INTERVIEW About Art
By Rosie Day
November 2006

What inspired you to start drawing? Did u have any
influences?

ive been drawing my whole life- its like a persistent lifeblood. its my favorite forum of expression and the ability to express is pretty potent to any human. growing up i was really into a lot of comics like tank girl and love and rockets. Eventually, when i got into punk rock, i liked all the artist doing real comic-inspired stuff for bands like evan dorkin and fly. But as for artists who arent directly in the comic/punk community im in who i think have influenced me- i really love camile rose garcia ben shahn, frida
kahlo, david alfaro, and kathe kollowitz a lot.

How is it you actually produce your work (computer
graphics, illuastrating , photography)

I draw everything with micron and rapidograph pens. i might paint it and use marker for shadows and color. Other times, Ill scan the linework and color the smaller subjects with photoshop. Backgrounds vary- they might be digital, or they might be scanned paintings of textures and gradients.

Is most of your work themed?

I guess its always gonna have a theme. I dont do much conceptual stuff where aesthetic is the greatest quality. I do a lot of stuff for predetermined stories; a lot of stuff for someone else's projects; and a lot of stuff for myself that always is based on an idea or motive. Even if its mostly observational of some building or person i sought after as beautiful- a portrait still has a theme.

Do you raise any social struggles and your own personal beliefs into your work?

Usually- all my stories have glints of my beliefs, whether its straghtforward or displayed through storytelling. And the drawings are about that. So yes.

Would you say your works similar to a comic style?

Yeah- im actually working on a sequential graphic novel right now...Aka, a big, fat conceptual comic. Although it could not be when its a single complex piece- but it still, however, will have that comic influence.

Who are your favorite artists?

Right now its camile rose garcia, jaime hernandez, mark ryden, adrian tomine, fly, and steak mountain.

Do you believe art should be free to everyone and anyone?

Ofcourse! people should have the option of wanting to own something that they are willing to pay for; or being able to view something publicly. Thats why i think public and street art is real important. Im starting to get back into printing stickers and
wheatpasting. However, i think that having the option to sell work is important for the artist. Cause we dont live in a centralized island that allows us to make a living off of seashells.

What do you think of Freida Kahlo and barbara kreuge, would you say your work is simialir to theirs in any sense?

Ive always loved frida; and initially it was mostly due to the cultural and gender-based essence that we share [we are both latin women]- but her work is not only enchanting and striking conceptually; but visually shes so intensely focused on detail and
making use of the entire compositon. Thats important to me. I dont like taking a forum where i can manifest my voice through an image for granted. She was really intense about evoking a space or suggesting an era, visually, through details. I hope my obsession with that same idea is presented in some ways through what I do. Im trying. Ive always liked barbara kruger and how iconographic she is- compositionally and based on style; I was never too influenced by her; but i cant help but love what straightforward and familiar routes she uses to display ideas. Its imporant not to alienate an audience as an artist whos bent on suggesting some politic or belief.