WHAT ARE THE QUALITIES YOU LOOK FOR IN A HOOKER/MUSE? ?She has to be TALENTED, radical, dazzling, strong, stylish, and independent. I have a few models I constantly paint, my muses. An entire painting can change depending on a certain muse’s attitude or personality, so I really rely on the model for a successful piece. Sometimes I see someone that has an interesting style or look at a bar somewhere and I just go up and ask if they'd be interested in posing for me. Hopefully they aren't freaked out and we exchange info. I get a lot of ladies’ numbers!
TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF THE LADIES YOU’VE PAINTED, FELLOW ARTISTS, MUSICIANS ETC.? One of my main muses is my good friend Vanessa Mosselle; she’s a burlesque dancer, Lucha Libre wrestler, awesome bartender and super creative crafty girl. I LOVE painting her because she has a great vibe, and both men and women are attracted to her. Another one of my favorite girls to paint is Linda Strawberry, she is an amazing singer. She also has a very unique style and strong charisma. ?I also paint assemblage artist Chantal Menard and painter Korin Faught, they are two of my best friends. We pose for each other and support one another. I am lucky to have so many amazing talented and beautiful girlfriends. It is really awesome and inspiring being able to be around such creative energy.
WHAT’S BEEN THE MOST FUN PHOTO SHOOT YOU’VE RECENTLY DONE?? Wow, hmmmmmm the most fun recent photo shoot would have to have been for my Hello Kitty painting for the Hello Kitty 35th anniversary exhibit. I shot my friend Allison who is a very devoted Hello Kitty fan, she has Hello Kitty tattoos and a huge collection of Hello Kitty goods! I actually painted her eight years ago in another "Hello Kitty" themed painting, so doing it again years and years later was a blast. She has many more tattoos, and she and I have changed so much. We set up at her house...busted out all of her Hello Kitty stuff, made mimosas and caught up. Photo shoots are always fun. My goal is to make the model comfortable and I want only natural shots.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR TATTOOS—WHEN DID YOU GET YOUR FIRST ONE, AND WHAT WAS IT?? My tattoos are mostly one-offs. I do not have sleeves or tattoos that flow together. I love sleeves and stuff but for some reason I just started collecting tattoos one by one. I like it because each one is very special to me and I can remember where I was at in my life when I got each one. Some are small, like cup cakes and candy, and some are large like my Christmas tree on my right thigh and my chandelier on my back.? My very first tattoo is actually one I did myself of a butterfly, done with a sewing needle, India ink and thread...it looks like crap but I love it because it marks a good memory.??
MOST RECENT TATTOO?? My most recent tattoo I got when I was in Japan this past Spring. It was my birthday and I was there on tour with my boyfriend. Tokyo Hiro, this AMAZING tattoo artist was traveling with us to tattoo the bands, and I had him tattoo a teapot on my shoulder blade, and pouring out of the teapot are candies, Japanese fun cartoon characters, diamonds, sweethearts that say "F--K OFF" and "HOOKER CAKES". I love it!??
YOU HAVE A FANCY ROCK STAR BOYFRIEND—HAS BEING IN LOVE AFFECTED THE FOCUS OF YOUR ART IN ANY WAY?? Hahaha?…actually it hasn't affected my focus at all. Other than sometimes wanting to stay in bed longer and cuddling instead of my usual routine of waking up at the butt crack…my boyfriend is on tour a lot, going all over the world and once in a while I am lucky enough to go with him. Even though that is time taken away from me painting, I get so many ideas and get so inspired while traveling and seeing rad different places. Plus he is so supportive and encouraging. When he is at my place with me he is incredibly helpful; making me wood panels to paint on, gessoing canvases, running errands. I am really fortunate.??
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR PAINTINGS SAY ABOUT LIFE IN HOLLYWOOD IN 2009? ?I think or hope that my paintings convey that there are many different and fun worlds and environments in this city...and many talented people. I paint my life and what I like...and my friends. I want my paintings to be like windows into people's lives or like you are looking in on a scenario.??
WHAT OTHER CHICK ARTISTS DO YOU ADMIRE?? My favorite chick artists are Julie Heffernan, Rebecca Campbell, Hillary Harkness, Jenny Saville, Alyssa Monks, Rosson Crow. I also admire all of my girlfriends that are artists, they kick butt!??
WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING A WOMAN IN THE CONTEMPORARY ART WORLD. DO YOU HAVE TO WORK HARDER FOR STUFF?? I do believe it is a little harder for a female artist. I think women sometimes have to really put in some force to earn recognition…but that just makes their work that much better. There aren't as many realistic figurative female painters as there are males...so when I find one I like, I totally give her respect.???
TELL ME ABOUT THE NOFX PAINTING YOU DID. ?My painting of Fat Mike as "Cokie the Clown" is for NOFX's new EP. The first single is "Cokie the Clown" and Fat Mike is a friend of mine and he asked me to do it and I said, "Hell to the yes.' It was fun to put clown make up on him.? This was an interesting painting to do and it is of a DUDE!! The painting is scary and creepy looking, not what I usually do but it was really fun!??
WOULD YOU PUNCH AN ALIEN? No! I would never punch an alien! Well, not if it was a cute alien! --Caroline Ryder / Against The Grain
