Xaoc Magazine Interview with Eyes of Chaos

How did you begin designing the artwork for metal bands?
My initial goal was to produce about 50 -100 pieces and then build a site to showcase them. After that I began looking into the possibilities of marketing them and what basic genre's they would appeal to. I found that there was a huge area that had a specific need for "dark-style" artwork. These area's included film, book covers, publications, comics, television and the music industry. Right away, I was getting requests on a artpiece's availabilty. There are literally thousands of bands across the country and overseas with a desire to have professional art work designed with a more personal or thematic look to add to the presentation of their music. This includes signed and unsigned bands. So I began to get requests and inquiries which seem to increase every month from bands of all origins. Sometimes a piece off my site will hit the mark for their initial idea and sometimes they may request a certain concept to be designed. I try to hit different ideas and different concepts to provide a variety from bands to choose from. Art and music has always gone hand in hand. Today bands are looking for something not so typical. Something that relates on a mental and spiritual level. Something that captures in 1 image the essence of their music. This is why ambiguous works. I do keep a certain level of awareness on what works and what doesn't for covers and such when creating. This is just plain marketing sense. You can't nail everything for everyone, but you can nail pieces that will appeal to different bands on different levels. Some prefer more meta-physical, some more gruesome, some more angry, and some more ambiguous. To be honest, I love to see a finished work end up on someone's cover··· I'm all about exposing the work not hiding it. I figure if your going to make a statement then shout. All it really adds to is more exposure which equals more opportunities.

Tell us about your personal music preferences?
Lately, I really am into the darkwave industrial type stuff. I stay more with the mainstream aspect of that but I really enjoy Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Gary Numan, David Bowie and Machines of Loving Grace. I guess this style works the best for me when working becuase you don't have to think about the music as much and it sets a general mood and ambienece that doesn't distract. Gary Numan's new stuff is really great for that. I like a lot of diversity though, sometimes I like the commercial stuff for the melodies, sometimes the progressive for the guitar work and sometimes the heavy for the energy. It depends on the mood. Sometimes I like to throw on some Racer-x for rippin guitar, while other times I may throw on Stuck Mojo for Funk or Oleander for great songwriting. Though one of my favorites lately is the new CD by Lennon Murphy. I think music is as important as anything can be. It really sets a tone for different periods of your life, motivates, helps you through emotional issues and breaks the silence of a sometimes grey world. I think life needs a soundtrack to it on a constant basis.

What should a band posses in order that you work with it?
Really, a desire to have their music presented in a professional manner. I try and estimate what they need and what may go into providing realization to their visual presentation. So if they are shooting for new or original artwork, I usually ask that they have some ideas about what they want to see and how they want it interpreted. I don't believe in multiple proofs so I usally look to nail it on the first try. I try to stay unbiased on if they are signed or not and am pretty much willing ot work with most styles of music. Probably with the exception of country music. So I guess communication is a big factor and of course a willingness to follow up in a timely manner on any commisions. Professionalism is not just a term but an attitude. One that a serious band will think about presenting their music in a serious way.

What techniques do you use?
Part of having an open mind is being open-minded in the mediums and materials as well. There really is endless combinations and endless ways to combine and experiment that can all be contributed to the actual formation of a work of art. Sometimes, I may grab some household products and throw paint around on them to see how they transform or what colors come out. Mixed media seems to summarize all of that because it is exactly that. When you combine the limitless bounds of digital with the abundant mediums of nature, products and art mediums you can get really interesting results. Although you really need to have a basic concept in order first. You can throw oatmeal on a canvas spray paint it and call it art, but you have to ask yourself how many people will appreciate or buy it. So you have to balance the mediums and techniques with the concept and composition. I think how one chooses to combine these mediums becomes facets of a particular style. Sure, there are overlaps of familiar styles but sooner or later your own voice begins to speak. And it's what you have to say that makes a difference. So in essence, I use a little bit of everything and blend it in it's completion on a digital canvas. Part traditional and part digital organics.

What are your creative influences?
I get my creativity from watching movies, reading books, going to galleries, and keeping a general awareness of other artists and what's going on in the art world presently. I like to pick up techiques books on different mediums and try and absorb something to maybe process in my own compositions. I like to see a good horror movie and take that energy and just let it rip into a fresh idea. I like to hear a new song that just speaksto me and let the melody or agression come out in an artistic way. I like to sit in silence and just do random sketches and brainstorming of ideas until one in particular rings a bell. I think creativity is a combinaion of many sources and a desire to just sit down and make something from nothing.

What interests you most in other peoples art?
Well first off and most important, the concept, the idea, the perspective........ You can have great techniques with nothing to say but it is technique and ability that present the piece in a professional way. I look for what I call the 3 C's. They are concept, color and composition...all go hand in hand in the presentation of an art piece. Now on a subject level, I respect all artists and what they strive to achieve but my personal preference is art that shows some level of darkness, emotion, surrealities and presents itself in a non-mainstream way.... a bit of danger, a bit of disturbance, a bit of thought-provoking content.

What's your inspiration?
If you look at the large number of past and present collage artists you'll see a lot of things that were done traditionally in bizarre ways·alot that replicate what is being done on the computer. I get my inspiration from these traditionalists for that fact alone. I'm always amazed to see different uses of digital that leave much room for wonder as well. So there is much, much available on all mediums for inspiration. A simple walk through an art gallery can accomplish that. If I were to name some favorites of mine as artists I would have to list Dave Mckean, Miran Kim, Russell Mills, J.K. Potter, Robert Rauschberg and Marshall Arisman. They all have evolved in their works and continue to reach new levels of innovation.

Tell us about the working process with the band?
Usaully, they'll contact me through email and we'll begin the process of what they are looking for, how much time they have or what kind of deadline I'm looking at and if they are interested in comissioning me for their art. Most of the time, they've spent a good amount of time going through my website and have a good idea of what to expect from me. If they inquire on a particular look or medium that I don't feel confident in then I'll refer them to someone else. Most new pieces take about 1 to 3 weeks depending on the complexity. I always send a small proof per email upon completion so that they know what to expect. The final image sent is sent out as high resolution art on CD in the requested formats from their label or their printer per mail. Once a cover image is comissioned for a CD the image is guaranteed not to be re-used for another band or CD release to protect the investment of the client.

What personal feelings do you put in your works?
My personal feeling are just a general conviction to produce something interesting and usually something "dark". I often touch on emotional themes but they don't usually come from my own personal attitude. What I mean by that is, I may make a decision to construct something that portrays fear, or depression or despair or anger but it 's not because that 's the way I'm currently feeling or feeling at the moment I create it. I do it becuase art needs concepts that project something personal that people can relate to. So maybe someone viewing my work may not feel anything or relate to the piece on anguish but they find something in another piece that covers a different area. That is the joy of it. Relating perspectives by interpretation. Emotional impact throught the mediums of art and illustration.

How long have you been creating art?
Well, professionally about 5 years. I have always, since a child been involved in artistic endeavors..... pretty much running the gamut. I was a professional musician songwriter for 25 years...then I switched focus to traditional and digital art..... I attended art school and art and design courses for many years and came to a basic realization that this stuff is really enjoyable as long as what I'm creating is interesting to me. I've always been a "horror" fan and have been inspired by the movies, the art, the genre...so I put 2 and 2 together and came into what it is now. While living in the bay area for many years I attended many comunity colleges and then went on to study at "Cogswell" a private art and digital art school. Beyond that alot of my techniques used in my work is primarily self-taught. These days I produce illustrations for CD's, music industry, film, books, publications and comics.....so it became that "gift that keeps on giving". My source of inspiration became a paradox to what I produce today.