Nighttime in Wonderland
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Do you think there always has to be a message underlining your work?
Everything ever made has a message, even if the message is "this has no message" -- if that makes sense. I have strong values and beliefs about the world, but I don't intentionally impose them in my work. I think they seep in and people absorb them without realizing it. If you're going to be overt about your message, you have to have either a truly original thought, or a truly original metaphor for conveying an old thought. Which is basically what editorial cartooning or New Yorker covers are all about. Actually, that sounds really fun.
In addition to your gallery, you have a short animation about Superman and some music on your website. Care to discuss?
Music and art just go really well together. I've been playing the piano my whole life and recently picked up a guitar and tried to learn it -- they're natural extensions of the stories playing in my head. Whenever I listen to music I have a miniature music video playing in my head and whenever I draw I have a soundtrack in my mind simultaneously. The Superman short was just an experiment in taking one of those stories and getting it out of my head and onto paper. It only took a week and it was pretty fun to see it come out okay. There's something about imagery and music together that's really potent and emotional -- so I can't help but to combine them.
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Why
Superman?
It could be any superhero, I guess. I suppose if Paramount ever sues me for copyright infringement I'll redub it “Greatman” or something. I just wanted an instantly recognizable icon of goodness and unstoppable-ness to contrast with the story.
Are those your vocals?
Yes, the horrible singing is mine. I've gotten better.
Don't sell yourself short; I'm sure quite a few people enjoyed it. In fact, I had the song stuck in my head for the longest time. Have you ever considered making a full-length animated film?
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Eventually
I'd like to direct. Whether it's animation or not, my main impetus for
making music/imagery is telling stories, and directing is the best venue
for that. I'm working on an animated Frank and Frank short.
I’d love to see that. What led to your decision to keep Frank and Frank entirely image-based? Why no dialogue?
You know, it's just fun to tell stories with faces and bodies and little gestures. It wasn't a conscious decision, but I can't picture either talking. Plus if they can't talk there's more space on the page for them to run around and hit each other with stuff.
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What's
your music of choice?
Oh man -- so much great music in the world. Just peeking
at my MP3 playlist now I see Andrew Bird, The Notwist, Mancini, Clap Your
Hands!, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Patti Smith, and of course, Thunderbird
are Now. I'm putting together my first EP right now and it's really, really
fun.