Describe your style:
Pretty, gross.
How did you come up with the name Stuntkid?
When I registered my url back in 2000 I was working for a dot com start up. I gained a reputation there for doing stupid things such as riding my skateboard down a flight of stairs in the office. There was something pleasing about coming home from a hard day at the office with a skinned knee and torn pants. So when the time came to secure a url, I wanted to use the word “stunt”. In a way it refers to not only my recklessness, but also my art.
Can you share a little about Loose Lips and how you conceived it:
It was based on a photo shoot I did with SaraX. This was actually my first shoot using finger paint. Though it’s non-toxic I didn’t want Sara to have to put any in her mouth so we substituted strawberry syrup for the drool. Once set up, the whole shoot took about 10 minutes. A lot of the full body shots gave me great inspiration for illustrations, but I really wanted to focus at least one drawing on the mouth. Without any distraction the lips alone with the long thread of drool made for a graphically strong piece.
What’s the most unique prop you’ve used on a shoot?
I shot with a girl named Cher Grepo several months ago. The concept had her surrounded with rice and “giant caviar eggs”. For the eggs I bought a bag of Hydrogel balls from a science supply website. The balls are bb sized when you get them, but swell in water to the size of marbles. I was so afraid Cher was going to choke on them I tried to talk her out of putting them in her mouth. She insisted and the pictures came out great.
What’s the most unusual thing that’s ever inspired a piece of your art?
Slug sex.
What’s the most extreme reaction you’ve had to your art?
I did a cover once for Boston’s weekly paper Weekly Dig that featured a plastic wrapped girl in a compromising position, wearing a flirty grin. The paper received a lot of flak for that cover. The following week I was defended by none other than the sex columnist, Dan Savage. He got it right when he said that the artwork was not encouraging violence against women and that it obviously showed a consensually playful situation.
Can you tell us a little bit about being involved in the exhibition Audrey Kawasaki curated?
Audrey contacted me about eight months prior to the show letting me know she was curating a show featuring many of her friends. My difficulty is that much of my work is never finished on paper, my methods include sketches which are scanned, but rarely do I produce quality originals. The show itself was packed and an apparent success. I met a whole slew of amazing artists. Gary Baseman dropped in of whom i’m a huge fan. He offered to go gallery hoping with me the next day, unfortunately my plans were packed and I had to pass.
What things have you seen recently that are going to inspire a piece of art?
A French film called Microcosmos. It is a film focused on the natural world through a macro lens. I try to get my inspiration from the natural world and this short film was a treasure trove of visual stimulation. Highly recommended.
What’s the most unusual canvas you’ve painted on?
My first car. I painted the car bumper to bumper with a spring green house paint then went back over it painting all my friends. Sadly I don’t own a single picture of it.
If you had to customize anything in your life what would it be?
I think I would be most interested in customizing my Stella scooter. As it is already bright orange and well chromed, it turns a lot of heads. It could stand to be improved though, it’s not quite up to parade standards yet, haha.
What is your favorite color?
Pantone 326!
What art do you have on your walls?
I have several large Glenn Barr lithos and couple prints from Kozyndan. We also have a few originals from Amy Earles, a mermaid original from Clio Chang, a Meg Hunt screenprint, a painting or two by my mom and a couple other local artists. Support your local artists!
Can you describe your computer?
I work on a 24 inch iMac, currently I have Jason Chan’s Left for Dead playground image as a background.
If your art was music, what would it sound like?
Haha, terrible, i’m sure! I’d like to think it would sound so different from illustration to illustration that it would be hard to categorize. It would certainly make use of an theremin.
What are your most treasured possessions?
My iPhone! No wait, my children. I should have said children first.
What are your vices?
I’m embarrassed to say, video games. Ugh, if i could only get rid of my Playstation I’d double my output i’m sure.
If you had to change careers, what would be next?
I’m an illustrator, so I may switch to photography, though i find it difficult. If i had to change to a non-art, i’d want to be an earth science teacher, yeah, sweater vests and all.
Are there any upcoming shows or projects you’d like to share?
I’m working on a piece for “the Kokeshi Show” planned for July 11th 2009 at the LATDA museum. I’m also trying to finish compiling another art book, one that I hope I’ll have finished in the spring.
Stuntkid
