Artist Proof: Damian King aka Deekin grew up in Oregon but eventually made his way down to California where he graduated from California College of the Arts and is currently working out of the Bay Area as freelance illustrator and fine artist.
Artsprojekt: What inspires my art?
Damian King: People, relationships, ironies, beauty, pain, and struggle. I try not to take life too seriously, so a sense of humor often makes it way into my work.
AP: What is the relationship between technique and content in my work?
Deekin: Ok, that’s a tough one. I believe that, like a good song, a good piece of artwork usually comes from the heart. Then it is a matter of being able to turn off all the filters and let your heart flow through your hand. That way the piece can be a more engaging personal experience for the viewer. Simply put, If i want a piece to be full of energy and life I will use bright palette and quick lively brushstrokes. If I want something with a more somber or ‘dark’ tone I will use a darker, cooler palette and slower heavier strokes.
AP: My first experience making art and how it affected my lifes journey:
Deekin: My first memories of making art are drawing epic stick-man battle scenes and football players with disproportionately large heads in my best friends basement in grade school. I always knew that I would pursue ‘art’ in some way. I have always loved the way art allows me to communicate with people in a non-verbal way. I also really enjoy the aspect of creating the work, it is very much like building something.
AP: My most recent experience making art:
Deekin: I just completed a painting that will be made into a promotional poster for a rock n’ roll band from SF. I had done a poster for this band previously, and the lead singer really liked this series of black and white paintings I have been doing based on photos I have taken of some of my favorite spots around Oakland. So, he commissioned me to do one for them of the exterior of the Red Devil Lounge in SF, their next venue.
AP: A tour through a day in my life as an artist:
Deekin: Wake up around 9 or 10am, make coffee/breakfast, and turn on my computer, check and reply to emails and update social networking sites.. Depending on what kind of project I am working on I will either stay on the computer to render something using Photoshop and/or Illustrator, or I will start drawing or painting for a few hours til around 2. I make lunch and take a walk or skate with my sketchbook and find a spot on the Berkeley campus to sit and draw for maybe an hour or so. Come back home and continue painting or pixelating for another 3-4 hours. Eat dinner, maybe check my emails again, watch movie or just hang out with my lady for a couple hours. If I have some extra energy or an approaching deadline I will work for another 2-4 hours from like 10pm -2 am.
AP: New shows or work?
Deekin: I am in the beginning stages of working on illustrating a fairytale book for adults. The book is being translated from the original old German fairy tales which are very dark and scary, not really fairy-tales for kids.
