Christine Benjamin, Eclectix Interview 21

Photo of Christine by Michael Foley, Hat by Lacey

“I like the idea of death being teased by my little bratty sock monkey character…”

Sock Monkey - Christine Benjamin

Christine is a true local, home grown in San Jose, one of the original Berryessa clan. A fantastic artist and all-around great person – full of life, vitality and cheer. She is a painter, illustrator and art doll maker; creating colorful, quirky and vibrant imagery of all sorts. Space women, skeletons, monsters, sock monkeys, robots and mod girls –  in various playful antics. Accomplished in so many medias, it’s hard to pin down her one strength. She is a seasoned professional and was always communicative, prompt and reliable whenever Eclectix worked with her on exhibits. Humble, accessible and enthusiastic without the overly sensitive baggage many artists carry around. Her art reflects her sweet and talented personality, shining through the darkness, transforming the scary into the fun and our fears into celebrations.

Christine Benjamin

My favorite art memory from my childhood is … I used to make paper dolls and puppets for my younger sister. The paper dolls would be fashion proportions – so very long legs and I would make them lots of clothes to wear – that were in style at that time. I would make my sister and I puppets from socks or paper bags and we would put on shows for our friends.

Mod Girl, felted doll - Christine Benjamin

My interest in art/painting started …  when I was 1 year old. My mother gave me crayons and paper and kept buying me art supplies when I would run out. She would always have friends that we would visit and they wouldn’t usually have kids my age so I would bring paper to draw on to entertain myself.

Beetlejuice - Christine Benjamin

I am often inspired and motivated by … My sister motivates me to push myself in different directions. She will see something in a sketch that I’ve done and help me to see it in a different way – a certain story or meaning that I maybe didn’t intend. My good friend Tracy who is an amazing artist always sees the other side of what I am working on and this helps me to complete the story. He will always give good critiques that help me push myself farther. My son draws really fun characters and it inspires me to loosen up. I also love classic monster and SciFi Movies, and reading comic novels.

Dead Dude - Christine Benjamin

If I could spend the day with any artist (dead or alive) it would be … Jim Woodring who is an awesome artist – comic artist. (below)

Divinorum - Jim Woodring

And we would… get coffee and talk about his concepts for his comic novels and then go back to his studio to paint or draw. His drawings and paintings are beautifully colorful and the imagery is crazy. I met him in person a few times at Comic Con and he is very humble and a genuine nice person.

Oh Beehive - Christine Benjamin

The tip or art technique (a specific tidbit of craft, advice or mechanical expertise) that has helped me the most is …. I would say for artists to always have a sketch book and pencils, pens with them. That way if you get an idea you can sketch it or write it down. Ideas come quickly and if I don’t write them down I will usually forget. I have so many sketch books and I always refer to them for for ideas.

Inside cover spread of journal - Christine Benjamin

If I could own one piece of art, out of the world’s collections, it would be …Frida Kahlo’s “Self Portrait With Monkey”  because she is one of my very favorite artists and this painting is my favorite. She put so much expression into the monkey’s faces and the detail in her face, clothes are delicate and beautifully rendered.

Christine Benjamin

My favorite piece of my own art is … a painting I did called “Teasing Death”. (see image below) It shows a skeleton chasing a sock monkey who is carrying a donut. I like the idea of death being teased by my little bratty sock monkey character – Chico. The skeleton looks sad and pathetic and the sock monkey has a smug look on his face.

Teasing Death - Christine Benjamin

My ultimate project or fantasy is … It would be to have my dolls come to life in a short movie – stop motion. I would love to create any characters that I want and my own story and have enough time to do something incredible.

Sea Creature Doll - Christine Benjamin

The last song I chose to listen to was … “Super Rad” by The Aquabats. They are one of my favorite bands – really fun guys dressed in super hero costumes fighting monsters on stage.

The Devil Took My Records - Christine Benjamin

The last book I couldn’t put down was … “Wearing Dad’s Head” By Barry Yourgrau. A compilation of short bizarre stories.

Tiki Beat - Christine Benjamin

I can’t live without … my art supplies and my dog “Mr. Bon Bon”. I have to make art and I love being with my little fluffy dog.

Christine Benjamin

It’s not hip, but I really love … oatmeal with honey.

Martian Girl - Christine Benjamin

My favorite word is … chiaroscuro. ( Definition: The treatment of light and shade in drawing and painting and/or An effect of contrasted light and shadow created by light falling unevenly or from a particular direction on something.)

City Stroll - Christine Benjamin

My favorite motto (or quote)  is…. “If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to meet it.”  by Jonathan Winters.

Let It Go - Christine Benjamin

Christine’s – Website 

Wilomena - Christine Benjamin

LINK to the current Eclectix website – art news & exhibit listings

(This entry was  originally posted on 6/1/11 and transferred here –  as we are discontinuing our other blog site)

Transferred comments:

Willow Glen Norma

I love how the images sneak into my psyche — makes for some sweet dreaming!  Love your work Christine.

Thursday, June 2, 2011 – 12:06 PM

Jen

I love the inside spread of your journal…it would be cool to have a whole “Christine Room” somewhere covered with the characters. I really need to get better about sketching myself…you’re inspiring me!

Thursday, June 2, 2011 – 02:24 PM

Anonymous

Chris, I can’t wait for the stop-motion movie with your dolls. You’ll give Tim Burton a run for his money.
Britta;-}

Thursday, June 2, 2011 – 02:52 PM

Anonymous

You’re a wonderfully talented artist and an amazing gal. Thanks for sharing your creativity and whimsy! -Carrie

Thursday, June 2, 2011 – 04:43 PM

Christine and Clementine

We love your new art work.  Bouffant is a unique one.  Miss you.

Thursday, June 2, 2011 – 07:46 PM

Christine Benjamin

Thanks so much everyone for all the awesome comments! You all keep me going!
xo,
Christine B.

Thursday, June 2, 2011 – 08:27 PM

Christine Benjamin

And a BIG thanks to Patricia for the super interview!
xo,
Christine

Thursday, June 2, 2011 – 08:29 PM

Paul from Sun Jose

Thank you so much for even more details on your incredible life Christine.  Your art always creates fun, and humor in my mind!  I will have to bring up more chiaroscuro conversations next time I see you.  hehehe
Paul

Thursday, June 2, 2011 – 10:20 PM

Anonymous

rock on Christine! great piece about you and your work!!

Thursday, June 2, 2011 – 10:27 PM

Owen Smith, Eclectix Interview 20

The artist, Owen Smith

“Don’t let the bastards grind you down…”

Owen’s Studio

Owen is a master fine artist – a painter, muralist, mosaic artist and a sculptor. A local, whose lively works were featured in the last Eclectix “Flesh” issue, he is currently working for the San Francisco Arts Commission and teaches at the California College of the Arts.  His illustrative and fine art works have graced many editorials, CD covers and magazines – permeating pop culture for at least the last 20 years. They have a vibrant, lusty feel to them, conjuring up 1940’s Los Angeles, vintage detective stories and film noir – many with a WPA mural feel, a little of the “strong worker” and the “heroic little guy”. They are distinctly American, part gritty crime drama – mutt offsprings of our sordid pasts, sensuous exploits and our brash history – adventures from the New Deal to Hunter S. Thompson. We just love his swirling world of pulp flesh!

Owen Smith

My favorite art memory from my childhood is … My twin brother Aaron and I would sit around fantasizing about what kind of amusement park we would have if we were as rich as W. Disney.  We’d sketch crazy themed rides: Giant Octopus/Squid rides, Medusa vs. Jason rides, Haunted Circus rides (complete with freaks), etc…

Owen Smith

My interest in art/painting started …  as soon as my eyes could focus.

Brigid - Owen Smith

I am often inspired and motivated by … being in Big Cities. There is an excitement and desperation that is infectious and frightening.  That kind of energy can sometimes motivate me and sometimes cause paralysis and procrastination.

Owen Smith

If I could spend the day with any artist (dead or alive) it would be …  Right now it would be Rodin (below) because I am currently obsessed with sculpture and he was an amazing bridge between traditional sculpture and modernism.   And we would… I’d just watch him work.  He seems like he’d be intimidating as hell. A force.

Rodin- Sculpture

The tip or art technique (a specific tidbit of craft, advice or mechanical expertise) that has helped me the most is ….  Learn to draw from observation… and learn to accept one’s own drawing quirks.

Owen Smith

If I could own one piece of art, out of the world’s collections, it would be …probably a Van Gogh self portrait (below).  Of all figurative work they seem the most personal and alive.  Next week it would be something else.  How can you pick one?

Self Portrait - Van Gogh

My favorite piece of my own art is … “K.O”… (below)  because… it has mystery and sexual tension.

“K.O.” - Owen Smith

Your work recalls Thomas Hart Benton – was he an influence? Benton (below has certainly been an influence.  I saw a fantastic retrospective of his work years ago in NYC.  The work was amazing, some of it surprisingly progressive, some of it pure kitsch.  He was quite a character.

Persephone - Thomas Hart Benton

 My ultimate project or fantasy is … to design a complete environment: a building, the sculptural ornamentation, murals, furniture and so on.

Behemoth - Owen Smith

The last song I chose to listen to was … “Your Love is as Black as Night” by Melody Gardot

Owen Smith

The last book I couldn’t put down was … “Tooth and Claw” by T.C. Boyle

Sam Spade - Owen Smith

I can’t live without … my wife, kids, art…and coffee.

Dragon Lady - Owen Smith

It’s not hip, but I really love … old train stations, brick warehouses, kitsch sculptural monuments.

Owen Smith

My favorite word is …indelible, dogged, luscious, ruminate, scoundrel.

Owen Smith

You did a painting of Hunter S. Thompson for Rolling Stone years ago; I just loved the feel in it.  Can you tell us a little about that project? The painting of Hunter S. Thompson (below) was from a group of photographs.  I don’t think it was a particularly good likeness…but it did capture something about his personality.  I didn’t get any feedback from Thompson or RS, but a famous actor bought it as a gift for his famous actor buddy…who was played Thompson in a certain movie.  (hint, hint)

Hunter S. Thompson (for Rolling Stone) - Owen Smith

 My favorite motto (or quote)  is…. “Illegitimi non Carborundum”  (a mock-Latin aphorism meaning “Don’t let the bastards grind you down”)

Owen Smith

A peek at some of his current fantastic mosaic murals, in progress, at the Laguna Honda Hospital – HERE.

FIN - Owen Smith

Link to Owen’s Website

Owen Smith

LINK to the current Eclectix website – art news & exhibit listings

(This entry was  originally posted on 4/28/11 and transferred here –  as we are discontinuing our other blog site)

Annie Owens, Eclectix Interview 18

“ …That’s not to say natural inclination equals natural ability.  Talent is something that is achieved by commitment…” 

Artist Annie Owens ( above with “Donut” ) grew up and currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She spent a fair amount of her childhood, watching classic horror movies with her musician brother. After receiving a degree in film and raising a daughter; she co-founded Hi-Fructose ( my personal fave art mag ) with her partner Attaboy, a superb artist as well. Both have shown and visited with Eclectix, in our brick and mortar days – their warm enthusiasm and support for newbrow art is always a welcome spark of hope.  Annie paints and draws girls, young women and crooked little houses in an achingly beautiful way. The blackest black of her ink work contrast nicely with a muted, pastel color palette. Her style is an unexpected and welcome mix of elements. Hints of Asian watercolor masters, adept in fine, graceful and precise brushstrokes, flow into clouds of watery backgrounds. Moody and troubled dark misfits express disillusion, angst and apathy. And rubbery limbed, cartoon influenced figures pose in daily snapshots of childhood adventures.

Careless Falconry - Annie Owens

My favorite art memory from my childhood is … Drawing mushrooms in my grandparents living room. What prompted the mushrooms? Oh I don’t know, I was 4. I must’ve seen them in a coloring book or something. They were a fun easy shape to play with.

Nevermore - Annie Owens

My interest in art/painting started … When I was 5. I don’t know why. I think people have natural inclinations and drawing was mine just as music is to my brother. I’d paint and draw even I didn’t ever have a reason to show what I’ve done. It’s built in and I think it’s that way for a vast majority of artists out there. You can tell it’s just in their nature. That’s not to say natural inclination equals natural ability. Talent is something that is achieved by commitment.

Fishbowl - Annie Owens

 I am often inspired and motivated by …  My fiancé – no kidding. Also, I am often inspired by the atmosphere that comes out of old photographs of people and places. It’s the way light falls that really gets me. I wish I could recreate the mood of an old photograph without necessarily wanting to recreate the photograph itself. Does that make sense? Sure does…

Littlest Ghost - Annie Owens

If I could spend the day with any artist (dead or alive) it would be … Salvador Dali  And we would... Go to lots and lots of parties! No, I’d spend the day with Sally Mann (below) the photographer. Check out her work, it’s truly inspired stuff. I could do a whole essay on her alone. She always has something to say about her work and when she is criticized she always has an honest answer. I really admire her and her work for so many reasons. She edits her pictures to weed out any potential bullshit cutting a body of work down to a pretty specific point. I aspire to that but that’s a long way for me!

Sally Mann

The tip or art technique (a specific tidbit of craft, advice or mechanical expertise) that has helped me the most is …. Pre soak my paper in the bathtub and lay flat even if it is already pre-sized. Dramatically reduces curling. Ink with watercolors instead of water gets a really nice line. I learned that from KRK Ryden. I hope he doesn’t mind me outting that secret!

There Was a Crooked Girl Who Walked a Crooked Mile - Annie Owens

If I could own one piece of art, out of the world’s collections, it would be … Well… I think I already own it. It’s a felted black light poster of this crazy treehouse that was printed in the 70s, early 80s. (below) As a kid I couldn’t afford it, I’d just stand in Spencer’s Gifts and stare at it till the store clerk made me and my brother leave. I just won a slightly beat up original on Ebay for $20 (!) The seller obviously didn’t know what he had. It was listed with “old and funky” as a description. Of course there are repros out there and recently someone even repainted an oil rendition. You can get those prints easily but originals are really rare and go for top dollar nowadays. I know I’m geeking out right now. Anyway, I love this thing.  

Vintage black light poster

My favorite piece of my own art is … “Three Evil Kings”, because… It’s an old one, a direction I left behind but it reminds me of a time when things weren’t so complicated. I like the innocent but mysterious attitude and simplicity of it.

"Over the Miskatonic" (study) - Annie Owens

My ultimate project or fantasy is … To buy an Airstream and drive across the U.S., with my darling, my dog, some cameras, some paper and some paint. The idea would be to made a pictorial travelogue and then make some paintings based on what we see.  My daughter would “run the store” while we were gone. We’d stop in the desserts and swamps on the route, hitting every treehouse along the way. {I’m crazy for tree houses.} During our drive, I would find the ultimate cheap fixer-upper cabin somewhere in Appalachia or West Virginia, buy it, turn the interior into a rad mid century dream a la Steve McQueen, while the outside would stay wild except for a little vegetable garden. It would be our get away home.

Grinch Face Girl - Annie Owens

The last song I chose to listen to was …“New Day on an Old Lake” by Michael Giacchino from the “Let Me In” soundtrack. Heartbreaking.

It Needs You, Hates You, Wants to Destroy You - Annie Owens

The last book I couldn’t put down was … Probably another horror anthology. A beat up little paperback called “American Supernatural Tales” one of a zillion horror anthologies in my collection. This ones got authors like Algernon Blackwood, Robert Bloch, August Derleth, Shirley Jackson, Ray Bradbury, Hawthorne…

Annie Owens

I can’t live without … Well figuratively (not realistically), I can’t live without the occasional Napoleon with all real ingredients. It’s my favorite pastry of all time. Realistically, I’d have a hard time imagining life without my sight or without Daniel.

Piece for "Inle" Exhibit - Annie Owens

 It’s not hip, but I really love … “Rush” {the band}

Sketch - Annie Owens

My favorite motto (or quote)  is… An old friend just recently reminded me of this by Geisel. ”Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

The Raven - Annie Owens

 As co-owner of Hi-Fructose, how do you and Attaboy work out curatorial disagreements? We put up our dukes! Haha, we have meetings and debates. When it comes to content in the magazine, we both have such strong opinions but for the most part we’re almost always on the same page in terms of who, what and why. It’s eerie how often we’ll be thinking the same thing. However, on occasion one or both of us will bring something to the table that garners resistance from the other, that’s when we take up position for a duel to the death! It’s a compromise sometimes which is beneficial for the magazine in terms of variety in the end.

Ten Yard Stare - Annie Owens

People often have problems working with their mates, how do you handle it? Any tips or suggestions? We were and are still, very solitary people by nature when it comes to personal projects. Personal relationships being kept to a very small handful of people. When we first started HF, our relationship was still pretty new – 2 years just about. And working at an adult trusting relationship brought as much challenge to us as it does for any couple generally speaking. Add to that a business partnership for our personality types and you get a very steep learning curve! We are rock solid and I’m really proud of us. But the basis for this business/love thing isn’t any different from any other marriage – love, respect, friendship.

Higher, Levitate Me - Annie Owens

Link to Annie’s Website

Samara Rises - Annie Owens

LINK to the current Eclectix website – art news & exhibit listings

(This entry was  originally posted on 3/9/11 and transferred here –  as we are discontinuing our other blog site)

Transferred comment -

From David:

Happy to say I was able to attend the show at Copro last month! Great work Annie! Thanks Eclectix for this interview.

Sunday, April 17, 2011 – 11:54 AM

John Seabury, Eclectix Interview 15

John Seabury

“ As awful as it sounds, streets paved with broken glass and used rubbers and populated by hookers and crack heads are more artistically inspiring to me than OSH, Ikea and brand new retro-industrial lofts ” 

Pynoman by John Seabury

John (sometimes known as Pynoman) is a local Bay Area artist who has shown with Eclectix a number of times. A skilled artist, graphic designer and comic illustrator, he is also a skilled musician, playing formerly with his band Psycotic Pineapple and today with The Deep. He has a fantastic wealth of gig posters he’s done over the years, as well as larger fine art silkscreens. Some of my favorite works are included in his two books,  ( his journals of collected black and white doodles and drawings) – just chock full of wonderful characters, pineapples, curves, shapes and metamorphosis.

Twins by John Seabury

 Can you tell us where you were born and a little history about your childhood?  I was born at Kaiser Hospital, Oakland CA. Raised in Berkeley, my father was a political science professor at UC Berkeley. As a child, I witnessed the birth of the “student demonstration” and the birth of Underground Comix.

Bimbo, John Seabury

Is there an event or experience that helped form who you are today?  I think that discovering underground comix at age 10 or 11 had a huge influence. Don’t want to open up a can of worms, but by that age I already knew I wanted to be an artist, but most of the important Modern Art at the time was pretty uninspiring to me. Discovering comix helped boost my ambition. Another influence was old animation, like Popeye and Betty Boop. Some of them stand to me as the greatest fine art of the 20th century.

Popeye art

Creative and modern. That to me is the real Pop Art, not Jasper Johns and Warhol. Made for the people, not the critics. Funny thing is, kids my age were fortunate in that the TV studios in the early 60s couldn’t afford to do enough new animation, so they just showed the old ones. If I was born ten years later, it would have been Scooby Doo, etc.

John Seabury

What was first piece of art that you remember creating?  I remember drawing a picture of a baseball game in kindergarten that my teacher  was so impressed by that she made me go to the principal’s office to show it off. I think that was the only time I was ever sent to the principal’s office for anything “good”.

Curves, John Seabury

What inspired/prompted the vision/image for the most recent piece you completed? I am in love with curves (above)

S. Clay Wilson art from John’s collection

If there was an artist, dead or alive, that you could spend 24 hours with; who would it be and what would you do?  S. Clay Wilson. (above)   I have spent time with him, but 24 hours at once is probably too much. We would drink and draw.  What do you like most about his work? His drawing ability, his storytelling and dialogue. His fearless audacity. He also impressed me with his development over the years. He got more “high end” without losing his original vision. Unlike some other artists. I have had a copy of a certain one of his drawings hanging above my drawing table since 1975.

Love, John Seabury

What materials, specific brand of paint/glue/pencil do you prefer to use?  No. 2 pencil. Exacto #22 blade for scratchboard. 

John Seabury

Is there a technique, procedure or tip that you have discovered, you could pass onto other artists?  Draw every day.

John Seabury

What is your favorite word? Last song you chose to listen to? My favorite word is “the“. The last song I chose to listen to is “Man of the World” by Fleetwood Mac (Peter Green).

Melancholia by Albrecht Dürer

If you could pick one piece of art to own, out of the world’s museums, personal collections and galleries, what would it be?  That’s hard to answer. I do remember being at a museum looking at bunch of  “modern art” and there was Durer’s “Melancholia” (above) engraving hanging in the middle of it all.  (Durer was a major early influence on me)  I wanted to rescue it. I would have slipped it under my shirt, but it was screwed to the wall.

John Seabury

Of all your works, what is your own personal favorite?   While there are some I’m NOT proud of, I don’t have any favorites. I’ll pick one out of the hat and say “San Pablo Serenade” (below).  What was the thought or vision behind the work and why is it your favorite? I wanted to expand my range in silkscreen printing, using multiple layers of transparent colors and extensive split-fountain work. The process taught me a lot about color, as I was changing the ink on almost every pull. 13 screens, double pulls on all of the background sky, about 200 sheets.  It was inspired by the neighborhood I was living in at the time (North Oakland).

San Pablo Serenade, John Seabury

Because of the real estate boom at the time, there was a lot of “improvement” going on. Many of the old landmarks, signs, buildings etc. were being torn down. As awful as it sounds, streets paved with broken glass and used rubbers and populated by hookers and crack heads are more artistically inspiring to me than OSH, Ikea and brand new retro-industrial “lofts” (condos).  At the time I had been thinking of going out and taking pictures of some of the local character. There was a liquor store called “Bottoms Up” that had a great logo, a silhouette of man with an afro tilting a bottle back. I used to drive by it almost every day. When I went out to get a shot of it, there nothing but a pile of dirt. I mean, I must have seen it standing only a day or two earlier.  I did get some other good shots of  San Pablo Avenue signage, including the 1902 Club with the drunken martini glass inside an amoeba. I did the “Bottoms Up” sign from memory. I did also actually see that hooker flashing while stuck in traffic on a hot afternoon.

John Seabury

You seem to have a thing for pineapples , how did this evolve? Pineapples are prickly on the outside, sweet and tart on the inside, and hard at the core. They evoke images of palm trees and glorious sunsets, and hula girls. They inspired “Pineapple Upside Down Cake” for some reason. Hand grenades are sometimes referred to as pineapples. Our favorite episode of “The Untouchables” was called “A Taste for Pineapple”, about a World War One vet, an expert with grenades. Hired by mobsters as a specialist hit man. He’s a nerdy psycho, and a loose cannon. He tries to frag Eliot Ness, but only gets close. Ness however, loses his sight, even though there’s nothing wrong with him. Purely psychological.

Tattoo by John Seabury

According to legend, the origin of the name Psycotic Pineapple goes thusly: Jon Rubin and Tommy Dunbar (of the famous Rubinoos and original members of the Psycotic Pineapple) were on a long drive and started talking about the way some band names are made up, “adjective/noun” style. Like The Grateful Dead or Electric Prunes. So they played a word association game, say the first thing that comes to your head, and the other person says the first thing . Jon said “psychotic” and Tommy said “pineapple”. This was long before the band formed. In fact, the Psycotic Pineapple was originally called “Alfred Cooper”.

Moonlight Mile, Seabury

John Seabury’s  Website 

LINK to the current Eclectix website – art news & exhibit listings

(This entry was  originally posted on 1/4/11 and transferred here –  as we are discontinuing our other blog site)

Transferred comment-

Th.

I remember looking at the Megadeth poster a long long time at Eclectix.

Monday, January 10, 2011 – 02:44 PM