“True Identity”

Carmine Magazine: What’s your favorite piece you’ve ever done? (Please provide a picture)
PaperMonster: One of my most recent favorite pieces is “True Identity” because it really shows how my art is growing and it was just a real fun piece to try new techniques and starting to add new dimensions to my work.

CM: If you could merge any two artist’s styles into your own which would you choose?
PM: I would choose David Choe and Flying Fortress. They both have incredible talent and they work extremely hard. You can tell that these artists live and grow so quickly with each new project and they consistently put out great work whether it is a drawing, a product or a painting. The use of colors and subject matter is what catches my attention the most and they both do a remarkable job.

“Who Are You”

CM: Which people inspire you the most in life?
PM: My work is inspired by women. Each woman has her own story and her very own mystery. I love strong and bold facial expressions and my work focuses on trying to create these stories through collage work within the women’s portraits to say something unique. I am inspired by people who are complex and unique and who make their own path in life yet are unstoppable no matter the hurdles they face.

CM: Do you collect anything? If so what do you collect? If not what would you collect (finances and space permitting)?
PM: I am a massive collector of sneakers and have been for quite some time. I love vibrant colors, patterns and textures and the current sneaker world has everything that you could imagine. I feel like sneakers are a special art form and your shoes say a lot about the type of person you are and the amount of energy or attention to detail you have. I let me stand on their own by never trying to coordinate colors. Clothing in general is a form of self expression and we all express ourselves in different way. I can’t wait to see what sneaker I add to the collection next.

“In Love”
CM: Name five things you always have near you when you create.
PM: Laptop, camera, water, cell phone, and tons of paper.

CM: Name 5 materials/supplies you can’t live without (please include brand names where available).
PM: Paper (newspaper, magazines, comic book, texture, poster board), Canvas, Belton Spraypaint, Mickey Mouse Collection Paint Chart, and Paste.

“He’s Here”
CM: What kind of an environment do you need to create in and what does your workspace look like (pictures welcomed)?
PM: My work environment is one word “CHOAS.” There is paper everywhere! I sit in the middle of the room and I create a circle where I can reach all around me and grab any supplies I need at any time. I choose everything I do very carefully and there is an entire mindset of controlled chaos. I love creative environment but it is a huge problem to clean up. After I finish one painting, I start the entire process all over again.

CM: If you could have any talent which would you choose?
PM: I would choose a photographic memory. Imagine seeing something beautiful and being able to recall it on command and draw it out with incredible precision. That would be a super power.

“Don’t Go”
CM: How do you go about naming your pieces? Do they start out with names or do you have to figure them out once the pieces are finished?
PM: I usually completely finish the painting and try to remember back to why I created the piece and what I was trying to say within the stencil collage. The titles all have to do with thoughts and emotions that I feel these women have or could have going through their minds. It is like the movie “What women want” yet I can’t hear anyone.

CM: From idea to finished piece, about how long does the creative process take you?
PM: Each piece really depends. Some can take several weeks to just several days. Doing a stencil for the first time usually is the longest process because you want it to look right and it may take some reworking to truly get the desired results. The drying process takes hours for each layer and texture of the painting and it is one of the main reasons each painting takes such a long time. Overall it is time that is well worth the wait.

“Approach”
CM: Which of your pieces took the longest to finish and which was one of the quickest for you to finish? (Please provide pictures.)
PM: It sounds hilarious but the longest piece was my first portrait of a girl. It took weeks and hours of reworking and ultimately the stencil did not even look that good now that I look back into it. At the time I had the worst supplies and did not know where to start so there was massive room for growth and I am glad I never gave up on that stencil idea.

CM: How do you sign your pieces? What do you sign with and where do you usually sign? (Please provide pictures.)
PM: I sign my pieces in a very special way. To really know what that way is you have to buy a painting first. Each signature is unique it is own way.

“If He Only Knew”
CM: Any words of wisdom or advice to share with other artists or artistic people who are afraid to create?
PM: Make 100 mistakes. If you do not make a single mistake then you have no chance of learning or growing. The work you see from me today is a product of the mistakes and chances that I took. You will come to find times where something you hate is an aspect that someone really loves. Also, do not make art with the intention to profit. Create because you are driven to be active and you are connecting with what you make. If you come into the process empty hearted it will show. Put in what you want to get out.

CM: Are there any special causes or charities close to your heart that you wish you could donate work, time or money to?
PM: I really love donating pieces and joining projects involved with charities. I have created a skateboard deck along with ADM Skateboards (http://www.admskateboards.com) . ADM Skateboards then contributes a percentage of their earning to drug awareness programs and skatepark building projects. Any causes/charities helping youth that incorporates art in any way whether it be to raise money or awareness, are valuable parts of our community and I love to do anything in my power to help. As my art continues to grow I hope to become more involved in a greater variety of social causes.

The board PaperMonster created for ADM Skateboards.
CM: Do you have any upcoming art shows, releases or other news you would like our readers to know about?
PM: I have several upcoming group shows: Your Kid Can’t Do This: Int’l Stencil Exhibit (Australia) 6th-14th February 2009. T & P Fine Art Gallery:”Cut Copy – A Stencil Show”Friday Feb 6th 2009. Also, “Year One Rewind” by DirtyPilot will be released in the spring featuring artist works from all over the world and I will continue to release several new T-shirt designs based on my stencil art paintings. 2009 is going to be a fantastic year and I am very excited about what new events and show are planned this year.

For more information on PaperMonster and his work visit these links:
PaperMonster.org
PaperMonster merchandise at RedBubble.com
PaperMonster skateboard at ADM Skateboards
PaperMonster Big Cartel store (Order stickers and limited edition laser cut skateboards).

“Within”

“Pierced”

“Closet Case”

“The Return of Samus”