Celebrating Creativity with Doug Smock
We took the opportunity to interview Doug Smock, and ask him about who he is, his art works and his creative process. He brought us this week’s wallpaper set. Wondering where his style comes from and how he comes up with his material? Read on!
Who is Doug Smock?
I live not too far from the ocean, in a town that observes Eastern Standard Time. My wife, Xi, and I share our mid-century modern with a comical Italian Greyhound named Jasper.
How did you end up deciding to do illustration?
After studying at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design I shopped my drawings around and eventually landed editorial spots with The Atlantic Monthly, Playboy, and a variety of regional magazines.
What (technical) gear do you use?
I work on 32” x 40” 8 ply Museum Rag. I work in mixed media for the color, graphite for the B&W.
What does Kuvva mean to you?
The Kuvva Team provides a high visibility platform for visual artists who want their work showcased with dignity and respect. Your work has some kind of retro-ish, nostalgia feel to it.
Where did it ever begin?
The retro feel comes primarily from my source material. My image morgue is culled from decades old magazines, some going back to the 1940’s.
How do you come up with the situations happening in all your works?
I usually start with a random central image and build everything from there, letting the work lead the narrative. I do each part to completion before I put the next piece in. I never sketch out a complete layout.
You seem to have a “thing” for windows… We keep seeing it coming back!
I like to put little drawings inside of big drawings. The windows offer an opportunity to accomplish this.
Do you do other things besides illustration?
Eating Indian food.
What is your inspiration walhalla?
As a kid I was fascinated by art happenings of the mid to late sixties. It made me realize that a pile of shit in a corner could be art, or just a pile of shit.
Are there any songs that you can’t seem to live without?
I enjoy music that has intelligence behind it, and maybe a little challenging.
Got any bare essential tips for beginning artists out there?
Develop your discipline to make art consistently. Be prepared for endless rejection. Don’t expect to make any money. If you call yourself an “artist”, and go around talking about your “art”, chances are you aren’t very good.
Do you got any running or upcoming projects that you want to tell us about?
I’m finishing up some illustrations for a short story appearing on http://www.martianlit.com
You can get his set here: http://kuvva.com/featured/2012/8
Website: http://www.dougsmock.com
E-mail: ds@dougsmock.com
