Underground Magazine Interview - (11/2003)
(Originally published in the online edition of "Underground Magazine")

Mike Bohatch, one of the most profound artists in the underground network as well as above. His compilations are widely distinguished from the work of ordinary artists. Absorbed in horror, human self appraisal & hellish nightmares, mikes work speaks for itself. Mike kindly shared his thoughts with The Underground....  

1. UG~ Mike, your art is not only mind intriguing it is profound. It goes beyond the norm to reach deeper into the eyes of those viewing it. When someone sees your art for the first time what do you want them to walk away with?
   MB~ Maybe it's as simple as an open-ness or appreciation for looking at things in a a slightly different way. I'm not really trying to conform anyone to a particular way of thinking or create on the basis to merely impress them with some understanding of art skills.... I'm merely creating and sharing. Sharing this energy thru my work that motivates me to produce it. Sharing my reflection of a theme or concept. Sharing my love for horror and sharing my love for art that makes you go hmm..... Projecting this facade of madness has been good for business, but the truth is I exist in the world most of the time in the same way everyone else does. I just have something to say and found my portal thru the world and its many media's. I would hope they would walk away with the impression that the creator really likes what he  does and doesn't really prescribe to any particular set of rules. If it appeals to them on some level, that would make me most happy of all.
   

2. UG~ Your work portrays many of the faces of emotions & fear that most of us never think twice about or are afraid to confront; our own inner turmoil's or flaws that make us hideous to ourselves. Why do you think that people are drawn to your work in light of this?
   MB~ What I get a lot of is the relation they feel to what I'm saying with a simple image. It's sometimes hard to put a face to words like fear, anguish, despair.....but when you do get there it stares back at you and reflects that feeling more in a visual kind of way than a ambiguous thought kind of way. To some, that relationship is comforting and relieving in the notion that someone besides them self chose to project that aspect into a tangible medium. There is a growing loneliness today that people are consumed by. This loneliness is greater due to the multitude of media's to fill there time with. But the reality is we are all human and are connected in varying degrees. Art like music travels in this connection, I feel. Maybe "that" is the relationship with the creator and the viewer. A common perspective or understanding shared.......
   
   
3. UG ~ Some might have to wonder when you are creating what is going through your mind, thoughts, emotions...can you tell us?
   MB ~ Emotionally I'm pretty relaxed...I cant create if I'm upset or preoccupied with something distracting. Thoughts...well I have to use words like....color, composition, concept.....because these form the basis for "how" I'm creating...As to "what" I'm creating, I'll pick my favorite ideas of that day and try to get them to work. Of course I'm speaking very abstract....because that's the easiest answer but if I were to pick an example I would maybe start with a piece like "The Song Remains the Same".  Here my motivation was to create compositionally a CD cover image but with a play on the title words. So I pictured this lonely guitar standing in an alley with hands "stuck" in time playing the same song over and over again. The process involves after the initial idea, to gather all the photography elements to make this a tangible piece of work. Then it's a matter of taking the photos in the right lights, angles, and settings and compositing them together. Finally there is the treatment part...which to me, means do stuff to make this look like a "Mike" piece of art. The presentation part.......... that is. That's harder to explain because its a personal group of choices to get it where it needs to be. After words, I may look at it and try to analyze maybe some of the metaphors I'm suggesting...maybe make further decisions on that part. For this piece I thought the image could suggest things like ...those of us who never move on in life, or maybe a thought that never leaves us and plays within us over and over. Another take maybe a person you know who beyond all circumstances never changes....but then again it could simply be the beauty of music, a guitar and a melody that you want to hear again and again. Yes, all these things are relevant but chosen by the viewers interpretation.
   
   
4. UG ~ You've been creating since you were a child as it is my understanding. What was it and is it like for your family to have a son/brother who creates on such a dark venue?
   MB ~ Well, with my interests rooted deeply in the horror genre, my personal outcome kind of made sense because it has been pretty much been a constant. In other words, I don't think it came as much as a surprise. I had to attend a Catholic school from grade 1-8. So I was always drawing these weird creepy things during class and as the subject matter of art projects. I didn't have a lot of interest in sports, religion or things maybe people followed to stay current with what was hip at the time. I just was interested in my own thing. Whether it was cool or geeky...didn't really matter. It had to be of interest to me. Though I wasn't even close to any type of professional way of thinking back then, just something that passed the time. I hadn't had a good look at the world quite yet. I was really a musician most of my life, and had a calling one day to start on this path that I am..... sort of pulling in some of the old roots.
   
   
5. UG ~ As we are all students of life who would you say has been your most inspiring and supportive teacher along the way. What forms of traditional training have you had in your art. (schools, colleges the like)?
   MB ~ No, not really any 1 person....its really pieces of hundreds of things, and things within the art realm that has formed my position. There are those artists that inspire of course and make us want to be better at what we do, but no-one who took me under their wing. It was a road and is a road of learning, experimentation and understanding. The questions we ask, the steps we take, the choices we make....this formed the basis for me. I've asked "a lot" of questions in the beginning from all sorts of teachers, professionals and colleagues. I've had to make mistakes to learn how to fix them. And have had to ask to receive. I've attended many courses thru small and larger colleges, but they only served to expose me to ideas and maybe some techniques. The "dark" thing for me - really is a Mike sort of thing. Yunno what i mean....That's the best way to put it. Just the same as why one musician develops a knack for country music and another becomes a a rock performer.....choices. I still have a lot to learn though......that's what keeps it fresh and keeps me curious. Though if someone was interested in what I recommend to get them on a similar path... I would say get a real good understanding of the digital realm...graphic design, prepress and illustration. In addition take as many art courses as you can find to get some basis of composition, color, form, and materials..... yep, all that and so much more.
   
   
6. UG ~ Your work depicts the chaos of the modern world as some might view it - as an artist is there chaos in your work? I read in one interview you had done where you started one night on sketches and by the third you were working with oatmeal. Is all your work done one piece at a time or are you in the midst of your own chaotic adventure working on many projects at a time, ideas and visions rushing all the time etc??
   MB ~ Yes, absolutely.... the materials themselves that get used have to have a certain quality or effect so that when I do get to using them...they help to strengthen a presentation. When I started I really didn't have all the books or background teachings on how to get certain looks...I still don't for that matter, but that's ok... because it keeps me curious and fascinated.
   It's always an adventure because my ideas outweigh my "time" to do them all...... So in that sense, I have many images going thru my mind all the time at once. Then its a matter of trying to get in the mood to feel motivated to which one I feel like creating. Sometimes it for satisfaction, sometimes its more a business decision. What I mean by that is ....... if I've commissioned a bunch of pieces that made good "death metal" scenarios for CD covers.....then I probably need to focus on refilling that pool a bit for future commissions...that sort of thing. Now I should mention this....its real easy to depict the world and find chaos.... its all around us...and changes everyday. That "energy" of chaos is always alive.... after that its just a personal choice on how to project that in a piece of work. As an artist, I think my work I've done for the book "Inner" is my closest interpretation of chaos. The book isn't available yet, I'm still waiting for the "right publisher to take me under their wing, but the book itself is completed and ready. It is the most interesting "big" project I've completed, but at the same time it isn't for everyone. It mostly pure collage using clippings, art....and a little bit of everything....so stay tuned for that one.
   
   
7. UG ~ If you could in your own words and in the mind set at the time you created depict for us Dante's Delusion - the inspiration behind it - what is the delusion and what is the reality?
   MB ~ That piece was my interpretation more of how we see things in dream states.... sort of contorted, undefined, ambiguous, changing...flowing. That was the inspiration. To define that thru a piece...a snapshot of one of those dream moments. At the same time I had a lot of Dali, and Francis Bacon on my mind....so that as well was channeling thru me.
   
   
8. UG ~ As in all forms of art it is open for interpretation by the viewer, what would you say is the misinterpreted representation of your work?
   MB ~ Well, I've been fortunate enough that most who view my work, "get it"...so to speak. In fact, in many of the letters I get, they actually read more into the images than sometimes my own interpretations. But that's great as far as I'm concerned. Because sometimes the metaphorical perspectives I'm going for are really open to more than 1 point or reference. I want the images to project an idea that forms a personal relationship with the viewer. It gives the image its own life, that way. If I were to point to a specific misinterpretation it might be the idea that people sometimes think a particular software program is the "magic" behind the curtain, so to speak. I do use PhotoShop...but that's in conjunction with many other steps, planning and understanding of how to get to the end result. There is a lot of preliminary steps that half to be addresses all the time...for instance materials, mediums and initial concepts that I feel confident will produce a piece that I can achieve or enjoy working on.
   
   
9. UG ~ If you have time could you pick your most fav piece and give us the muse behind the image so to say.?
   MB ~ For me, my favorite piece is the one I haven't created yet.
   
   

Mike Bohatch - shedding imagery upon our worst fears, captivating  mind body and soul upon the canvas.  His work can be seen at www.eyesofchaos.com as well mike is available for commission on projects relating to illustration and those requiring creative input. This may include film production design, CD work, comic covers, magazine illustrations, film collateral, book covers, or the cover of your publication. Other high-end services include motion graphics.

To obtain a quote on your project or to reach Mike, you can contact per e-mail at Mike@eyesofchaos.com  or visit his website.