Carmine Magazine: What drives you to create? Also, what inspires you and your work?
R. Y. McWilliams: I am driven by a burning sensation in my stomach and a little voice screaming in my brain. Creating art makes them stop. I am inspired by a combination of the beauty of nature and the decay of man made things. Old buildings, obsolete broken down machinery, junkyards full of rusty cars and rotting shipwrecks inspire me just as much as walking through the forest in the spring or gazing upon the full moon.
I am also drawn to images of war, rioting and other insane human behavior.
I don’t necessarily seek to recreate these things in my art, but they compose much of the alternate universe that my art lives in.

CM: Were you formally trained in art or self taught? Do you think it has helped you or hindered you?
RYMW: I am 99% self taught. I have taken a few classes, but nothing on a regular basis. I feel lucky that there is a great museum district in Philadelphia. Besides the big art museum, there’s the Rodin Museum, the Franklin Institute and the Academy of Natural Sciences. There’s also the Mutter Museum which is a collection of medical oddities and dozens of skeletons and brains in jars and the like. So I have been able to soak all of this in as part of my self education process.
I think that being self taught helps in the sense that I feel like my style is pretty unique and I don’t feel bound by any rules or conventions. Sometimes I make horrible, amatureish mistakes that turn into something unexpectedly cool. And sometimes it hurts when it comes to certain techniques or materials or tools that I’m not aware of that could really push my art to a higher level.

CM: What mediums do you work in the most? Do you have a particular brand that you love working with? Why do you use them?
RYMW: Mixed media is my specialty. My dolls and monsters are made from polymer clay, fabric scraps and found objects. Collage is another favorite. I have also recently been photoshopping my dolls, collages and paintings to achieve a kind of digital alchemy.
I don’t really have any favorite brands. If it’s on sale or if I can trash pick it or buy it in a thrift store, then it’s good enough. If I’m not the world’s cheapest artist, then I’m definitely in the top 10.


CM: At what point did you realize that creating was going to be a large part of your life?
RYMW: I guess when I was working mind numbing office jobs I realized that I had less and less time to work on my art. At some point in my mid 30’s, I made a conscious decision to make art my primary focus rather than something I just did to fool around and blow off steam.
But I’ve been creating on some level since I was a little kid. I’ve never really even had to think about it. Creating is my whole life. I should really get out more, but this is what makes me the happiest.

CM: If there was one style of art that you could take up, what would it be?
RYMW: Sometimes I wish that I could draw and paint in a more realistic style, but I’ve gotten to a point where I recognize my strengths and weaknesses and I’m comfortable with who I am as an artist.


CM: How do you deal with creator’s (or writer’s) block?
RYMW: In addition to visual art, I also write and play music, so when I have a block in one area, I’ll just switch gears and do something else for a while. Taking a long bike ride or walking through the woods always helps too.

CM: How do you prepare for art shows where your work will be shown?
RYMW: I usually work myself up into a nervous wreck and look for excuses as to why I should cancel and then at the last minute I pull myself together and go and have a great time. It also helps if the place has a bar.

CM: How do you define your style? Does it represent an inner you or
something completely different?
RYMW: I like to call my style Silly Evil. It’s usually a little dark and scary, but with a generous helping of humor. It might freak you out at first glance, but it won’t hurt you and you’ll end up with a smile. I’m sort of the same way.

CM: What kind of environment do you need to create in?
RYMW: I don’t think a true artist needs a specific environment in which to create.
I have had a number of different studios and living quarters and as long as I have a few square feet of space for the sole purpose of working, then I can create. I can get my artistic jollies by building a sand castle on the beach or carving a piece of wood in the forest or spray painting a wall in the city.

CM: What does your workspace look like? (Pictures or a description work for this one)
RYMW: My current set up is in the dank, dirty basement of a 125 year old house. An assortment of tables and workbenches and shelving piled high with supplies and finished products compete for space with spiders and the gas furnace.

CM: What was your worst experience with art? And the best?
RYMW: My worst experience was when I was about 6 years old. There was a children’s show in the Philadelphia area called Captain Noah. Kids were encouraged to “send your pictures to dear old Captain Noah” and there was a segment at the end of every show where the camera would pan across the walls which were filled with the kids’ artwork.
I sent in my best crayon and magic marker creation and watched every day for months, but they never showed it. I was crushed.
My best experience was probably the first time that I showed my work in New York City. I was extremely nervous, but it was very well received and it was a huge boost to my confidence (and ego)


CM: What movies, books, music, etc get your creative juices flowing the most?
RYMW: Movies: Hitchcock and Tim Burton films, cheesy horror and sci-fi flicks from the 50’s.
Books: William S. Burroughs never fails to plant weird images in my mind. Time/Life type books full of iconic photography. Also picture books about history, war, birds, insects and fish. And Old sci-fi comic books.
Music: I prefer stuff that has a punky attitude and ragged edge, but is musical and literate, such as: the Clash, Minutemen, Television, Joe Jackson, Talking Heads, Black Flag, the Police. Funky stuff like Charlie Hunter, Galactic and Medeski, Martin and Wood. And just plain craziness like Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa, Primus and the Residents.

CM: Do you think the internet, technology, media, etcetera are helping or destroying the art world?
RYMW: I think it definitely helps. People are able to access and enjoy art and artists that they might never have been able to without it.

CM: Aside from art what do you do with your time? Is there anything else that drives you or that you’re passionate about?
RYMW: Playing music, reading, writing, walking around old cemeteries, spending time with my dog, and whiskey night at Che’s house. I also watch way too much t.v.

CM: Do you have any upcoming shows, events, releases, etc. you would like our readers to know about?
RYMW: Nothing in the immediate future, but be sure to check my various myspace and web pages for more info.

For more information on R. Y. McWilliams and his work check out these pages:
RYMcWilliams on Myspace
secretnameau on Myspace
RYMcWilliams.com
Saatchi Gallery