1asked by william secombe

Who are you most inspired by?

Johns. Beckmann. Jay Z. Basquiat. Rauschenberg. Mr. T. Jobs. Lynch. Erin. Other inspirations: Architecture. Manhattan. Energy. Family. Coffee. Prose. Twilight. Booze.

2

What do you want to most convey in your work?

Since most of my work is painted on-location, I strive to capture not only a faithful visual impression; but also the unseen energy. It’s like meeting someone at a bar. You buy someone a drink because of their looks – you stay if they aren’t vapid, crazy and/or have a grating voice.

3

When did you first realize you are an artist?

I’ve been an artist since my Mom handed me a wooden bunny to paint when I was three years old. However, I wasn’t ready to live the life of an artist until I had 28 years of the real world under my belt.

Willing time away at a desk is purgatory. Fortunately, as a full-time artist, I am now safely fastened to a roller coaster barreling between the Northern and Southern ethereal extremities.

4

Why do you choose the subject matter you work with?

The world around us is in a constant state of flux, particularly in Manhattan. Having worked in real estate development, I’ve witnessed the destruction and recreation of buildings in the same square block of property. Transcribing the world around me to canvas is akin to creating a visual time capsule. Unlike other street artists, I’m constantly thinking inside the box.

5

Where do you go when your well of inspiration is running low?

Provided there is a world around me, I will never and have never run low on inspiration. Worst-case scenario, there are always mind-bending drugs.

6asked by michael anthony lynch

What is your greatest artistic weakness?

Painting on-location is my great strength and weakness. I handle the constant shifting dialog with strangers well, however, when the weather goes to shit, my schedule becomes disjointed.

7

How would your life change if you were no longer allowed to create art?

I thought to myself just last week, if someone offered me a Billion dollars tomorrow to never create again, I honestly could not take it. Living a rich life devoid of artistic creation would be worse than suffering greatly as an artist. Now, if someone offered me a Million to buy all of my current work, I would snap their arm off with the most vigorous handshake in recorded human history.

8asked by dayvin hallman

What situations in life have left their deepest impressions on you?

Life itself leaves an indelible impression. I lost a good friend to war on Mother’s Day a few years back. Carrying his casket is something I can still feel. I’ve been fortunate to have more good memories than I can count, so every experience becomes a part of me.

9asked by kathy berg

What/who gave you the extra push to “go public” with your work?

One night riding in the back of a cab along 5th Avenue after a hockey game, I was telling teammate and fellow artist Ari Lankin my plan to be in advertising until I am 40, make millions, then become an artist. He posed a great question, “why wait?”

10asked by alex sheehan

Do you make a choice and then justify it? Or do you visualize something and then create it?

In art and life you have choices, and you must stand by them – right or wrong. On July 2nd of 2009, I walked away from a banked-up advertising job to follow my dream. It seems inspiring to everyone at first, but after a while, the doubts start creeping in from all directions. Living the life you want to live is a battle, and nobody will believe it’s worth anything until you have won.

I stand before something I find inspiring and capture it. I’m in an urban rodeo, wrapping my visual lasso around the Chrysler Building and slapping her down on canvas. She’s a feisty one.

11

What ways do you find your life influences your work?

Living the life of a full time artist in Manhattan is living the dream, and living in a dream. The people and things that happen around the clock on every street corner drive my vision. Paintings create themselves; I am just here to apply them to canvas.

12asked by david geisler

How do you know when you are finished with a work?

My style is a bit confusing, collaged layering of New York Post headlines. Thus I often find myself going through stages, similar to the grieving process; first there is an idea, a rough sketch, the obliteration of the image, the redraw, an ugly phase, chaos, reorganization, desperation, another ugly phase, exasperation, break through, a feel for the finish, and, finally, an instinctive moment to sign the work and call it done.

13

What new artists or works excite you?

I recently participated in a group show with Jeremy Penn and Ari Lankin – I find both of their work inspiring. The day after our show, we were scheduled to meet at the gallery at 10AM. Jeremy and I arrived on time, Ari texted us at 11:15AM from an unknown location (to him), partied out, in only his leather pants. I can’t help but think this will be appropriate memoir material some day.

14asked by 716

Who do you think you are?

This sounds like a question my 11th grade math teacher would ask me.

15

If you could ask another artist anything, what would it be?

What is the biggest obstacle standing between you and your success as an artist?