Nozriding
by AJ
"...Yeah, brother. Art is not defined by the way it is created. It's defined by how we are devotionally connected with it. With water colors -- you mess up -- it's over. The pencil has the eraser. You can paint over paint. There's oils. But digital art allows you to control Z and start over half way back and take it in another direction.
I was totally influenced by Bob Ross. Most people think he's a crazy hippie, but he always used to say, "Let the painting tell you what direction to go in." The first true piece of art I ever did was Nozrider -- the old Woody station wagon is on the beach with the long boarder. The pier is in the background. The story morphed into a surfer coming in after a long day at sunset.
But it started out as more of a tropical, sunny day. I was creating trees. Now there's no trees at all. There was a lot of panoramic empty space all around the trees. I kept staring into the space wondering what should be around that central iconic image. I filled it in and the seminal iconic image disappeared.
No doubt. That's my direction in life. I don't sleep; I live everyday like there is no tomorrow. Like the art evolves as I create it, I learn as I go.
Venice. That again kind of morphed into itself. It became an elephant man on a gondola with the iconic city behind him. I have a super photographic memory. You take little bits and pieces from all your memories and it comes out on its own. The way the sun hits the ground. A robot drinking beer. King Kong battling a T-Rex. Every little thing.
Like Warhol. Who would of thought you can make a soup can into a piece of art? It's about looking at the world a little bit differently with a thirst for life. I wear rose-colored glasses..."
September 2018