Archive for October, 2008

In April of this year I interviewed Molly Crabapple, founder of Dr. Sketchy’s New York about the Dr. Sketchy’s movement.

Carmine Magazine: For the readers that are not familiar with Dr. Sketchy’s Anti Art School how would you describe it?
Molly Crabapple: Dr. Sketchy’s is what happens when cabaret meets art school. Artists sketch glamorous subcultural models, compete in contests, and win booze and prizes. I founded Dr. Sketchy’s in 2005, and there are now 50 branches around the world
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Recently it came to my attention that there are better drawing pens out there than Sigma’s Micron pens (which are pretty good pens). An artist friend of mine (Serpenthes) recently broke down and bought some Prismacolor pens to replace her Microns for her amazing pen-shaded drawings. Right after she announced this, a few of her other friends told her that she should try some drawing pens from Copic. Well, I decided that it was up to me to try them both and give my input on which pens I think were better. Hopefully this can help some of you decide to make the jump to some different drawing pens when you feel the need to do so.
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Carmine Mag: What drives you to create? Also, what inspires you and your work?
Jody Pham: My life. Simply. I have no idea how else I would cope with the world without ART as a bottomless outlet. What inspires me? Whether it be good or bad, anything with such an intensity that you can’t get it out of your mind. The frailty, yet immense strength of the human body and mind is definitely a common thread.

CM: Were you formally trained in art or self taught? Do you think it has helped you or hindered you?
JP: Aside from being in Advanced Art classes and The National Art Honor Society in high school, and a couple Art History classes in college, I consider myself mostly self-taught. I love that I feel my talent is very raw and naturally driven, but at the same time I think it has kept me from experimenting more with different techniques that could perhaps bring my art and ideas to ‘another level’.
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CM: What drives you to create? Also, what inspires you and your work?
Nic O’Keeffe: I’m not really sure, I’ve just always felt the need to draw and sketch. I often find myself lost for ideas, so I’m not sure how creative I am! I find inspiration in lots of places though, films, books, people I see in the street, classical art styles, stories that pop into my head, artists I admire, songs. It’s hard to pinpoint where inspiration comes from, really.

CM: Were you formally trained in art or self taught? Do you think it has helped you or hindered you?
NO’K: A little bit of both. I was always doodling as a child and I began to teach myself how to draw properly when I was about 14 or 15, mostly using ‘how to draw manga’ style tutorials I found online. I later began studying art formally at college, which was incredibly helpful and taught me a lot. I’ve recently completed a National Diploma in Art and Design, which taught me a lot but was mostly a graphics based course. I can’t wait to go to university and study the areas I’m really interested in, illustration and animation. I feel my teaching myself how to draw has hindered me slightly, as I tend to stick to the bad habits and short cuts I picked up starting out instead of experimenting with new ways of drawing.
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