IF YOU HAVEN'T READ PART I
YOU REALLY SHOULD!!!!
I've spoken to and met a handful of really cool artists over the years, so I figured why not ask them a few questions so others can get a real glimpse into what Being An Artist is instead of the typical 'Starving Artist' stereotype. This is PART II. CHECK BACK FOR PART III
"How has it been for you as an artist?"
Wolf Baker: It’s been alright. I’m happy with the work I’ve put out thus far, but finding an audience is always a struggle. To me, art feels like having sand in my shoe. If I go long periods of time without getting anything creative done I get all irritated. Gotta shake the shoe out from time to time. That said, things aren’t bad. I’m not losing money or anything. Still haven’t found a way to make art full time yet though.
RonDee Productions: Satisfyingly Tumultuous.
Gavin Hardin: Honestly I can't complain, I got lucky and had an artistic mom who always supported me and pushed me to do art more. Art is my escape and I'm glad I get to do it everyday.
I'm always playing around with new mediums and evolving as an artist so nothing ever gets boring for me. If I'm tired of drawing I'll paint and if I'm tired of painting I'll sculpt and so on. The hardest part is procrastonating on making shit and letting it sit for too long. This is why I like making stuff for the band, because we sort of have a deadline in a way so it gets our shit in gear.
Derelict_dum_dum: Honestly, I feel pretty guilty. There are a lot of artists who have gone through severe hardships to get to where they are. I just kinda put up an instagram and now, met people with incredible talent who are always pretty eager to talk to me. I know it takes pretty long for most people to get that kind of engagement, so why do I get special treatment? BUT its not all guilt, I own a lot of my old sketchbooks from when I was 8-12 and hoe lee sheet. The improvement from 6th grade-now is just beyond unreal. So I can also see the hard work I put in through all the years, yet I feel I dont deserve it.
"Your first Triumph?"
Wolf Baker: My first triumph was back in 2014, when I did my first solo art show. I had done about 30 8”x8” acrylic paintings of horror movie monsters in everyday situations. The show was called “Horrordinary” and I managed to sell a lot of my work for the first time.
RonDee Productions: Big triumph
Gritty, I am One of the folks who worked on him, I managed the project and made his head.
Favorite triumph
Mooby statue fix from
Clerks 2, someone broken his arm off and the company I worked for had to fix it. because I was an intern I was brought on the job.
Gavin Hardin: I think the first painting I ever sold was an 11x14 piggy for $100 and I remember being blown away that someone would pay that for something I painted. It was inspiring to do what I wanted to do and be able to get support doing it. For a while i was able to pretty much just draw what ever I wanted and make prints other people seemed to enjoy too. I need to do more prints, I'm mainly focused on tattoo stuff and the band lately so it usually ends up being one of those two subjects.
Derelict_dum_dum: I remember extremely vividly, I was about 8. I had been In the hospital for multiple strokes and lost all mobility in my right side AND im a rightie. My luck. Somone (probably one of my neighbors) had gotten me an XXL melissa and doug girly ass colouring pad and a 24 count of crayola crayons. My parents had to explain I couldn't move my hands let alone colour all that well. Of course, I freaked out and wanted them so extremely bad. I had always been a creative kid and needed any semblance of life back home. And so, albeit poorly, I opened and got to work. Of course, I could barely get wax on the paper but I did something. Everyone in that room including myself started getting misty eyed and eventually turned into a mush of emotions.
"Your first Roadblock?"
Wolf Baker: Lack of free time always seems to be the big one. Gotta pay the bills, working full time doing shit that has nothing to do with art and then trying to squeeze it all in on nights and weekends is difficult, but it’s a compulsion at this point. Art is so ingrained into my identity and how I see myself that I couldn’t stop if I tried. Doesn’t leave much time for social interaction though. I’ve tried to find ways to keep working on the go, like using watercolor brush pens and a sketchbook or making the bulk of my comics on my ipad so I can keep working on art wherever I’m at.
RonDee Productions: Lack of knowledge to pursue passions and gatekeeping.
Gavin Hardin: It's hard to think of something that really just held me back. I guess I would have to say the space limitations of living with my mom still. I remember trying to figure out sculpting and moulding in my bedroom and just absolutely wrecking that shit. Now that we have our own place I have the garage dedicated to storing tools and craft supplies.
We now have the abilit to just leave projects in progress in the garage without worrying about it being an eyesore. I've noticed, because of this, that I spend a lot more time on props and things when working in the garage. Or maybe this shit we're making is just getting more intense. Either way it's the best work flow ever in the garage now that I have shelves and tools right on hand and room to suspend large costumes to layer on rubber.
Derelict_dum_dum: Oh boy, it was probably my own frustration. For the longest time my hands were just not doing what I wanted them to do after all my dumb medical shit. Theres no real way to describe how mentaly damaging it is as an artist when your hand, something you've known for your whole life, don't listen to you and have a pretty bad delay. It was like every signal being sent from the brain to the hand was muted, boiled down to the most basic left, right, up, down movements.
"Is there a specific influence that has never
lost it's charm and potency for you?"
Wolf Baker: There’s a few! Moebius, Geof Darrow, Frazetta, Otomo, Paul Pope, Wayne Barlowe. All of their stuff I feel like I could just stare at forever and still find new things that get me excited.
Gavin Hardin: That would probably have to be GWAR. My whole childhood I was obsessed, my mom even claimed to have played AMBD on her pregnant belly. GWAR is all over the place. There's just so much stuff it never gets old. Dim times and early 90s will always have a special place in my heart, but when I want something different I listen to different albums and it flips the mood in a whole new direction. Lately I've been obsessing over the tentacle arm/ flesh column era. It's always been one of my favorite eras and I love the crazy dark sound of the TTE album. I don't always listen to GWAR though. I listen to all kinds of music. Lately I've been obsessed with this crazy psychadelic stoner band "King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard". They write so much music it's insane. They have all kinds of different albums from thrash to Lo-Fi and lots of middle eastern doomy microtonal stuff. I feel like I'm gonna be listening to them for a long time. Whenever I get my day off in the garage started I always put on some gizz and it helps me chill out and reset the work area before diving into a project.
Derelict_dum_dum: any type of ARG or interactive experience that spills out into real life is just so inspiring to me. When people go out of their way to put a box in a random forest in a random state on a random coordinate for some random person to find its just…AAAAAAAHH!!! I get frustrated trying to find the words to convey just how fucking cool it all is to me.
"How do you go about setting Art Goals?"
Wolf Baker: I try to set specific goals for myself that I think I can actually accomplish. This year it was “publish 3 new comics”. Next year I’m trying to focus on getting my stuff out there more, getting to more shows, etc.
RonDee Productions: Haphazardly, it's mostly based on project deadlines. I'm trying very hard to set time aside for my own work.
Gavin Hardin: Lots of things just kind of permanantely live on my idea shelf somewhere deep in my brain. There's lots of things I think about but don't get around to doing often. One thing that keeps me busy is tattooing. People come in with ideas that I then have to turn around and have ready in a matter of days. It can be stressful sometimes but it really helps me understand my ability to produce art in a consistent timely manner. Sometimes I do find myself comparing things I do to things I did in the past like, "Damn I haven't done one of those full page black and white sharpie drawings in a while, maybe I should do some of those?" but for the most part i've been trying to stay focused on things to help the band like T-shirt designs and finally finishing the BUDMONSTER comic book. Like I said the band gives me a deadline so I can tell myself, "Ok... we're done with the costume so we're debuting it at this next show and if I can have a comic book done in time to help tell the story of this new monster that would be awesome!" then I'm really hard on myself and end up finishing it early because I over estimate how long it will take.
Derelict_dum_dum: I don't really set goals, never have. If I know I need to work on a specific thing like anatomy, ill keep incorporating those things inside of my drawings until i get at least a little good. Most my drawings right now have a lot of facial expressions. That in my opinion is the thing I need to work on.
"How do you work? Everyday? In Spurts?"
Wolf Baker: I have ups and downs. ADHD brain has me working like crazy sometimes and some weeks where I don’t get anything done. I think it’s important to take breaks and keep inspired. Whenever I hit a block where I feel like I’ve run out of ideas, I’ll usually spend a few days consuming a ton of media. Whether that’s going to the comic store, the library or just binging a bunch of shows. Been watching a bunch of the 90’s outer limits series lately, which like, isn’t technically good, but its so fucking wacky that I end up wanting to write my own stuff afterwards.
RonDee Productions: I work everyday but not in a consistent manner, some days are much more productive than others. But I tried to do something towards the business everyday.
Gavin Hardin: I'm constantly doing somethning creative as much as possible. I've always got so many projects going on weather it's band stuff or just normal clients for the week. I'll usually wake up and chill in the garage first thing in the morning. Usually just to straighten things up or tinker with an in progress project. Then I head up to the tattoo shop where I usually have two appointments a day (plus whatever walks in between clients). Usually I like to have my homework done so all my appointments go smooth for the day. When I'm not tattooing I'll usually doodle or tinker with some in progress paintings I keep at the shop. Sometimes I pull out my laptop and work on the website or gather and edit samples for our live show. Then after finishing with my appointments, we head home and cook some dinner. After that we usually smoke some weed in the garage and play around with props. This is when we come up with new ideas for skits and props or work on big projects like the Budmonster together, It's a vibe in there when we're all working together on stuff for the band with some music going. This usually goes on until about midnight when I work on any upcoming appointments stuff on my ipad in the bed. That's pretty much every day for me except Sunday I have a full day to clean house, run errands, work on props, or whatever I'm feeling. Then every Monday we have TERATOMA practice with the band members.
Derelict_dum_dum: At the time of writing (10/26/22) I have 5 more days to get the GWAR-itaive done so every day for me is working for 5-7 hours. From 2:30 usually to 9:00 or 9:30. Lineart and sketches take one day to complete and inking takes an additional day. So 14 hours to get one painting done in total. I am in constant agony.
"How many different mediums
have you tried so far?"
Wolf Baker: I think I’ve lost count. I worry sometimes that doing too much there has made my style inconsistent and makes it harder to market myself, but also I make art to have fun, so like, fuck it. In June I really started pushing myself to learn blender. 3D has been really cool so far, still hoping I can manage to make something happen with that. I think my main mediums are watercolor, gouache, digital, ink (started learning to ink with nib pens recently), needle-felting, and now 3D.
I used to be into acrylic painting and markers more, but both got to be too expensive to do all the time. Every once in a while I pick ‘em back up though.
RonDee Productions: Puppet and costume building requires you to be a jack/jill of a lot of different mediums but I tend to gravitate to all things 3-dimensional. Overtime I found a mastery in foam fabrication
Gavin Hardin: I couldn't even tell you honestly. I dabble with everything I can pretty much. I love clay, latex, plater, acrylics, oil, tatooing, woodworking, leather work, print making, japanese watercolor, and even filming and editing videos. I run the website and all the social media accounts for the band too so I'm always striving to be able to do anything I set my mind to.
Derelict_dum_dum: oh boy, i've done so. Freaking. Many. honestly, over the years id say i've tried 15-20 different mediums. My main mediums of choice right now are ink n watercolour. Mixing them makes a nice dulled/ dark winter look. I also do art in the sense that you don't end up with a product that you can hold. I have and still do work/worked with a good portion of theater. I've done advertizing, production, stagehand, performer, manager, stage manager, set designer, set builder, costume designer, and so many more I cant count.
"What is something you struggle with or never have been able to get the hang of?"
Wolf Baker: Robots/Mechanical stuff. I’ve always had an easier time drawing/sculpting organic forms over tech stuff. I can make it happen if I need to, usually with a lot of reference, or sometimes going as far as to model what I’m thinking of in 3D to get that perfect reference, but I’ve never been able to just come up with mechanical designs off the top of my head.
RonDee Productions: The needle crafts elude me.
Gavin Hardin: Sewing. I fucking hate sewing and working with fabric. Foam is already annoying enough but fabric is always doing something dumb, especially when you have no patience and a bunch of kitties.
Derelict_dum_dum: Hands suckin fuck. Though, it is rewarding when you get those little demon lumps right. Listen, I love anatomy like a child but I would rather jam a SOHO street art brush up my nose and into my brain then draw any kind of intricate pose involving hands.
"What was your first Art Sale?"
Wolf Baker: Back in 2014, I ended up pestering the local tattoo shop to display some of my paintings and finagled my way into having a little solo show. Made like $400 bucks and have been chasing that dream ever since.
RonDee Productions: Most likely it was a miniRONSTER
Gavin Hardin: I recall selling small ball point ink pen drawings to people at my parents house parties when I was a kid. We had a big bay window and I would tape the drawings around it like a store front and swindle all of my parents friends into giving me money. I was probably about 6 years old then.
Derelict_dum_dum: So my first “sale” was a commission in instagram that involved dickie duncan, sawborg destructo, and Bonesnapper. But I didn't take money for it. I HATE taking money for comms. I wouldn't charge if i didn't need to pay for my own materials. Im currently working on a fully paid commission (hey cosmic crouton!) but I don't know how much im allowed to say about it
"Who are your favourite artists right now?"
Wolf Baker: Mostly comic artists right now. James Stokoe, Matt Lesniewski, Simon Roy, Frederik Peeters, Daniel Warren Johnson, and James Harren are some that immediately come to mind.
RonDee Productions:
Claes Oldenburg is always an inspiration.
Barnaby Dixon for his unconventional puppet manipulation and his incredible puppet building.
There's a puppet troupe called
Imagicario, I love movement they get out of their characters.
Spiral Q in Philly the work they do is an amazing example of how puppets connect communities and their inspiring way they can create impactful puppets with reusable materials.
Gavin Hardin: Of course the remaining staples are: Chuck Varga, Dave Brockie, Hunter jackson, Don Drakulich, pretty much any pillar of GWAR. Peelander Yellow is amazing aswell. Lot's of tattoo artists are super rad, there's this guy Paul NYCZ from Iowa and I love everything he does. Alix Ge is another good one, and Timothy Hoyer. Musically I'm really digging the King Gizzard band I mentioned. They just have such a great way of composing full albums that seamlessly tell a really indepth story consistantly in multiple styles. Also their music videos are super awesome and trippy too. Some seriously wicked shit going on over there in the Gizzverse!
Derelict_dum_dum: Currently my fav artists are Bobert Gorman, Matthew maguire, Margret Rolicki, Leigh Avidan, Elton john, Pablo Picasso, Junji Ito, Sierra Boggess, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Distortions Unlimited, Poison Props, and anyone who bribed me to write about them.
"If you've worked conventions/events/art faires which were your favourite ones so far?"
Wolf Baker: Before the pandemic I was all about art shows. 2020 is when I really started working on comics hard, so I haven’t gotten into too many conventions yet. Detroit Zine Fest has been really awesome to me and the Xtreme Corp dudes. Just got word that we got accepted for next year. So I’ll be there March 4, 2023. Trying to get out of Michigan a bit more so I’m throwing out applications to stuff in Canada and Ohio now too.
RonDee Productions: All events have moments that make each one worthwhile even if they're not all lucrative. You never know who you may meet or inspire.
Gavin Hardin: Recently I got to participate in "Inking the Coast", a local tatoo convention, and it was a super fun experience! I got to work on this killer traditional Japanese back tattoo and got to connect with and talk to some really cool, like-minded artists. Plus it's super refreshing getting out of the shop and getting compliments fron artists I personally enjoy.
Derelict_dum_dum: N/A
"Have you met, spoken to, or befriended
any of your idols/heroes?"
Wolf Baker: Not really. That would be pretty cool though!
RonDee Productions: I did get to meet Allen Lee and Brian Froud. They each signed my copy of a book they co-illustrated.
Gavin Hardin: One of my favorite of these type of situations was meeting Peelander Yellow. When I was on tour with Green Jell-O in Texas we had a day off in Austin and we were just chilling at a random motel 6. I decided to hit up Peelander Yellow on Facebook asking if there was any way we could meet up so I could get a picture with him. Surprisingly enough he messaged me back super quick with an adress that was only a few blocks away! I convinced one of the Jell-O guys to drive me and Scarlett over there to meet him and it was amazing!
We got a private tour of his art studio and he was so nice and shy. He even pulled out the old kaiju costumes and let me try them on. I told him we would be playing in Austin the coming week and asked if he would be interested in checking out the show. He said he definitely would and a week later after a whole ton of crazy Jell-O train nonsense and a broken down mini van, HE SHOWED UP! and hung out at the back of the crowd. I grabbed another picture with him and thanked him for coming to our show. A few months later we saw them live in NOLA and he pulled me up on stage and let my play his guitar, crowd surfing me afterwords. I will never forget Peelander Yellow and he will always be one of my most respected idols.
I recently also got the opportunity to have a one on one video chat with Don Drakulich about TERATOMA. It was super exciting and he had lots of good things to say about the props we made. It's always humbling when an artist you respect values your time and interacts with you.
Derelict_dum_dum: I have met the vocalist (Mike Bishop / Blothar) of GWAR and we talk from time to time. Hes a super duper quiet and kind person. When we talked pre-show he definitely noticed I was shitting pant (I was shaking so fucking bad) and got down to my level. The best part is he showed genuine interest in my art! He was even looking at handouts I was gonna give people. My guy started FROTHING at the mouth. He saw the tattoo concept I had drawn of his character so, of course, I gave it to him. I had also met Jerry Only when I was like 5. The only thing I remember is how nice he was and how one of the spikes on his battle jacket poked my eye.
"Any final words to new and upcoming artists about to enter the Hellscape that we exist within?"
Wolf Baker: Keep at it and find a way to make it fun. Don’t be too concerned with trends or what other people are doing. Life’s too full of frustrating bullshit already to make yourself miserable over something like art.
RonDee Productions: I am a fan of affirmations and mantras, these are a few I've picked up.
You can't dream all day with no action.
Small wins are still wins.
Keep moving forward.
It's going to be hard find joy in the journey.
Gavin Hardin: All I've really got to say is if you wanna do anything do it. If you want to be the guy that can draw, draw everyday, find something you think is fun and make it. It doesn't matter if it's not perfect you just have to embrace it and make it your style. If you do art everyday you'll surprise yourself.
Recently Dylan has started tattooing and now after only a year he's went from not having any confidence of being able to draw to knocking out awesome tattoos he never thought he could do. It's not about how good you are at doing art, it's about the commitment of doing art everyday. I also want to say thanks for taking the time to interview me, I hope I've taken the time to go above and beyond on details with these paragraph answers hahaha. I don't understand why anyone would really care about what I have to say but I'll sleep happy knowing that this exists now somewhere on the internet and will live on and be read by people long after we're gone!
Derelict_dum_dum: Guys, gals, non-binary pals, if you have a burning passion PLEASE never let anyone or anything soil it. Keep that flame lit, no matter how many days ya just wanna throw everything away and declare yourself a failure. You're going to eventually start to make things you like as skill level improves. If someone tells you you cannot pursue what you like, know those people are just miserable and want someone to stoop as low as them. Uh… don’t break the law, don't use questionable porta-potties, listen to your parents, and definitely DO give me five dollars for a little sweet treat.
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