Posts Tagged ‘Arabella Proffer-Vendetta’

Carmine Magazine: What drives you to create? Also, what inspires you and your work?
Arabella Proffer-Vendetta: I’ve never been sure, but it is a combination of information overload and mild hyperactivity. I’ve been doing art or film or music since I was a wee little thing and I can’t turn it off. If I go too long without creating something I feel useless, that I could go crazy and die. That, and I’m not good at anything else. Well, except real estate speculation, and hitting a fast moving target with a bb gun.
I grew up around a lot of 1920s and 30s art and I’ve always loved mannerist portraits I would see in museums, so I’m sure that had an influence that has stayed with me in my work. I have sort of lived my life as a combination of high culture and low culture – I always draw on the two. I had a big white Mohawk and was always at punk shows in someone’s dirty basement, but I would also stay at 5 star hotels and watch classic b&w movies. I love tattoos and Adrian ball gowns; muscle cars and Dior perfume. So my inspiration comes from varied interests in décor, fashion and the lifestyles of aristocrats and socialites. Everything I do comes from some loose narrative in my head and it always turns to things related to counter-culture and the eccentricity of the wealthy.

CM: Were you formally trained in art or self-taught? Do you think it has helped you or hindered you?
APV: I attended Art Center College Of Design for a bit and then graduated from CalArts. I think I went to art school at the wrong time for what I was doing. Everything was about concept and installation art; figurative or any kind of art like that was frowned upon. I think I learned the most taking animation courses because you actually did the art instead of just talking about the concept. I made the best of it by mostly concentrating on animation and film to get my money’s worth. Sadly I think my painting and technique got better after I graduated, so in many ways I am self-taught.
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