Describe your style in one sentence:
My paintings are stylized depictions of hedonistic behavior based on 1950s and 1960s commercial art and illustration.
Where did the name Shag come from?
The name Shag was taken from the last two letters of my first name (Josh) and the first two letters of my last name (Agle). I picked it because it had a lot of meanings and yet wasn’t so specific that people knew exactly what I was referencing. I used it for the first time in 1987, when I was illustrating the album cover for a band I was in, and didn’t want people to know the guitar player had done the cover!
What’s the first picture you can remember drawing as a child?
The earliest picture I remember drawing was an undersea scene with a domed city and a tractor that drove along the sea bottom. I had just watched “Captain Nemo’s Undersea City,” and felt quite inspired.
Did your childhood (nine siblings, Mormonism etc) influence your work?
I spent most of my elementary school years in Hawaii, so that definitely influenced me. I also think the lure of drinking, smoking and carousing, which were all forbidden by my religious upbringing, had a big impact on my art.
What’s your current favorite piece of art that you’ve created?
I created a three piece, panoramic painting for the Laguna Art Museum, almost 25 feet wide, depicting heaven, earth and hell. It was probably the most complicated, but rewarding piece of art I’ve done.
What’s the most unusual thing that’s ever inspired a piece of your art?
I was inspired to do a painting after visiting a friend who worked at the morgue. You’ll have to guess which painting that is…
What’s your most unique piece of Shag merchandizing?
The most unusual piece of Shag merchandise would probably be a drinkable, mango-flavored goo that was sold as a health food in Japan. Also, in Japan, there is a chain of dental clinics that uses my art in all their advertising and promotion.
Could you share three things in your work space that inspire you?
1) My telephone that is shaped like a Smirnoff bottle.
2) My ultimate Supervillain chair, the Arne Jacobsen Egg.
3) My working stone fireplace, just like the ones in my paintings.
In fact, my studio and my home look like one of the settings of my paintings. An artist paints what he knows, loves, and is surrounded by.
If your art was music, what would it sound like?
It would be a DJ who has taken old lounge and cocktail party records and remixed them with current beats and samples.
Who are three artists whose work you collect and love?
I collect paintings by Mark Ryden, Mitch O’Connell and Gene Deitch, among others.
Which thrift store find are you most proud of?
I found a mounted trophy Swordfish at a thrift store, which was both unusual and exotic.
What are your vices?
I don’t really consider my vices to be vices, rather I call them “career research.” I do have guilty pleasures, which mainly consist of watching bad reality television while I paint. This week alone, I watched Project Runway, Iron Chef, Viva La Bam, Ace of Cakes and Paris Hilton: My new BFF. The list goes on…
What’s your cocktail of choice?
If I know I will be drinking a lot in an evening, I stick to Vodka Tonics, as I can drink them like water and never feel hungover the next day. If I’m just going to have one or two cocktails, I’ll order a Manhattan. If I know the bartender is good, I’ll order a Singapore Sling, because it is the most tart, least sweet tropical cocktail.
Could you share something about yourself that makes you blush?
I waste far too much time doing the New York Times crossword puzzle, and still pretty much suck at the Thursday and Friday puzzles.
If you had to change careers, what would be next?
If I had to change careers, I’d definitely try to be a writer. I like to write, and have a lot of things to express that can’t be said in a painting.
Are there any upcoming shows or projects you’d like to share?
I have a show opening in November 2008 in New York City, called “Voyeur.” Also, I have been chosen to be the official artist for the 40th Anniversary of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. I have done 13 paintings for Disney, which will premier in Summer 2009.
10/20/08
Shag photo by Andrea Bricco
Shag
