Spraygraphic Interview with Artist Everett Peck
By Spraygraphic | July 4, 2008
Spraygraphic Interview with Everett Peck
SG: Please tell us about yourself?
EP: I was born in a small beach town in Southern California in 1950. I studied under Dick Oden and received a BA degree in Illustration from Long Beach State in 1974. I have been involved in almost all aspects of the graphics field since that time, Including Illustration, Painting, cartooning, comics, graphic novels, and animation.
SG: Where do you currently live and work?
EP: I live in a small beach town in Southern California with my wife and one of our three children (the other two are in or out of college) and a dog and cat. I have a studio space in a warehouse by the beach.
SG: What mediums do you work with?
EP: I work with many different mediums. As far print work I prefer pen and ink, gauche, and acrylic.
SG: Describe your working process when creating a new work.
EP: Well, in the case of painting I first procrastinate as long as possible. Then I decide on the price of the work and write it on a small card that I pin to the wall. That price is usually in the $300,000.00 range. I then spend a great deal of time contemplating that card. When the time is right, I place a small red dot by the price. Only then do I begin the actual painting. In the case of animated show ideas, I always start by sketching.
SG: What kind of things do you do when you get blocked or find it hard to create something?
EP: Usually a brisk bucket of ice cold water down the ol’ trousers get’s the juices flowing again. If that fails, then either a motorcycle ride or taking the sketchbook to a coffee shop or just doing something else does the trick.
SG: Where are you currently finding your inspiration?
EP: Any place I can steal it. Popular culture and day-to-day life provide plenty of examples of tragically comic situations.
SG: How did you get into being an freelance artist for publications like Rolling Stone, Time Magazine, and Sports Illustrated.
EP: I began as a freelance illustrator in 1974 by just making phone calls and knocking on doors. I personally feel that illustration was a much richer, diverse, and more fun business back then. This was of course pre Internet and stock image banks, but also pre “portfolio” books as well. So you literally built your career on a network of personal contacts and relationships. I was fortunate to have been helped along and “mentored” by some really great people. The business of illustration was built on relationships between Art directors and Illustrators. Art directors got to know various artists and followed their careers. They hired someone for a particular job because they felt that artist’s point of view was right for the job. This not only allowed you a lot of creative freedom but also let you try different approaches and techniques as well. Today so many illustrations come about because an art director needs a picture of a football and finds somebody in a book that has done a picture of a football. Or even worse, a stock image of a football. There is absolutely no personal relationship built beyond that one encounter. Of course the argument is that the budget doesn’t allow for anything other than stock these days. On that I have to agree, Illustration is the only profession I personally know of where the per job fee is actually less today than it was in 1974.
OK, I feel better now.
SG: What kind of deadlines do you work with when producing this kind of work?
EP: Deadlines vary greatly. Some jobs are needed over night, others, like the Graphic Novel I’m currently working on, can take over a year. I would say the average for a full-page color illustration is around a week.
Animated television series require about two years to produce a season.
SG: Do the companies come back to you and say "change this" or "change that?"
EP: Yes there are sometimes changes but fortunately not very often. I’m less interested in making changes with print work beyond the sketch phase. In television animation there are notes from several executive levels.
SG: How much are you willing to change? Is there some kind of negotiation process you go through?
EP. It depends on the nature of the change. When I’m producing an animated show there are literally hundreds of things to manage and dozens of changes, some are mine, and some are from the network. When I’m heavily involved in a production it’s good to have an outside perspective from a trusted third party. A good executive can be a strong advocate and creative ally. A bad one, well…….
SG: Can you please tell us a little about Catalyst Agency.
EP: Catalyst is really Harvey Harrison . He’s a good guy who prefers to represent a few hand picked people, rather than a huge stable. So you get a lot of personal attention. He knows the traditional entertainment business very well and is also well connected in new media.
SG: Where has your work been seen?
EP: Well over the years my illustration work has been in just about every major publication, Time, Newsweek, Esquire, Rolling Stone, and New Yorker. But the last fifteen years most of my work has been in animation with shows like Duckman , Jumanji , Dragon tales , and Squirrelboy .
SG: Where will it be seen next?
EP: I’m currently working on several animation projects at various places, I’m nearing completion of my Graphic Novel called “Porky’s Auto Body” for Tokyopop and I’ve just finished the box cover art for the DVD release of seasons 1 & 2 of my first animated series “Duckman.” I also have just completed two painting shows with Brad Benedict’s Sideshow group.
SG: What is your dream art assignment?
EP: Pretty much doing what I am. I enjoy creating original properties based on my own characters and worlds, what could be better than that?
SG: What is your favorite color?
EP: Red.
SG: Who is your favorite artist? And Why?
EP: That’s hard to say, living or dead? There are so many great ones. I can’t say I have a favorite. I like 19th French painting pretty well and Mark Mothersbaugh .
SG: What book/magazine are you reading this week?
EP: “Moa, The Unknown Story” by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday
SG: Where is your favorite place to hang out?
EP: I’m simple minded, I like to ride my motorcycle, go to the beach, paint, go to coffee shops and bookstores. I like hanging around with my wife and artist friends in Palm Springs too.
SG: Any final words of advice?
EP: Be nice.
ART: 1. Felix, 2. Have a Nice Day, 3. Leon, 4. Paranoid, 5. Pitbull, 6. Squirrelboy, 7. Stinky, 8. Time Cover, 9. Yugo, 10. Smokin Rubber
Topics: Artist Interviews, California Art Scene, Graphic Design, Print Media, Toys and Comics | No Comments »
MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU
By Spraygraphic | July 3, 2008
MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU on Vimeo .
Topics: Film and Video | No Comments »
Spraygraphic’s Pic(k) of the Day: Fallen
By Spraygraphic | July 3, 2008
Everyday Spraygraphic will pick from one of its member’s Creative Projects and spotlight the work here on Sprayblog.
Today, this cool painting (Fallen) comes from Spraygraphic Member, John Sharifi ’s Creative Project, Fallen.
Topics: Paintings, Spraygraphic Apparel | No Comments »
Revamped Graphic Equalizer by Marcelo Costa
By Spraygraphic | July 3, 2008
Revamped Graphic Equalizer from Marcelo Costa on Vimeo .
Soundtrack by N.O.H.A - Balkan Hot Step
n-o-h-a.de/
Topics: Film and Video | No Comments »
Faces of .Anti-Spaces
By Spraygraphic | July 3, 2008
Faces of .Anti-Spaces
On July 4th, Phoenix First Friday’s CherryBomb and Angry Girl Studios will feature new works from Nicolle
Clemetson! Ms.Clemetson is a local photographer who’s limelight is ‘on the brink of dawn’ within phoenix’s fast growing art community! Her show this month is based on a series of portraits, named "Faces of .Anti-Spaces."
Topics: Art Galleries, Phoenix Art Scene, Phoenix Events, Photography | No Comments »
Activism: Don Stevenson Walks for Others
By Spraygraphic | July 3, 2008
Don Stevenson has generously offered his feet to help raise funds for research on multiple diseases. He has walked for causes such as Alzheimer’s, Hutchinson’s Disease, Sclerosis, among others. Stevenson has trekked nearly 13,000 miles and raised over $100,000 participating in various charity walks. Not to mention he is 72 years old! For the past 10 years, Don has committed himself to walk so that a cure will be found to these various diseases. He is currently walking from the Space Needle in Seattle, WA to the Empire State Building in New York City, NY and is expected to arrive September 15th 2008. This is his final charity walk and has set a goal to raise $20,000; he has raised $11,184.44 thus far.
Check out where Stevenson currently is , or to make a donation .
Blog via Online Fundraising Blog
Topics: Charities and fundraisers | No Comments »
Spraygraphic’s Pic(k) of the Day: Burning Box
By Spraygraphic | July 2, 2008
Everyday Spraygraphic will pick from one of its member’s Creative Projects and spotlight the work here on Sprayblog.
Today, this cool woodburning (Burning Box) comes from Spraygraphic Member, Joshua Lopez ’s Creative Project, People series.
Topics: Graffiti Art, Phoenix Art Scene, Spraygraphic Apparel | No Comments »
poets of the paste
By Spraygraphic | July 2, 2008
Poets of the Paste unites four figurative artists ELBOW-TOE, Armsrock, Gaia, and Imminent bring their talents together at Ad Hoc Art ; through drawings, stencils, paintings and block prints incorporated onto various media.
Now till July 13th, 2008
Where: AdHoc Gallery49 Bogart Street, Buzzer 22, Unit 1G. Brooklyn, NY 11206
Topics: Art Galleries, Group shows, New York Art Scene, Paintings, Pencil Drawings | No Comments »
Spraygraphic Interview with Artist David Ruhlman
By Spraygraphic | July 2, 2008
Spraygraphic Interview with David Ruhlman
SG: Please tell us about yourself?
DR: I am a self taught artist. I have recently decided to return to school. I am currently enrolled and taking printmaking classes so excited to see where that will take me. My father was in the military so I traveled a good bit as a child. I have been painting for the last 5 years. Before that I made a series of 40 handmade books and worked on as many pen and ink drawings. I try and paint daily or at least try and work on something.
SG: Where do you currently live and work?
DR: I live in Salt Lake City with my girlfriend. I do not have a studio. I have always painted in my house.
SG: What mediums do you work with?
DR: I work mainly in gouache on wood panel. I learned how to paint using gouache. I love using found materials. I recently made a painting using a dried wasp nest, carefully pulled apart and pasted. I also have a great fondness for old books and newspapers. Most of my paintings have newspaper or book pages as background.
SG: Describe your working process when creating a new work.
DR: I have never used canvas or an easel so my process might be a bit different. I lay the wood panel down on the floor and work lying on top of it. I try to work instinctively. An image or a title will come to me and then try and work things out in my head before I start. Sometimes I will paint an image without knowing what else is going on the board, part of the fun
SG: What kind of things do you do when you get blocked or find it hard to create something?
DR: I have been quite lucky always to have the next 2- 3 paintings in my head. But I enjoy reading artist biographies for ideas and of course art books.
SG: Where are you currently finding your inspiration?
DR: Music, books, films and Spring.
SG: Can you tell us a little about your piece, "The earth grows in each of us."
DR: The painting is part of a series. I was part of a group show and everyone had to do 4 paintings. The 4 paintings would include: feathers, fur, skin and scales. The idea for the paintings came as I was hiking. I was fascinated by the idea that the earth is made up of layers and layers of animals, plants, etc. Each layer built upon the last, and we each will make up a layer in the earth. I was also using the upside down pyramid as a design in quite a few paintings. The title came from an old hymn that I heard while visiting a Unitarian church, and was drawn to the sentence.
SG: Can you please tell us a little about your piece, "The Godhead."
DR: I find this piece quite funny. I have always loved and quoted Jean Dubuffet who wrote that "art should always make people laugh a little and frighten them a little. Anything but bore them. Art has no right to be boring." A friend knew that I love old books and newspaper and gave me 8 boxes of old Russian newspaper. I used the newspaper as the background. I was fascinated by this image of conjoined twins. So I painted the body and was going to paint the head but didn’t feel it fit. I waited a few days and came across a beautiful icon image of Christ. I painted the head on the conjoined twins and felt that it worked quite well. The three gods in one.
SG: Where has your work been seen?
DR: Mainly only in Utah, I have quite a few people who collect my work who live overseas or in New York. But I have been extremely lucky. My first show was at the Salt Lake Art Center which was fantastic and a huge boost. I also did an installation with my brother at the Pickle Company . I have shown at all of the places in the city that I wish to show at. Lately I have been trying to get my artwork shown nationally, which I am excited about.
SG: Where will it be seen next?
DR: I was just accepted to show at Finch Lane in Salt Lake City. It’s quite a respected local gallery which has had some great shows in the past. I have been working on some large and pretty great pieces. I am thrilled that they will be seen by the greater public. One of my paintings was also chosen for the cover of the literary/art magazine Versal . It’s a great magazine so I was thrilled. Other than that not much else, but plan on sending out proposals to quite a few places.
SG: What is your dream art assignment?
DR: To have a show at the Tate or Guggenheim or somewhere, and given years to fill it up will paintings and objects.
SG: What is your favorite color?
DR: Blue- not sure why. It’s a good color from what I hear.
SG: Who is your favorite artist? And Why?
DR: That’s a tough one. It always changes. But my top would be 1. Jean Dubuffet: for his writings, images and sense of humor. 2. Paul Klee: His color cannot be beat and his lyrical but slightly dark paintings. 3. Wallace Berman: Came across his work through the "Seminal Culture" book and found out the exhibit was coming through. Obsessed with him. It blew my mind- a magical being.
SG: What book/magazine are you reading this week?
DR: Read Harpers magazine weekly. Reading book about life/poetry of Antonin Artaud and "Wise Blood" by Flannery O’Conner.
SG: Ever do a self portrait? Where is it now?
DR: No, I titled one old oil pastel as a self portrait but it really wasn’t. Strangely I am thinking of painting a nude self portrait next. I painted a nude painting of my girlfriend that is part of a 3 part series and feel that an image of me would work well. Wish me luck.
SG: Where is your favorite place to hang out?
DR: At my house. Lovely place. Used to belong to a group of polygamists and was built in 1910. They built 4 smaller houses behind a large one. I live with my girlfriend in one of the smaller ones. Don’t hear any of the city sounds. I also love to hike and ride my bicycle around town or up in the mountains.
SG: Any final words of advice?
DR: I am paraphrasing Morton Feldman (the composer) who said that he did his best work when no one cared about his music. Don’t worry about fame and fortune or what is new and trendy. Paint or create on your own terms, for you and no one else.
ART: 1. Godhead, 2. If our souls were wooden the earth would be covered as a hobby horse, 3. Our secrets are our own, 4. The endcase of all love,Iris (open box), 5. The earth grows in each of us (fur), 6. The left hand of Edvard Munch is the right hand of god, 7. The mystery of divine androgyny (page 2)
Topics: Artist Interviews, Paintings | No Comments »
Spraygraphic’s Pic(k) of the Day: Majo Escosura
By Spraygraphic | July 1, 2008
Everyday Spraygraphic will pick from one of its member’s Creative Projects and spotlight the work here on Sprayblog.
Today, this cool illustration comes from Spraygraphic Member, Majo Escosura ’s Creative Project, Illustration series.
Topics: Graphic Design, International Art, Spraygraphic Apparel | No Comments »
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