd love to write and illustrate my own children's book and want to continue to make big scary sweet sculptures and display them in galleries around the world. If I can make a living at it that's awesome too, but if I can't it definitely won't slow me down.

7.... do you feel its important to follow your passion in your career?

It's all I'm about. People would say sometimes to my detriment but everything I make I want it to be filled with passion and love and wonder. If I do that then it shows and it can move people that look at or buy my artwork and i think its the most important thing.

8.... what is the secret to creating a great piece of art? 

Not holding back, not censoring yourself not playing it safe. You need to be brave and stand by your ideas no matter how idiotic they are. Not everyone will understand what you're doing but that's okay.

9.... how and when do you get your best ideas? 

I try to read about a lot of topics that fascinate me, ideas come when you keep your mind busy and well fed on knowledge- they come organically.

Another time I get my best ideas is when I'm in a very low place emotionally, my humor gets really dark and I can poke fun at myself through my drawings and it makes my problems seem not so dark and heavy when I can share them and laugh.

10.... if you could give other artists one piece of advice what would it be?

Always be doing what you love, do it obsessively and you'll find your way, your style your whatever- but just work, draw do it all. the. time.

Interview: 10 Questions With The SUPER Andrew DeGraff

Andrew DeGraff
tumblr: http://andrewdegraff.tumblr.com/
images copyright Andrew DeGraff

"Star Wars" Movie Maps

1.... what medium and tools do you use to create art?

I pretty much work in gouache on paper. It's the best medium I've found for making precise colored line, as well as being pretty low toxicity and safe as art materials go. I use traditional gouache (not acrylic gouache) because it can dry and be re-wet. Generally the map paintings happen over a month or more, and that means I can pre-mix a palette for that painting, and not worry about it drying on the palette and having to re-mix.

2.... can you describe your creative process when making art?

Well, ideally for paintings I like to sit in a dark room and think about it - I try to get right on the edge of dreams, and let the ol' subconscious do the heavy lifting. For the maps, it's a little bit of guided dreaming that for the overall look, and then a lot of note taking and flow charting. I basically have to reverse story board every scene, and try to recompose it. Part of the problem of doing the paintings by hand on paper is that you really can't make big mistakes - once you cover that patch of paper, you can never go back. I try to be really sure of my pencils and double check everything. It sounds boring, but I find it really meditative.

"Goonies" Movie Map

3.... what helps boost your creativity?

Coffee, museums, tumblr, exercise, mass transit, NPR, a really good tree . . . Anyway that I can unclench my brain.

4.... what helps you maintain motivation when creating?

What really keeps me moving - or at least keeps my butt in the studio - are audiobooks. I listen to a lot of audiobooks, generally non-fiction and sci-fi. The movie maps take 100 hrs, and sometimes up to 1000 for the sofa size LoTR trilogy map, so it's nice to have a long book or series to pass the time. I think every painting has a joyful beginning, and satisfying ending, but in the middle can be a stressful drudge - which is a great time to listen to a biography of Bruce Springsteen.

"Jaws" Movie Map

5.... what is the secret to creating a great piece of art?

I think the secret to makeing something great is 50/50 split of ego and selflessness. I think you have to be absolutely true to yourself. But every painting or artwork big or small is sort of a gift to the world, and I think you should be aware of your audience, the universe, and it's influence on you. You have reflect, not just project and vice-versa.

"Back To The Future" Movie Map

6.... do you feel its important to follow your passion in your career?

Absolutely. I feel really lucky that there's something I knew I wanted to do since I could hold a pencil, and really thankful that my family supported my decision to go for it.

"Ghost Busters" Movie Map

7.... how and when do you get your best ideas?

I like to go for a run in the middle of the day, have lunch, take a shower and do little siesta for 15 to 20 minutes to recharge. I find it's the best time to do my little guided half dreaming.

"The Shining" Movie Map

8.... who are your favorite artists?

My two all time faves are Joan Miro and Otto Dix. Some other big ones the fave mix are Ben Shahn, R. Crumb, Chris Ware, Henry Darger, Paul Gauguin, Hieronymous Bosch, many others. I also love good old fashioned illustrators: J.C. Leyendecker, John Berkey, Chris Foss, Bernie Fuchs, Parrish, Rockwell - the pure craft of those guys is unbelievable.

"Star Trek" Movie Map

9.... do you offer workshops for artists?

I don't - I used to teach at illustration at Pratt, my alma mater. I really miss it. I'd love to do it again.

10.... if you could give other artists one piece of advice what would it be?

Don't get intimidated by your ambition, just jump in a go for it. The more you push yourself, the easier it will be next time and the more you'll learn. A lot of my illustration students would have a great idea, and then groan realizing the time and work it would take to make it happen. But if I could convince them to do it, they were always glad they did. I do the same mental hemming and hawing. But if I think it would be cool, especially if it's complicated and scares me a little, I have to do it. I'm always glad I did, even if I'm not totally happy with the result.

"Indiana Jones" Movie Map

Video Interview: Massive Fantastic's AWESOMELY CREEPY interview with "Thomas Kuebler"!!

Thomas Kuebler
website: http://www.tskuebler.com/
image copyright Thomas Kuebler

Lets kick off HALLOWEEN right!  What better way to start celebrating the GREATEST holiday than with the annual posting of Massive Fantastic's interview with the AWESOMELY CREEPY "Sculptor of the Bizzare" Thomas Kuebler!  Be sure to check out this GREAT CREEPY interview to learn more about his AWESOME art, creative process, and thoughts on inspiration!

Interview: 10 Questions with the AWESOME Lorraine Schleter!

 

Lorraine Schleter
deviantart: http://lorraine-schleter.deviantart.com/gallery/
kickstarter:  Impact! Miniature's Chibi Dungeon Adventurers
images copyright Impact! Miniatures
 
 10 Questions with Lorraine Schleter!

 

 1.... what medium and tools do you use to create art?

Photoshop, my iMac, and a wacom tablet!

2.... can you describe your creative process when making art?

Well, the person commissioning the work sends me a description, I send them back a quick rough sketch, the necessary changes are made and once I'm clear, I render out the linework, color the character in, and add a bit of shadow. The client looks it over once more to see if it needs any changes, and if not, I'm all done!  (Non chibi work is pretty much the same, but minus the linework part)

3.... what helps boost your creativity?

Tea and good music!

4.... what helps you maintain focus and motivation when creating?

Also tea and good music!

5.... what is the secret to creating a great piece of art?

Well, I guess that would be making something that YOU feel is great. Everyone likes different stuff and as long as your happy with it, nothing else matters.

6.... do you feel its important to follow your passion in your career?

For sure. If you don't you get burnt out.

7.... how and when do you get your best ideas?

About 4am when I'm exhausted and trying to finish up a different project.

8.... who are your favorite artists?

Ooo, so many. I guess the ones that have had the most influence on what I do are Frank Frazetta, Rumiko Takahasi, and my Grandma.

9.... do you offer workshops for artists?

Never done one before, but I would be happy to try.

10.... if you could give other artists one piece of advice what would it be?

Do what makes you happy and don't worry about what other people say or do. Your only competition is against the person you were yesterday, (and heck, you're ahead of them by a whole day)

Interview: 10 Questions with the HILARIOUS Truck "100% Soft" Torrence!

Truck "100% Soft" Torrence
website: http://www.100percentsoft.com/
blog: http://blog.100percentsoft.com/
images copyright Truck Torrence

10 Questions with Truck "100% Soft" Torrence

1.... what medium and tools do you use to create art?

I work mainly in Illustrator although I will sometimes start with a simple pencil or pen sketch and build on that. I also use Sketchup for doing quick mock-ups of scenes that may have some dimension to them.

2.... can you describe your creative process when making art?

I usually start out with a loose idea of whatever piece I want to do, and then I try and do a quick and dirty mock-up just to conceptualize what it's in my head to see if it will work. If it's going in a direction I like, i'll usually just keep molding and refining it until it's in the ballpark of what I had in mind. I will usually get to about 80% on a piece and then, if time permits, let it percolate for awhile. I'll then revisit and make some finishing touches and adjustments.

3.... what helps boost your creativity?

hi-chews, burritos, black moth super rainbow.

4.... what helps you maintain focus and motivation when creating?

Keeping a schedule and staying busy. Momentum is a hard thing to manufacture, so I try and work on art every day, even if it's just a doodle or something. A couple years ago, I started doing a weekly series called Throwback Thursdays where I draw a new memory and share it. I started doing it partially because I wanted to have new stuff to share with people, but it ended up being a really good way to maintain some personal diligence of setting out to do something every week and actually doing it, even if it isn't exactly what I wanted at the end of the day. It can be easy for me to sometimes go weeks without doing or sharing anything just because I don't think it's "good enough" or whatever, but sometimes in order to grow, you just need to put stuff out there I think. I became so entrenched in finishing my solo show I ended up having to pause my Throwback Thursdays for a few months while I completed all the work I had to do, so I think the practice ends up paying off in the long run if it's allowing me to put that energy into bigger things.

5.... what is the secret to creating a great piece of art?

oh man, please tell me once you figure it out. Some stuff hits harder than others, and it's hard to predict that. I just try and make stuff that I like and if it resonates with some people, that is great.

6.... do you feel its important to follow your passion in your career?

for sure! if you don't try it, you'll never know.

7.... how and when do you get your best ideas?

i've been struck with a lot of good ideas while i'm in the shower. I'm a real serious bather.

8.... who are your favorite artists?

right now i've really been loving Muxxi, Nicole Gustafsson, Yoko Honda, Andrew DeGraff . Michelle Romo/Crowded Teeth. Also this guy Jonpaul Douglass who has a great series called Pizza in the Wild.

9.... do you offer workshops for artists?

I haven't as of yet!

10.... if you could give other artists one piece of advice what would it be?

Good question. Well, it would probably be to watch the intro for the seminal documentary Manimal.