Carmine Magazine: What drives you to create? Also, what inspires you and your work?
James “Jimbot” Demski: That’s kind of a hard one to answer. It’s not something that I can easily just put my finger on and say, “That’s it!” It’s more of a feeling, a drive, I guess. Haha.. a drive drives me to create. I guess maybe you can call it a fire in my belly. I just have to do it, it’s why I am here, I think. I need to spread the word of Jimbot! When I don’t do work for a while, I really feel it too, like a corked bottle, so I just have to keep on doing it. Maybe it’s also because my brain never shuts off. I am always thinking of something, even when I am working on other projects. Honestly, it’s just always been like this for me. I’ve always wanted to create.
As far as what inspires me, that is another hard question. There is SO much that inspires me these days–everything from ads, and shows on television, to comic books and toys, to nature and people, to other art and artists. I try to take it all in. It’s funny, I might see something while I am walking down the street, and that sparks an idea, which evolves into another idea, and so on, and so on, until I eventually come up with a painting, drawing, sculpture, or whatever. I will say, though, that there was a point where I was very burned out, and I was VERY un-inspired. It was right after I graduated from art school. I didn’t do anything for about 2-3 years. It might sound corny, but it took me meeting my (now) wife to re-inspire me. Now I can’t stop creating!!!! Maybe one passion can ignite another passion (or re-ignite in my case!), I guess.

CM: Were you formally trained in art or self-taught? Do you think it has
helped you or hindered you?
JD: Well, I did go through art school, so I guess I am considered formally trained. However, I didn’t REALLY develop my style and discover my voice until several years after art school. In retrospect, it is hard to say if it really did help me. Like I said before, I was completely burned out after school, and I didn’t want to do any more art. At that time, I even considered abandoning my art career completely and going into computer programming. Sure, art school did let me try a LOT of different things, but I’m not sure how much it really helped me in the long run, other than help me to build some hefty debt. Still though, I got to meet a LOT of great people, including some teachers who I still look up to even today! I guess I can say art school was an experience, that’s for sure!

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?
JD: Mostly, right now, I work in Acrylic on Masonite, and sometimes there is some Letraset “rub-on” lettering thrown in. Lately, though, I have been coming back to sculpture. I really LOVE the idea of bringing my characters to life with painted wood blocks! Sculpture is something I had this secret love affair with in school. I REALLY liked it, but since I was an illustration major, I didn’t have the opportunity to do a lot of it.
The Brand of paint I love is Liquitex Soft Body Jar acrylics. Actually, I don’t know if I could paint without them! Sometimes some other brands sneak in there, but I always go back to my Liquitex. The thing I like the best is how they flow, and how bright the colors are. They are very “loose” when I put them on my palette, and SO easy to paint with… at least with my style of painting. I also like how saturated the colors are. Most of my work is pretty bright, and they just lend themselves very well to that.

CM: At what point did you realize that creating was going to be a large
part of your life?
JD: The time I really realized I was going to be serious with my art was when I was deciding where I was going to go after high school, during my senior year. Honestly, I was deciding between computer programming and art. I liked them both, but really, I liked art more. It was just more fun. In retrospect, I think I would have gone CRAZY being a programmer, especially knowing what I know now about myself. I will say though, that I was always creating things. Even when I was in grade school, I was drawing Voltron, transformers, and creating mazes for my friends and family to work their way through. When I was making art, I was happy. So to ask me when I realized creating was going to be a large part of my life… well, it always was a large part of my life. I really didn’t get serious about it, though, and decide to follow it as a career until I was in high school.

CM: If there was one style of art that you could take up, what would it be?
JD: Honestly, I would take up sewing, knitting, and fabric work. I love finding artists that do their work in cloth, whether it be in creating little stuffed creatures, making a bag, making some really cool clothes, knitting something out of yarn, etc. There is just something SO great, and SO inspiring about seeing someone make something in cloth that you can use, wear, or cuddle with. PLUS, I just love the tactile feel of hand-knit things (scarves, hats, blankets, etc.). Maybe it takes me back to when I was a kid. My Grandma used to be a whiz with the knitting needles and the sewing machine. As a matter of fact, I managed to save one of her baby blankets she made a long time ago, and my wife and I are going to be using it for our new baby when she gets here. I wish I knew how to use a sewing machine, and when I watch people using knitting needles, I kind of get a little jealous.

CM: How do you deal with creator’s (or writer’s) block?
JD: Usually, before I even REALIZE I have “the block,” I find myself staring out the window that is right in front of my desk, just listening to whatever music is playing. Then I start playing around on the internet looking for that one thing to get me going. Sometimes the block for me isn’t really not having any ideas to create, it’s just taking that next step in my project. Sometimes, it’s just a really slow start. When I don’t see a clear path of how to execute a painting or how to move from the “drawing stage” to the “painting stage,” I kind of just sit there, until it either just clicks, or I just do it! Sometimes, when it is REALLY bad, I just have to step away from my desk and go do something else, hang out with my wife, play with my 2 dogs, do something in the kitchen (since I LOVE to cook), or sometimes I’ll go work on a “house project”. I just need something to get my mind off of things for a while, so that I can come back with a fresh mind and fresh eyes.

CM: How do you prepare for art shows where your work will be shown?
JD: I just work, work, work until the last possible minute. I like to give as much as I can when I have a show! A lot of my work involves not only creating the piece, but also making the frame, and making everything presentable. Presentation has always been very important to me. I guess I’m kind of a perfectionist, and I like to be involved in all aspects of the piece, and in as much of the show as possible.

CM: How do you define you style? Does it represent an inner you or
something completely different?
JD: I guess I would define my style as illustrative. I am trying to show people the story I have going on in my mind! A lot of my work is rooted very much in the comics I used to (and still) read, in the cartoons I used to (and still) watch, and the toys I used to (and still) have. Overall, I guess I am a kid at heart, and I think that is reflected in my style. Things like giant robots and monsters show up in my world all the time, and this is a world I have always wanted to be a part of. I love the idea of a person adventuring in a world where this kind of stuff exists. That could be why I am currently building my robot army, and planning to take over the world with it. Oops, I’ve said too much!!!! Don’t print this!!!

CM: What kind of environment do you need to create in?
JD: Honestly, I like being in an environment where I am alone, and comfortable, in a space that I am in control of (mostly). You will rarely see me painting/drawing/creating in public. I like to have time to ponder my decisions, and slowly develop things. I don’t like other people watching me while I work. As a matter of fact, it took a little while for me to get used to my wife hanging out with me while I work. Now I just work, and we talk, and it’s great. I actually REALLY love it when she is in here with me!!!! Overall, I like sitting in my studio all day, surrounded by my thoughts, my music, my toys, and my art, with my 2 dogs sleeping on my feet or on the couch I have in here.

CM: What does your workspace look like? (Pictures or a description work
for this one)
JD: My workspace looks like a mix between a 12 year-old’s dream room, with LOTS of art supplies thrown in for good measure… nuff said…. Just check out the pic.

CM: What was your worst experience with art? And the best?
JD: The worst part of art is doing art just to make ends meet. It can be so stifling when you have to do work that isn’t really yours, but someone just telling you what to create. However, when you are a freelancer, sometimes you just have to pay the bills, and save all of your creative energy for the art you REALLY love. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t all bad, and I actually do get to do a lot of fun work. In the end, I get to be my own boss, so maybe the worst isn’t so bad.
The best experience has to be when I get to go to a show I am involved with and talk to all of the people that show up. It’s really fun to meet all of these different people, and see what they think of my work. It’s great to step away from my desk, and see all my work in action! Oftentimes I never even find out who is buying my work!


CM: What movies, books, music, etc get your creative juices flowing the most?
JD: I still read a lot of comics. I just finished “Y the last man,” which was an AMAZING story, and I am a regular reader of the comic “The Walking Dead.” The last actual book I read was “World War Z,” which is simply incredible! I am always a fan of Miyazaki movies. The worlds he portrays are just jaw dropping and awe-inspiring! I guess I really like stories where the whole world is changed. It is usually similar to ours, but somehow different in some way. Also, I LOVE stories where the heroes are the unexpected ones.
Music and NPR also play a HUGE role in my creative life as well. Many times I will have my fav albums playing while I am working, but I will say that 2 things have been on my itunes podcast playlist for quite some time now, and they get LOTS and LOTS of play. The first is “The best show on WFMU,” a SUPER funny show out of New Jersey. The 2nd thing that REALLY gets my creative juices going is a show on NPR called “Radio Lab.” Now that is one AMAZING show. It is more of a science based one I guess, but it will change your life if you listen to it, literally. They show you things that are SO amazing, and SO incredible, that you can’t believe this is real life they are talking about.

CM: Do you think the internet, technology, media, etcetera are helping or
destroying the art world?
JD: I think tech has both a positive and negative effect on the art world. Overall though, I think that it is more positive than negative. It really helps with getting my work out there and seen. Websites, email, internet, and computers, all of it is SO helpful to me. Honestly, I think that without the internet, I would not have had as much, if any, of the exposure I’ve had in other states. It would be a lot harder to find out about other artists, galleries, etc… all things that are important to my career, and all of the things that help to inspire me. On the other hand though, it really does make it harder to stand out in the crowd, since it IS so much easier to get your work out there, and meet people, there is a saturation of artists on the internet. In the end though, I think the cream always rises to the top. I just hope to be part of that cream.

CM: Aside from art what do you do with your time? Is there anything else
that drives you or that you’re passionate about?
JD: Aside from working on my robot army, and world domination plans, I really like spending time with my wife, my family, and friends. Both my wife and I work a lot, so I cherish all the time I can get with her. I’m even more excited now that we have a little girl on the way too!!! My family has always been a great help and support to me too. My parents especially have always backed me in all my choices. I am SO lucky to have them… I probably don’t thank them enough. Also, I have a small network of friends that I love spending time with. It’s just great to hang out sometimes. As far as other things, I am pretty geeky at heart, so I like going to the comic shop, watching cartoons, seeing movies, all the usual stuff.

CM: Do you have any upcoming shows, events, releases, etc. you would like
our readers to know about?
JD: I am going to be involved in the Gallery 1988 show “Under the influence: An official Tribute to the Beastie Boys” on January 8, 2009 (they’re located in L.A.). I am going to be showing locally at Design Within Reach on January 16th. You can find lots of my art prints for sale at my etsy shop, and of course I am ALWAYS interested in working on commission work if any of your readers are interested!

For more information on James “Jimbot” Demski’s artwork, check out these sites:
Jimbot
Jimbot News
Jimbot on Etsy
Jimbot on Flickr