Pollux

When did you first become interested in art?

I’m not certain when exactly my mind specifically became hooked on art.   I don’t think there would have been a specific moment, although I was lucky that my parents took my siblings and me to many museums in the United States and Europe during our travels.  My mom says that, as a baby, I reacted to a bright-colored painting in the Norton Simon Museum in California, and that I was trying to touch the painting from my stroller with hands outstretched, gurgling some form of infantile art appreciation.

What style of art do you use most?

I think I prefer a semi-abstract method in which I try to suggest a shape or theme with lines and colors.  While painting, I prefer to use ordinary shapes and lines to create my image, although I love experimenting with various methods.

Has your style changed from when you first began as an artist?

Definitely.  I think I’ve freed myself considerably.  I just let the pencil or pen swing more violently and more freely than I did before.  I think an important breakthrough for me was to utilize watercolors and pastels in tandem in order to create various pieces.  The good thing is that you can buy watercolor sets very cheaply at a local drugstore for a few bucks.  There’s no great expense involved, so there’s no need to worry about having to use the materials up.  That makes me sound somewhat parsimonious, but I need to pay my electricity bills.

What medium do you use?

I use lots of different media –from acrylic paints to color pencils, to watercolors to pastels.  I also love using black Sharpies in combination with watercolors.  I use digital media.  I’d love to experiment with other methods.  It’d be great to do blockprinting some day, for example.

What made you choose that medium?

Availability is what determines what medium I use.   I reach for whatever’s closest to me in my apartment and see what effect it can have on the art piece.  That being said, I’ve been lucky to be able to attend art school, so I’ve been forced to buy and use so many great new supplies.  So I’m able to have a large arsenal of available media.  I love them all.

Do your ideas come from life or imagination?

I would say mostly from imagination.  I was never one to visit a beach and draw a beach.  I’m not sure why.  If I were at a beach, I’d be more likely to draw something that I wouldn’t be able to see: a shipwreck, a Nereid, a battle between sandmen who have fortified themselves within sandcastles.

How do you choose your images and colours?

For me, colors and images represent my emotional state at the time of creation.  If I’m in a bad mood, I’m more likely to select heavy blacks and blues than greens or reds.  In regards to selecting an image to draw, I usually give myself assignments: for example, draw all of the Olympian gods, or all of the signs of the zodiac.  In my own style, of course.

Who is your favourite artist?

I admire the work of Joan Miró, Hieronymus Bosch, and the anonymous artists who created the beautiful manuscripts of medieval Europe.   I also admire cartoonists such as Liniers and Jason.

What is your favourite piece of work by yourself?

I like my image of Hephaestos.  He’s an ancient Greek god but I made him look very modern, very robotic.

How much time (on average) does it take to complete a work?

If it’s an acrylic painting, weeks!  I leave it alone and then come back to it.  For everything else, I don’t take very long –about fifteen and thirty minutes at the most.

How well do you take criticism?

Well, if the intent of the person doing the critique is actually interested in art and wishes to offer me valuable advice.  If the intent of the critique is purely negative and is simply meant to put me down, then I won’t react as well.

How do you tell what type of critic you’re dealing with?  Ask him or her who their favorite artist is.

What do you do to overcome a ‘block’?

The best thing is to leave it aside and do something else, either another art piece or something entirely different: vacuuming, for example; or going for a walk.

How do you know something is ‘finished’? Is it easy to walk away?

It’s hard to tell, but there is a danger of overdoing a piece.   I would say it’s done when you feel that the piece has conveyed everything you intended to convey.  Anything more is unnecessary and weighs the piece down.

Have you had exhibits in galleries?

No, but maybe some day I will!  One can hope.

Have you any exhibits in galleries planned for the future?

Not at this time.   But it would be nice.  I would arrange to have a selection of drinks and snacks in order to make people come to my exhibit.

What are your plans for the future?

Right now, I’ve been drawing a daily cartoon for a website called www.emdashes.com and adding images on Flickr and ImageKind.  That’s been really fun.  I’d like to continue to do more of that in the future.  I’d like to work in graphic design, paint, and continue to work on comics.

What advice would you give new artists?

Draw something every day.  Don’t limit yourself: try to use paints, markers, pens, color pencils, anything you can find.  Also, don’t underestimate the potential for co-workers or friends to be a potential market for your art.  Most people don’t have original art on their walls.  You can provide that art for them!

That is very good advice and I for one will take note as I tend to forget family and friends.  Thank you very much for the great interview

You can view more of Pollux’ images at www.arnjuice.com