It’s tough to find many videos of Lady Day, but recently we found a movie starring these two giants of Jazz. Satchmo and Billie do their acting thing as well as give some great performances in New Orleans. Check out a clip below… Times have definitely changed.

This is the first original peice of 2012 done by BluMuze Artistry and I was fortunate enough to be a collaborator in the creative process. The piece is centered around the theme of family, thus the tree. Soak it in for a sec. Here are the words,

The strength of a legacy lies in its roots
Seeds of love sewn in soil of faith
Reap a tree of life and family
Blood is no thicker than water
Relationship is the spirit of our trunk
Talent branches us into the world
And time ripens our fruits
(Adam IVY)

BluMuze is big on mixed media artwork, so it was a great idea to add leaves to the family tree that were cut from a gospel hymnal and apply them with a matte medium.

This is a great start but there’s much more to come from BluMuze Artistry in 2012. In the meantime check out the BluMuze website and fanpage for more info, giveaways, and artwork.

How hilarious is that poster? Classic. These two artists formed an ironic and unorthodox friendship that helped to create for some great collaborations artistically. Check these out, if you can find more please send those our way because I’d love to see more myself.

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My partner Mike told me about this documentary centered around the rise and fall of Jean-Michel Basquiat called The Radiant Child. Definitely a must see for art/culture fanatics. He was a Tupac of sorts to his industry and brought a whole new persona, perception, and attitude to the world of art that was simply undeniable. Here’s the preview.

I just got this in an email from Abby Laurel who is one member of CAB K*POPT NYC; that’s Chelly and Abby Bring K*Pop to NYC.

1) Who are Chelly and Abby? – NYU students heading this globalization project

2) What is K*Pop? – Korean Pop Music

3) What the hell?

We’re students at NYU from all across the States who love Korean pop music. We recognized that it was becoming more popular in the US and wanted to help spread the k*pop love in New York City. So, we perform cover dances in public spaces all around the city and then make videos of it to put on YouTube. We just started this past Fall, and so far we’ve made two videos. (Abby Laurel)

In our cover of I Am the Best, we encouraged the public to dance in the video with us, and many people gladly cooperated! We’ve had a ton of fun making these videos, and so far we’ve gotten some great reactions from the public of NYC as well as the online community. We plan to continue promoting k*pop in the states with more dance videos in other locations. We just think k*pop is an awesome symbol of globalization and as young people we thought it was important to promote this kind of cultural diversity and meeting of East and West.

Who says the recreational use of Marijuana can only lead to laziness.  Miss J. did more 3 minutes than most coffee sippers do all day.  I must admit I admire her commitment not only to exercising but her commitment to Hip Hop.  Notice the graffiti on the wall?  Dope.

The Good:  Her dancing, her face? yeah her face lol.

The Bad:  idk I’m kinda too lazy to find something…

The Funny: Chris O.’s facial expression at 3:10

Personally I think it would have been unfair of me to put any other picture in place of this one to serve as the introduction of our latest feature D Lammie Hanson. It’s just that this one sums her up better than any other to me… She’s an artist. My wife and I had the pleasure of meeting her at the Telephone Factory Art Showcase in Atlanta, Ga where we were thrilled to hear her speak with so much passion about what she loves and who she is. So it was only right that we bring this feature to you. IVYBetty… D Lammie Hanson.

You spoke so passionately about texture and how you use it in your work. Tell me what appealed to you in the beginning of it all, color or texture; and describe your affinity for it.

When I first started painting, texture and color were not in the mix of any painting I did. I was not into color at all. I was very much into Black and White like B/W photography and film. And my work reflected it in the beginning. If I did put color in, it would be a vibrant red for the lips.

“Just groovin with the best of crew… Don’t you feel the music to their step. Celebrate that life you have.”

Not only have I read it, but when we spoke you expressed a deep sense of faith and spirituality. At times when I write music I am so in tune and at peace that my pen takes on a mind of it’s own. Tell me about how your spirituality coincides with your artwork both musically and when painting.

In the vein of visual art, my paintings were cathartic. It was a way to give the subject a voice to share their heart and soul in a time of yearning to be heard and seen. I don’t know if that taps into spirituality but I think it goes into faith of the voice and soul. It was where I was at the time.

Sometimes I look at a painting and feel it painted itself. Visual Art became my loud silent partner who spoke for my soul when I couldn’t. Creating beauty to make myself beautiful. I now know that I am beautiful on my worse days, as well on my best days.

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In the vein of my music, I’m more subtly spiritual. Music is a big part of my life and sanity. Music helps make the paintings happen 95% of the time for me. But as a singer/songwriter I write lyrics with divine optimism in mind. In 1997, I discovered the band, Jars of Clay’s song, “Flood”. I’m an Alternative Rock Baby. I didn’t know anything about Christian Rock at the time. Being raised Catholic, I was able to identify with the biblical references in the song and I loved it. It was quite uplifting.

At the time I was an agnostic Catholic and I hit a rough patch after a heart-wrenching breakup. I renewed my faith with a more intimate relationship with God. Jars of Clay had another song called “Love Song for a Savior” and I was hooked on writing lyrics on intimate inspiration and love. You can apply the lyrics to “man” or God.

Have you ever been criticized about your artwork from a spiritual standpoint? I mean, someone attempting to label you or your work as blasphemous/against your faith? How did/would you handle it?

I never got picked on for my faith or my work as blasphemous. I’m catholic. I have inspiration like the Sistene Chapel or images like David. The human body and face were the road maps to storytelling. You can’t knock that.

The only criticism that I had ever gotten that got my attention was that my work wasn’t “Black enough.” I don’t paint to be black or “black enough.” I paint because I can and I love it. Being Black is a given. I’m a black woman. You can’t measure a person’s “Blackness” because their eyes see something other than what you see. You have other artists that will carry that torch. Do you need another one? I’ve always saw the world with my own individual eyes, then as a woman, then as a black person. In that order. I don’t have a problem with it.

No matter how much we as artists do the work out of love, there is always the business side of things. How have you managed to be able to handle/balance the business of being an artist in a way that does not subtract from what you love?

I do it out of faith. I’m the only one that can make the art I make. I am still learning the balance of success vs failure and trail and errors. I’ve taken some risks that can be humiliating failures. I’ve learned that I could try to make something that I think people will buy and then those same people will prove me wrong by buying my personal original pieces.

Lesson here: whether it’s music or art, your audience knows what truly came from your heart. Your pure vision and talents shine brighter than a prefabricated whim. And then you find your reasonably pricing system to find your worth… and run with it.

Many of your works give insight into the emotion and character of human beings, most commonly women, but men as well. What is your favorite emotion to illustrate through your artwork? Is this the emotion that you yourself find inspiration and create from most often?

Warmth and sensuality, it always flows through me into the paintings. The world just seems so disconnected and through my work I want people to know each other again. See each other, hear each other, feel each other’s presence. It’s not sexual but sensual.

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In your eyes what are some of the biggest and most noteworthy differences between men and women?

In my observation, women are communicators above their necks while men were allowed to express themselves below the necks. I focus on the eyes, lips and the position of the head of women because that is their main focus of communicating. Men’s bodies are their voice. Their strength, weakness, tiredness and virility can all be communicated through their shoulders and chest area.

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Music is another passion of yours, more specifically songwriting and singing. Does music help you to articulate an area of yourself that painting does not?

Oh Lord, Yes!!!! In painting or sketching, it is a journey to complete the artwork. In writing songs and singing, it is a continuous joy ride per song and within the song I hit certain notes throughout and I get many moments of happy. I do it because I love it. My first love of creative appreciation was music then visual art.

Tell us about Perceptive Arts Magazine and what you aspire to do with it.

Artists always come up with concepts on series. Behind those concepts are stories that usually get interpreted by a viewer who doesn’t personally know the artist. This magazine will focus on a particular concept of a living artist who has created a particular series of artwork with the majority of the commentary, explanation, expose, analysis or whatever will be by the artists with support of their peers.

I know so many artists whose work I admire, who have stories that should be told and who I want to see shine brighter. That is what inspires me.

Would you say your mistakes or your successes have made you a better person/artist?

In the world of mistakes, I’ve become a better artist. Art is a relative thing and one persons imperfection is another’s perfection. I’ve made the best discoveries and the best art out of things that I initially thought was a mistake from my original plan.

Now my successes just made me grateful and humble

What is the legacy that you want to leave behind from your work?

Ahh that’s a good question. I hope that my work can still touch peoples humanity. I want my work to be in museums and have people from any country in the world identify with the warmth, vulnerability, sensuality even strength. I hope the viewer feels inspired to be alive or happy on some level. Just to be alive and human is enough for me.

Spend 5 minutes with Lammie and you will see that she is definitely a people person, and approaches life as if it’s all one big canvas. That being said, be sure to check out her fan page here to stay current on everything Lammie. Her portfolio can be found on her website here as well. Lammie and all of her work is represented by Richard Beavers, House of Art, in Brooklynn, NY. If you’d like to get in contact with her, feel free to email Richard at rbeavers@nychouseofart.com

252 is by far my favorite song from Gem Club. I’ve been consistently listening to their music lately and it’s served as the soundtrack to much soul-searching and problem solving for me. The band consists of Christopher Barnes on piano and vocals; Kristen Drymala on cello; and Ieva Berberian providing additional vocals. Together they have experienced much success recently, including a new deal with Seattle based Indie label, Hardly Art; an international tour; and now of course, an interview with yours truly. IVYBetty… Gem Club.

You’re no stranger to the misconception about your music being called “melancholy,” I disagree with that idea because for me your music is somewhat of a blank canvas that I can use as a springboard for wherever my mind and emotional state takes me. But tell me this, does the misconception bother you? Is that frustrating to have what really came from happiness be translated on face value as the opposite?

Christopher: No, I’m not bothered that people find it melancholic. Comparatively it probably is. I don’t think that people set out to create with other people’s intentions or understandings in mind. I’m grateful for the fact that people are able to relate to it.

Kristen: I think because the music is slow and minimal, people just assume that the music is melancholy. Some of the songs are brooding, for sure, but there is also a fair amount of lightness in what we create.

Ieva: Yeah, I think people can interpret music however they want, if they feel something that means they connect in some way. The way it is interpreted doesn’t bother me at all.

That misconception can unfairly be applied to you personally just for the simple fact that you are the creators. What about you as people would completely contradict that stereotype and shock someone who got to know you both?

Christopher: I’m too depressed to answer this.

Chris both you and Kristen are classically trained musicians, this is no small accomplishment. How important is it to you both to not only create, but to be students and fans of music?

Christopher: I’m not classically trained. This is such a weird concept to me – - to be “classically trained”. I went to school for music. I know a few things and I can speak that language. I would say I’m familiar with the scholastic side of music and performance. But to answer your question, its necessary for me to be constantly learning. I need to keep that thread that travels through the center of my mind engaged. Of course practicing, studying, and listening makes you a better musician and keeps you from going stale, but I need activity in other areas as well.

Kristen: Being classically trained is something I never take for granted. I’m always learning on my instrument, and I listen to all kinds of music. Classical music, especially of the late romantic era, is really inspiring to me, as well as what is going on in music today.

Change is inevitable; Chris you’ve gone from a solo artist to a band, to Pitchfork, Hardly Art, a tour, and an album in what I’m sure at times seemed like forever, but really has been a very short amount of time. In all of the change I am sure there has been compromise. With the speed of life right now you both know that there is undoubtedly more change in the near future; what are some things about yourself, and your music that you are you not willing compromise in exchange for what’s to come?

Christopher: The relationships in my life. With a lot of what’s going on I sometimes feel quite manic. I mean, even with writing I get really excited about what I’m writing and an hour later I hate it. Its important to me that those relationships are there and that they are stable and healthy. It keeps me feeling balanced.

Every part of creating and performing any type of art is rewarding in it’s own way. For example, writing the perfect lyrics to a bridge so that it flows smoothly and adds to the song creates it’s own challenges and rewards than finding the right melody to fit under it. The same as tracking and recording a song that you can’t wait for everyone to hear when they get the album, can be completely different than the rush you get when you perform it for the first time. What about the entire process of creating and performing do you enjoy the most?

Ieva: I personally enjoy performing the most. When you are writing it can be satisfying for a moment, but then there is a lot of editing to be done and you constantly have to take a step back and look at the big picture. When you have an audience in front of you, you have no time to think or second guess yourself, you just put yourself out there.

Kristen: It’s all a rush, but lately the focus is on performing. Its always interesting to see who we get billed with and how the crowd reacts.

Christopher: Obviously they both have their rewards. For me it changes depending on where I am in the process. When you’ve got a bunch of new songs its fun to try them out and see the response, but after awhile I get anxious to start writing again.

After listening to both projects a few times, it seemed to me that you challenged yourself more in the vocal department on Breakers. Is this just my perception? What are some specifics that you tried to improve upon from Acid and Everything to Breakers? Do you think you succeeded?

Christopher: Hmm. That might be your perception. It certainly wasn’t anything intentional. The two projects are closely related. I feel like Breakers is the big sister to Acid and Everything. A lot of the sentiment is shared between the two records.

In the beginning, when the performances aren’t as frequent, artists are able to focus so much of their attention on the creating portion. Now that the performing side of things has gone to a new level do you find your creative process strained in any way?

Ieva: Playing shows really benefits me creatively. I think writer’s block can happen at any time so creating a balance between writing and performing is really important, because it is a part of one ongoing process.

Kristen: I come up with ideas here and there, but you are right. When its time to perform, most of my energy goes into that. When we recorded both Acid and Everything and Breakers, all of the energy was going into that process. Both albums were recorded in a relatively short amount of time, so the process was sometimes intense. During that time we weren’t playing many shows. After we finish a round of touring for this album we’ll likely get right back to it.

I am a firm believer that talent is merely a foundation, the starting blocks. It is work ethic, and the will to be the best that you can be that creates our best opportunity for success. That being said, how do you push yourselves to be better artists?

Ieva: I like having deadlines.  Whenever I push myself to do something better I am never satisfied, so I don’t like to think of it that way. It usually happens by accident, I write whatever I feel and then I pick out ideas that I like and eventually I think it is just being comfortable with yourself and your ideas that makes you a better artist.

Gem Club’s tour schedule as well as their latest release Breakers is available for download/purchase here I asked what was next for the group and they informed me that they have already begun working on a new project so be sure to support and follow these three.

Dope right? Wait until you see more of Shellton Tremble’s artwork which he calls “So True”. The work speaks volumes, but if you really read what he has to say behind all of what you see, then you’ll realize that Shellton has a true appreciation of his gift as well as how he plays into the world of art and all that it has to offer. Shellton Tremble, So True Art.

I touched on this briefly when I originally reached out to you; your use of space and dimension is so bold and highlighted to me when I look at your work, especially in your abstracts such as the Stars in Love piece. Every nuance of the piece has a purpose. Every detail is one that is necessary for the overall clear translation of the work. Was that execution of detail something that came natural in your work, or something that took much practice and development?

I try to convey an overall theme in my work. I purposely manipulate shape, form and space to keep the eye moving or create a living two dimensional work. Ironically, you mentioned ‘nuance’…that is precisely one of the principles I strive to implement. I think of artistry as science or chemistry, thus I have a strategy called ‘Formula 55’. The first 5 are the aspects of creating art and the second 5 are the driving psychology of the creative process…one being nuance.

The complexity of human beings seems to intrigue you very much. It is apparent in your works such as Interfaced. Can you put into words how the spiritual, emotional, physical, etc. entities of the human being create a work in your eyes, and how it influences your process?

I am very intrigued how you have captured a lot of the mystique of my creative processes. I am very much interested in the universality of man. Diversity in man is as thought provoking as diversity in nature. The beauty and intricacies of mankind with my love for people are a driving force in my work.

I believe people have an aura around them. I can almost feel the presence of their energy. I think that we are part of the universe and made of star dust…which may seem bizarre to some, but we are made of the elements. And like stars, we have different forms, colors, shapes, and radiant energy. My belief is that we all have our true selves within…a spirit being who we truly are. Therefore, I try to exhibit that in my paintings. Man is a living, breathing, and walking machine of ingenuity.

Even with emotions, there are connotations to color, such as, red for love, green for envy, blue for sorrow, yellow for joy, white for purity, black for the cosmos, etc. So, I love ‘eyes’. Eyes are the windows to the soul. Eyes are the most endearing aspect of humans in my opinion. Eyes look like stars…so I try to capture the essence and power of the eyes.

Define love

LOVE is the embodiment of all creation. It is the ‘force’ of attraction and purpose wrapped in the power of infinity! We all start off liking something, but when we love something, mere words can not convey. I think it maybe the only word for the universal flow.

Taking the two previous questions further, there is much artistic expression manifested by love. An emotion created by two individually unique works of art; two human beings. Tell us about your creative process and how it is affected by the roller-coaster of love.

A wise man once said, “Art is mere imitation of life”. I find it ironic that nature always takes two forces or entities for creation. For example, Hydrogen and Helium’s reaction of the sun; bits and bytes take zeros and ones; plants need carbon dioxide – humans need oxygen. So, paint needs a canvas (surface).

Love is the manifestation of passion… I have a passion for my work, people have a passion for art, art communicates passion! My process either starts with something I like or items I feel provoke people to think of what they love. Love is such a strong influence due to the ups and downs, smiles and frowns. When we ‘love’ something we do it just because it is what makes us have purpose. So, my purpose is to create (art)!

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I know you are a fan of sports as well, and I believe that there is an art often underestimated and overlooked by those who don’t understand the beauty of what sports have to offer visually, as well as to one’s character. It is true poetry in motion to see a triple play; a 40 yard fade route; a three-punch-combination; etc. if you ask me. Does the competitiveness that sports naturally instills affect you in any way when it comes to your creativity?

Those few who don’t understand that sport is art are the same people who can’t see the ocean for all the water (lol)! Sports involve so many components of art, even down to the uniforms (color, design, and construction). We all get excited when we see something ‘spectacular’ and ‘astonishing’!

I believe sport is art in motion. It is a kinetic assembly of skill, technique, strategy, computation, and innovation. Sport much like a well done artistic motif provokes something within and we like amazement! I love competitiveness because it makes us reach for greatness and teaches us meekness. So, when I see striking artwork and the creative power it takes to achieve it, it just influences me to strive for the best! I want to be a champion, much like the greatest in any sport!

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It will be interesting to ask you this since you are a sports fan; superior talent or great work ethic, and why?

Whew…that’s a hard one!! I cannot contemplate which is better. It is best to have both! Michael Jordan didn’t just get to be the greatest basketball player because of just talent. Like any game, greatness comes with longevity! You have to have skills and not just dreams, which means you’ll need certain demographics.

Now, on the other hand a lot of sport is ‘mental’. You can’t let people take you out the game with mental distractions…a horse without a rider is just a horse. This is a loaded question…a catch22…no more, no more on this!! LOL

I often speak with artists about what role their creative expression plays in their development as a human being. Some view it as a proverbial growth chart, showing the many stages of their lives and perceptions. Yet others see it from the opposite angle as a key catalyst to their growth, rather than a reflection of it. What role does your work play in regards to your development as a human being?

I am the opposite. I see it as a catalyst to my growth! Why, you may ask…here is the mysterious secret! ART comes from within. Ingenuity and creativity cannot be taught. Much like ‘love’, art is so powerful it cannot be contained in a box or defined in mere words. So, my art flows from my heart, gathered by my brain, and executed with my hands – five fingers (Formula 55)!

The more I experience, observe, create, and convey makes me more of a well-rounded individual (that is why we need art is schools…lol). Creating art is a life long process…we artists always feel our best work is ahead of us, because of something within! Art develops my mind. It is very therapeutic!

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It’s always incredible to see different forms of expression come together. Film is a great example of this, but decor also takes one’s expression to another level by combining it with architecture, carpentry, design, etc. When you paint, are you guided by decor intentions/purposes, or do you paint free of any ulterior motives and allow the final result to be used wherever it applies?

I paint with the cosmos in mind, therefore I paint universally. I would say I am a freehand – free thought artist! I paint whatever inspires me. I know galleries and experts have what they think an artist should paint, because they have a client base and sales to think of, but to me an artist can always have a ‘signature’ brand, but still be broad in the creative process. Not all work an artist does is going to appeal to all people and we will be a very sad artist if we tried.

Most often than not, I have an idea in my head and I see it, but the finished products changes due to conditions, materials, revising, and ‘ah-ha’ moments. So, it depends on whether it is a commission piece, a signature brand piece or influences of the moment. Art can not be pigeon-holed in my opinion.

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You’ve been doing this for a long time, and it doesn’t seem like you’ll be slowing down any time soon as long as it makes you happy. Besides self-fulfillment, what is your goal for your artwork and for your personal self

Oh, I consider myself a ‘babe’ in this. To me a long time is 20 or more years, which I haven’t achieved as of yet. But, I can’t stop, because it is my passion and I feel as though I have to share with the world my energy. My art is probably in the top 3 items I love most in life (I won’t tell you the categories…ha!).

My goal with my art is to become of one the most prominent abstract and conceptual artisans in the world! I would desire to see top galleries showcase my work and travel to large expos for exposure. Of course I would like to sell my work…don’t want to be a self-collector! But, I plan on doing more shows, visiting and learning from other artists, and fulfilling my life’s purpose by producing inspiring work.

What can your fans and our readers expect next from you and your art?

My fans will see larger dimensional work in 2012 and beyond! I want to do some big pieces…maybe 48”, 60”, 72” or more. They can look for more signature items like the “Rhythm and Intrigue” Collection, some figurative abstracts with texture, and juxtaposed game and sport items. I have a book of ideas yet to be developed on canvas…so look for the vanguard effect!

Much thanks to Mr. Tremble for taking the time to chat it up with us. You can stay up to date on his exhibitions and latest works by checking in on his faebook page here. You can also find and purchase his work on his website at labronartistic.com. Thanks for reading.

Iggy Azalea is a Female Hip Hop artist who’s new to the scene repping Australia.    Iggy has been pursuing a rap career since ’06 when she came to the states.  She’s lived in Miami, Houston, Atlanta and now LA where she’s found a home with her crew D.R.U.G.S. Her buzz started with the music video for Pu$$y and has since released her first project titled ‘Ignorant Art’. The project title  is inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat’s bio-pic.  In the film theres a scene in which he approaches Andy Warhol and asks ‘would you like to buy some Ignorant Art?’ and the rest is history.

She’s been hyping this video up for the past couple weeks and for her fans I dont think it disappoints.  She embraces using ‘sex as a weapon’ and owns it in a way thats not-so-offensive or cheesy.  Like ‘Pussy Two Times’ and ‘Pu$$y’ (noticing a theme here?) she uses it to keep your attention mostly while she segues from hook to verse.  Up until now people have been comparing her to Kreayshawn (known mostly for the song Gucci Gucci).  I think this song and mixtape will quickly dispel any of those comparisons seeing as how she can actually spit.  In the video she pretends to eat her ‘Cotton Candy Laced in Gold’ and has a series of performance shots.  She’s a little rough around the edges both lyrically and performance-wise, but I think that only adds to her appeal especially in an industry full of manufactured/formula music.  Overall the video serves its purpose which is to grab your attention long enough to find her on twitter and check out her site for the mixtape.

The Good:

You get to watch a model type who actually has some pretty good rap skills!

The Bad:

Slow-Motion cutaways that repeat over and over and over and over and over

The Funny:

An aging Deebo kicking it with Aussie chicks now?

Is that a thugged out skeleton at 1:56?

Links:

IggyAzalea.com
@IggyAzalea

That is a Tangle. It’s made by an extremely interesting artist by the name of Joshua Harker. In fact,”interesting” doesn’t do our latest feature’s artistry justice. Mr. Harker’s work pulls the edges of technology into it’s grasp in completely opposite ways. I really can’t explain, I can only invite you to see for yourself. IVYBetty, meet Joshua Harker.

Your tangles are pretty damn cool; they’re just like you said, a more artistic approach to the Rorschach inkblot in which the audience can interpret for themselves based on what they feel. Sublimation Erotique are my favorite; looking at those lead me to believe that your tangles are not strictly imaginative architecture, but emotional as well. What emotions do you pull from when “tangling”? 

It’s very much a channeling experience for me…like a Ouija Board. I definitely influence & enable the outcome but somehow feel that my hand is engaged rather than pushed.

My emotional state does play into it as well. Sublimation Erotique was a deviation from some of the more aggressive forms I’d done previous.  I had done a lot of figure sculpture particularly of nude females & wanted to bring some of that beauty & form into my tangles. So I plant a seed & help it grow.

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Technology plays a huge role in your artwork; I read where you spoke about having to wait for technology to develop to a certain point in order to be able to realize your visions, ideas, and drawings of your tangles.  In the period of waiting, what kept you motivated to create if you knew that your ideas could not be executed to your liking?

It was frustrating that I was unable for so long to make my tangles sculpturally, but the exploration & discovery process is very motivating for me.  I love adventure & I truly felt like I was pioneering something & that is powerful. So for a long while I was in that mode.  Now that the dots are connected I can get back to the more creative process of letting these things loose out of my imagination.

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What advice can you give for an artist in the same predicament where the possibilities of technology cannot fully accommodate their work yet?

That’s a tough one but if it’s technology that’s going to liberate your art you need to educate yourself & get as much experience as possible with the tools. You need to master them as much as a painter masters color & brush strokes.  Then you can ride the cutting edge & push the medium into new places…hopefully where you need it to go to express yourself.

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All the computer programs make me wonder, are you an analytical thinker; an everything-is-black-and-white kind of person?

I consider myself to be very able to switch back & forth between how I think & I believe my wife would tell you the same.  I do have a good head for techy, business kind of stuff, but am ultimately a creative being.  I think one of my strengths is in problem solving.  I can see what’s in the box, figure out how to free what’s inside, then disassemble & rebuild the box into a proper home.  There is a time & place for both thought processes & I believe they fully support each other, at least in my case.  I can appreciate the certainty of black & white analysis but it’s ridiculous to look at the world, & certainly inside yourself, without including as much color as you can muster.

I mentioned when I reached out to you that your forensic science is a kind of artwork that’s revolutionary in the sense that it’s outside the box of the orthodox “art-mind.” Creation and art are about constantly developing and evolving; and while many think art is a painting or an orchestral composition, digital facial reconstruction belongs in the conversation just as much. What do you say to those who may not understand or appreciate your artwork, or other works like it?

Well speaking of analytical thinking & black & white & all…The forensic reconstructions really appeal to my scientific brain & I do like the sense of discovery associated with the process.  They’re something I’m good at but there really isn’t much room for interpretation or creativity in them.  I don’t want to get into the “what is art” debate with this but I personally don’t consider them my “art”.  They’re very artistic and I think better when done by competent artist, but I don’t find room in the process for much expression of imagination.

My tangles on the other hand are my definition of everything that is art but oddly there are some that think they are less artistic than the reconstructions.  I have come to the conclusion that it is an easy thing to determine if something is “good” or not if there is a canon to judge it by.  If a face looks like a real person than it must be good.  If someone sees something they’ve never even imagined before what kind of gauge are they going to use to tell themselves how to feel? It’s hard for many to have the courage to like something they’re uncomfortable with.  My work makes many people uncomfortable.  It’s the subject matter, the process & medium, & the unfamiliarity that scares them

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These two genres of art appear to be extremely different. One is complete freedom with no shapes, boundaries, or rules; the other is extremely calculated, mathematical, and restrictive in the sense that you must stay true to the original face you are reconstructing. The differences are obvious, but please explain how they can be similar as well.

I’d say the most similarity comes in the tools & the simple execution of 3 dimensional forms.  Really though, they are so different that it’s hard to draw many parallels between them.  I tend to like things that are completely polar opposite out of the simple joy of contrast & flavor. So maybe that’s why these wildly different disciplines appeal to me.

Each different type of art brings out it’s own set of unique characteristics in an artist. You practice many, and I’m sure have an appreciation for even more. How do you push yourself to become a better overall artist, and how would you advise others to do the same?

I like to incorporate aesthetics that please me.  So when I see another artist doing something that is exciting I may try to integrate it into my work in a way that I can make my own.  If it works I might continue to explore, develop & use it.  If it doesn’t, well I don’t.  I think becoming a better artist is very much the same as becoming a better person…do things that challenge you, help you grow, give you new experiences, make you & others think, etc.  Also, I can’t speak enough about reaching out to others & sharing.  Making a difference in someone else’s life or work profoundly impacts your own.

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Your Kickstarter has done extremely well, was the success of that magnitude expected? What’s next on your to-do list?

I honestly had high hopes but I never expected it to become the event it has. The project is the #1 most funded Sculpture project in their history & 3rd in Arts overall. It’s provided me exposure & opportunities that couldn’t have happened any other way. Not only have thousands upon thousands of people been exposed to my work, but I have nearly 1000 new collectors that didn’t exist for me previously.  That is huge. Kickstarter put me in front of everyone that matters to me right now within 45 days…it’s been a crazy ride to say the least.

I’m currently collaborating with artists Emek, Joe Fenton, & Robert Connett on an offering of fine art sculptures of their works & mine. That will likely be my focus for some time.  These guys are amazing & for me to be working on projects with them makes me do somersaults.  I have a personal short film project (Most Dangerous Game), a music project (Lonely Are The Brave), & some more sculpture projects that would lend themselves well to the Kickstarter platform.  I have a lot on my plate right now, so we’ll see, but I guarantee you’ll be hearing from me.

Much thanks to Joshua Harker for taking the time to chat with us, if you want to see/purchase more of Josh’s work you can do so from his personal site with his entire portfolio at joshharker.com. Also, click to check out Josh’s successful project on Kickstarter here. Thanks for reading.