🎨 Interviews of local artists by teen contributor Austin

I’m hosting the Artist Feature Series with @schackartcenter, where I interview a local PNW artist each month! - It’s been a lot of fun getting to learn from some of my biggest role models!

Schack Art Center is an incredible two-story building and organization in Everett with a glassblowing hot shop, two gallery floors, art ed classrooms, and a gallery store and gift shop. Schack also runs the Everett “Fresh Paint” Festival each summer which I take part in.

Scroll through the read the interviews so far!

Ryan Henry Ward

Edition 1 ‑ January 2022

itsahenry.com

If you’ve driven anywhere near Seattle, chances are you’ve seen a Henry mural. @henry_beyond_museums has painted over 300+ murals and counting, each easily recognizable by its bright colors and whimsical characters.

I got the chance to interview Henry below, for Edition 1 of the Schack Artist Feature Series.

What is the first mural you ever painted in Seattle area and where was it?
🦜 It was on Triangle Lounge in Fremont [gone now]. It was a crow and earthworm looking at each other. Earthworm had an innocent smile not knowing his fate.

What are a few of your notable recent mural projects?
⛷ I recently painted the lodge at @crystalmountain [now open!], the official mural for a @snfonnbc Sunday Night Football matchup earlier this season, and the mural for the launch of the new @goballardfc team.

Between your first and most recent murals what is the biggest lesson you’ve learned to pass onto other artists?
🎨 Always try to make the one you’re working on your best. Personal growth is what keeps your mind interested long-term.

Thanks Henry for being featured this month. Interviewing Henry feels like dipping my brush into a paint can of wisdom and trying to soak up as much as I can.

You can see more of Henry’s work at: itsahenry.com

Damon Brown

Edition 2 ‑ February 2022

creativelou.com

If you’ve visited @schackartcenter’s current exhibit you’ve likely seen the vibrant art of Damon Brown. Known as @creative_lou, Damon has produced dynamic illustrations and large-scale public art projects and murals across the Seattle region and beyond.

I got the chance to interview Damon below, for Edition 2 of the Schack Artist Feature Series.

What inspires your art, and how did you evolve from graphic design into your current illustration style?
📓 My early creative foundation was influenced by comics and my community's art and evolved as my appetite for art flourished, so I would say my passion for art and art history helped drive my graphic design journey. Now that I'm back doing what I love, occasionally, I will use some design techniques and principles in some of my work while blending in other artistic styles.

What is your favorite part of your creative process?
✍🏽 My favorite part of the creative process is exploring how to tell a story or relay a message—e.g., exploring shapes, elements, colors, materials, abstract forms, and techniques to tell a story visually.

What draws you towards public art?
🖌 Public art is a relatively new creative outlet and has recharged my creative spirit. It has allowed me to explore different mediums and possibilities while having a positive impact.

Thanks Damon for being featured this month. You can find Damon’s work up at Schack through February 17th as part of Schack’s current exhibition.

You can see more of Damon’s work at creativelou.com

Michael Birawer

Edition 3 ‑ March 2022

michaelbirawer.com

One of my biggest artist inspirations and role models is Michael Birawer. @michaelbirawer is the creator of #distortchitecture (distorted architecture) and reimagines iconic Seattle landmarks from vibrant, unique perspectives.

I got the chance to interview Michael below, for Edition 3 of the Schack Artist Feature Series.

What are your favorite types of places to paint?
🏙 I like to find places that have some sort of cultural significance, modern or historical. They can be anything from old city buildings, or even a mountain or more nature oriented. I love ornate stone or brick buildings as well as more modern architecture.

What inspired you to create 3D paintings?
🌆 I discovered that by painting on a wood surface, I could separate the whole scene into layers. I could achieve this by simply cutting out each shape with an electric saw. This was a challenge I knew would be a risk to pursue, but totally worth it. I didn’t look at it like, losing my audience, because I was trying something new and different than what I was known for at the time.

Do you have any tips for young artists who are just getting started?
🎨 Keep at it. Create art every day. It’s always a good idea to talk with other established artists and get as much input as you can. Art is really about what makes you happy whether you make money at it or not - In the end, always follow your bliss.

Thanks Michael for being featured this month. You can visit the Michael Birawer Gallery on 1st Ave in downtown Seattle.

You can see more of Michael’s work at:
michaelbirawer.com

Angelina Villalobos

Edition 4 ‑ April 2022

onesevennine.com

As the “most colorful muralist” in the Seattle art scene, chances are you’ve likely seen the vibrant work of Angelina Villalobos. @onesevennine has created art installations for Climate Pledge Arena, Lumen Field, Starbucks, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta – each piece flowing with wavy, botanical shapes.

I got the chance to interview Angelina below, for Edition 4 of the Schack Artist Feature Series.

How did you first get into creating public art, and what’s been a favorite public art project you’ve worked on?
🌱 I’ve always loved creating art. At some point in my life there was a shift where I realized I could use art to speak to people rather than it be an internal dialogue for myself. One of my first murals was for the Hangar Cafe: I painted 2 dragons on a wood fence, linked by a giant lotus. Recently Hangar changed owners, but it was preserved at the Georgetown Trailer Park Mall. I loved that it was able to live on and the true impact of how connected people were to the piece touched my heart.

How does your culture inspire your art?
🌞 I am proud I come from a background where murals have always been used to tell stories. I learned about the power of how art can make people think critically about the world around them. One of my most favorite pieces of art is by Ester Hernandez who created a piece of art called Sun Mad, a play off the Sun Maid raisin box. It was created as a critique of the hazardous conditions migrant farmworkers endure to pick our food. Seeing this piece and the murals of the Chicano movement from women like Ester and Irene Pérez inspired me to speak with my art.

How has growing up in the Pacific Northwest influenced your style?
🌲 The PNW is so many things. Snow, desert, rainforest, ocean etc. And while they are all so beautiful and unique, they all fit together so well here. I look at myself and my practice like this: I’m an artist, but I’m also an educator and an activist. I paint murals and I volunteer to help others explore their inner artist. Anyone of these could define me just on their own merit, but I don’t think you’d get the complete picture if that were the case. The PNW has a balance of nature that I try to mimic that in my practice.

You can find a mural map of Angelina’s local murals and see more of her work at:
onesevennine.com

Desmond Hansen

Edition 5 ‑ May 2022

desmondhansenart.com

If you’ve driven anywhere in Seattle, chances are you’ve likely encountered one of the 60+ signal box portraits painted by Desmond Hansen. By reimagining gray utility boxes as vibrant portraits of icons and inspirations, @desmondhansenart adds so much joy to the daily commute.

I got the chance to interview Desmond below, for Edition 5 of the Schack Artist Feature Series.

Where is the first signal box you painted and how did it come about?
📦 The first signal box I painted was the Jimi Hendrix portrait at the intersection of California Ave and Fauntleroy in West Seattle. The idea came about in a dream I had where I had painted numerous portraits on all the boxes on California Ave. When I woke up I decided to count the number of the boxes located on California Ave to see how difficult that would be. I was motivated once I realized there actually weren’t very many of them so it seemed possible to make my dream a reality.

How do you decide who to paint on boxes?
🎤 Seattle art and music are huge inspirations in my day-to-day life. Many of the box murals I paint are directly paying homage to the musicians whose music hit home with me – so I have an ever-growing list of possible future figures to paint.

How do your art style and process translate from a 100-foot wall to a 4-foot signal box to a 1-foot canvas, and do you have a favorite size to work in?
🖌 The bigger the undertaking, the better – my medium of choice is giant flat exterior walls with acrylic spray paint enamel. The boxes I paint serve as kind of a minimum size for portrait murals. Smaller canvas art is where I actually switch over to enjoying painting with oil paints and it involves a completely different process that I still enjoy but I get a different sense of satisfaction from.

Do you have any advice for young artists who are just getting started?
🎨 Experiment a lot with different mediums and to paint as much as humanly possible. Time ticks on and waits for no one, so whatever you feel compelled to paint just do it and don’t look back.

You can find a map of Desmond’s signal box murals and see more of his work at: desmondhansenart.com