PSYKOART: Interview with Local Artists #1

// July 7th, 2009 // News

Interview #1 with Sergio Lopez

For those of us who have not been following your blog, TheMainLoop, can you tell us a little about yourself? Where are you working now?

I am a 25 year old artist working in Marin County at a small startup called Virtual Space Entertainment. We’re creating a virtual world set on Mars in the year 2150. I do concept designs, illustrations, and a little bit of 3d modeling here and there. I’m also trying to get a fine art career going at the same time.

When and how did you first become interested in art? How long have you been drawing?

I’ve been drawing for longer than I can remember. I’ve always had the urge to make art and draw and paint what was around me. I didn’t stop sucking though until a few years into art school. I went to the Academy of Art University from 2001 to 2006.

What are your musical influences?

I’ve always been a huge fan of hip-hop since I was a little kid, thanks to my older brothers. When I was really little, I would remember them playing cassettes of LL Cool J, Run DMC, Rakim, Biz Markie, 2 Live Crew, NWA, and everything else late-80′s/early 90′s. The B-Boy movement got huge in the mid-90′s in the Bay Area where I’m from, so I then got drawn into that through them. The 4 elements they repped pretty hard. One of them became a well-known local B-Boy, graff artist and DJ. I found out about underground rap through him, and pretty much devoured everything once Napster got big. I got so into i that I started learning how to make beats on my computer around 2001 (which I still dabble in to this day). I learned how and who to sample, which expanded me to more genres past hip-hop. I now listen to a bit of everything with a good appreciation for it, but hip-hop will be my first and biggest musical love.

Where do you get the inspiration for your ideas?

Just about everywhere. Every place you would expect and some places maybe not so expected. Other artists past and present, nature, architecture, industrial designs, music, movies, books, comics, podcasts, graffiti, decaying buildings, rustic texture, my dreams, the shower, the shitter, the streets, the night life, everywhere. Anytime I can clear my mind a juicy concept comes to fill it. You really have to pay attention to those fleeting moments where your subconscious meets your consciousness because it’s where your best ideas come from. Also, those unexpected moments where you see something that clicks, like your muse positions her head just so, or or the light hits the hills just right, or the plant is at just the right area in front of the window so that the composition is perfectly balanced; pay attention to those because that’s where the real art is.

Who’s your favorite artist/rap artist?

Do you mean currently or of all time? My favorite artist of all time might be Alphonse Mucha. I think if I were ever to get a tattoo it would probably be of a piece of his. My favorite rap artist of all time might be Eligh from the Living Legends.

How is the art scene where you live at?

It’s pretty good. Unfortunately there aren’t enough outlets for contemporary realism and classical art, but I think that will change in the years to come, or at least I hope. The street and counter-culture art scene is pretty huge, probably only just behind New York and LA. I guess in my current work I’m trying to forge a link between the two, since I’m heavily influenced by both.

What projects are you working on now, and what do you have in line for the future?

Other than my day job as concept artist, I’m busy with a few series I’m trying to explore. One has been a series of urban portraits where the backgrounds dissolve into abstract shapes reminiscent of graff murals. Another series has been of club dancers where I’ve been trying to evoke the feeling of being at a party. If I can visually take you to that place in your mind and evoke the other senses then I’m being successful.

What goes on inside of your head on an average day?

Nothing all that interesting, honestly. I prefer to drown out the boring chatter in my head with either music or podcasts while I do my thing on the canvas or tablet.

Of all the work you’ve done, what would you say is your favorite?

One of my favorite experiences has been a commission that I undertook at the end of last year. A guy had seen one of my pieces at a friend’s coffee shop and wanted to buy it. He had bought it off of me a while back and wasnt willing to give it up, but he gave the customer my business card. The guy then went home and checked out the rest of my stuff and was thoroughly impressed. I got a call from him on a Saturday morning, basically singing my praises to me. Had he left it at that even, it would have made my day. But he then asked me to do a commission for him. He had always wanted a portrait of his wife nude, but he never found anyone locally with the skill I have with the figure. His idea was to come by the studio, have her get to know me, then tell her I’m an artist and that she was here to be drawn and painted nude by me. He wanted it to be a surprise to her! So the day of the session rolls by, and they make it to my apartment, and sure enough, the wife has no idea why she’s here. I think he told her I was a fortune teller! But once we greeted each other he tells her that I’m actually an artist and that he commissioned me to draw and paint her nude. At first she was like, “Oh hell no.” And rightfully so. But once she saw my work, got relaxed, and got sweet-talked for a while by the husband, she slowly warmed up to the idea. She agreed to it and so we started with the session. At first she was a bit on the shy side, but after a while she was totally comfortable and was pretty into it. Not only was it really fun because they gave me license to do whatever I wanted, but it was very apparent to me that this man adored his wife. This wasn’t just something like, “Hey let’s do something zany for Valentine’s Day!” I realized I was granting him a long-time wish. He wanted this to be an expression of his admiration of her beauty (and she was beautiful, by the way) so for me to be a conduit for that, it was really special. To see how much they both enjoyed the finished product, and how this brought them even closer together, it’s going to be very hard to top that.

Tell us about your travels abroad (intimate details, of course)

I used to go to Mexico almost every year with my parents when I was younger. The only part I enjoyed was the beach and the visits to Guadalajara. The rest of it was not very glamorous. I dunno, something about almost dying from malaria when you’re 5 years old kinda’ sours you to a place.
I’ve been to Montreal once for a conceptart.org workshop. That was a great experience. I made a lot of new friends in a beautiful city. If fortune favors me I’ll get to go back again this year to see the Waterhouse exhibit.

Have you ever had any strange dreams that you drew on paper afterward?

I’d say that some of my best ideas have come from strange dreams. Actually not from the dreams themselves (most of which I immediately forget) but from the in-between period where you’re not fully awake but you know you’re not sleeping. It’s either a flood of original inspiring images that I just hope to retain even one, or a torrent of insane chatter. It’s a toss-up as to which one I get.

Who do you draw for? Is it for your own satisfaction or for other people? Or both maybe?

I draw for myself. I draw because it’s the only thing I know how to do well. I draw for the respect and admiration of others. I draw for money. I draw cuz chicks dig artists. I draw because I have to. I draw because I love it. I draw because it’s a great and lucky thing to be a professional artist. I draw for the service of art, which I hope I’m doing a good job. I think that as an artist I have an obligation to strive to be the best I can. Art is an important and vital thing to humanity, and anyone who doesn’t think so doesn’t get it.

Do you think the place you live in effects your art? Do you think it effects you as a person?

Absolutely. The Bay Area is one of the most unique places in the world. San Francisco is a city like no other. There can’t be another city like it, there is a character to it that I think affects all of its inhabitants. I go out landscape painting a lot so it affects that, obviously. It affects me as a person cuz i say “like” and “hella” a lot. But seriously yeah, I would probably have a totally different outlook on life if I wasn’t born and raised in this area. I don’t know if I would be the same person if I was raised in say, Chicago.

Last movie you watched?

A Beautiful Mind.

Last song you listened to?

Dream Suite off of Take One’s Plus Ultra EP.

Last food you consumed?

I think this interview should’ve ended a question ago, lol.

Any last shout outs before the world explodes?

Yeah since this is a rap forum, I’ll shout out Will in VA, he might be registered on this site. I owe you some beats, and you owe me some hot verses, kid.

Thanks a lot for the interview, Sergio.

You are very welcome. Thanks for deeming me worthy of one.

–
Sergio Lopez
Concept Artist, Virtual Space Entertainment
http://www.themainloop.com
(707) 304-3265