1973, Berlin, few years of graphic design schooling, but mostly my art education is through the richest source of art available to the youth - skateboard graphics!
How long have u been living there?
Since April 2008! after 12 years of living in east London (I had to stay there 10 years to be officially classed as a "Londoner", then another 2 years added for bad behaviour)
Where do you get your inspiration?
Who knows. probably from everywhere/everything. life in general, random thoughts and moments, over-heard conversations, friends, song lyrics, skateboarding, walking around with eyes and ears open.
What's your favourite color?
Living Colour
When are you the most productive? Friday nights when everyone else is at the pub. In the hours when I should be sleeping. lately I've found sitting on a roof top in the sunshine is good for letting the mind wander, explore, create, solve problems. I'm doing more thinking and less doing at the moment. it's refreshing.
For painting canvas im definately more productive during autum/winter.
Where is your favourite vacation-spot?
What's a vacation?
What kind of music do you like?
There's only two types of music - music with soul, and music without. I prefer the former.
Any exhibitions planned?
I have a show of prints (screen, lino and stencil prints) planned at ATM gallery in Berlin in April 2009, where we'll also be showing the Chapel Of St. Martin print again (and we plan to hit the streets with more of these on St. Martins Day, 11th November '08). There's also talk of a joint show with Ekta at the Don Gallery in Milan in June, which I'm very excited about as collaborating with Ekta is always a great experience. I've had two gallery solo shows and two shop/bar solo shows in the last 7 months, and other than the print show at ATM I'm hanging back on solo shows for a while, new things to work on in the studio and the streets before I show solo again. Need to come on super strong next time around... raise my game...
What is your favourite material to work on?
Black ink on white paper still holds my attention, it's like the place I can always go to with no fear, and with total freedom. In the street I'm finding rollers, house paint, and wood to be my favourite combination, but the streets of Berlin are different from London, so new things have got to be discovered. and for skateboarding it's still all about carving on concrete (but once again, Berlin is different to London, so we'll see...)
What are your tools? (special pens, colors etc.)
I dig these disposable "Fountain" pens by Pentel. I draw a bit backwards (I form some letters the "wrong" way when writing) so they tend to spit and scratch and splatter which is very appealing. Sable paint brushes, black Indian ink, fluorescent spray paint, household paint and rollers, 8 inch deck with 60mm 85a wheels for street cruising, 7.75 and 56mm for parks. Keep the trucks loose. I have a Mac, but it doesn't get used much for artwork. Pencils not pixels! And a brain, that is very important. Keep it switched on while working (sometimes difficult to do!)
