LH: It has been raining and thundering here the last couple of days; what is the weather like where you are currently?
AP: It has been on and off rain and sunny days here in the land of Cleve. I rather like it!
LH: Since, I first laid eyes on your work I have always been intrigued with the combination of sassy colorful hair, tattoos, jewelry, colors, and the renaissance fashions that find their way onto your paintings. Where do these ideas or elements come from?
AP: I used to travel to Europe growing up, and I sort of thought that having grand old portraits was what you were supposed to do, it seemed way more fun than a boring photo album. So my portraiture came out of that and my obsession with Renaissance fashions – mostly Elizabethan up through the Georgian era. I am a recovered punk myself, and even though it was such a self-destructive movement the fashion and music will never die, or it mutates into other sub-cultures. The portraits are sort of a combination of my two favorite periods in fashion, but also a statement about how the punk look has become a norm; back in the 1600s being able to afford piercing, tattoos, and hair dye, would be status symbols reserved only for aristocrats or well-to-do people. I also love reading about old New York socialites and European history, so I sort of tied that in with my portraits, giving them my own fake biographies (people still mistake my bios as real historical figures that existed) and family trees and doing a lot of costume research to make it somewhat accurate; even though they have neck tattoos, I still will make sure a style of collar is what people wore in Spain in 1558 – that kind of thing. But, lately I’ve gotten more surreal and loose with it; I think it is less stressful that way. In general I have a lot of books of old Hollywood set design, fashion illustrators, and biographies of women like Helena Rubenstein and Joan Crawford.
LH: Arabella is a very unique name, does it have a story or meaning behind it?
AP: It is Scottish, but I was named after a novel called “Arabella”. I always hated it as a kid though because I was called Ara-smella. Of course now I like it and so do most people; kids are stupid, what do they know?
LH: Latest Guilty pleasure?
AP: Home décor blogs, Rachel Zoe Project re-runs, and cheap champagne
LH: Best year?
AP: This year has been pretty good even with the economy and all. I’ve sold the most art I ever have before, I finally got a studio, and I’m not constantly stressed or freaking out about something.
LH: Do you listen to music while you work on your art, if so what/who do you listen to?
AP: I’ve pretty much listened to the same 6 CDs for the past 10 years or more. The Church “Priest = Aura” is always on rotation. Seven Percent Solution, Loop, Billy Nicolls and if I’m feeling sluggish I have a trashy glam rock compilation of all the one hit wonders from the 70s.
LH: Favorite car that you have owned?
AP: My Mercedes Benz 220 from 1974. Damn I miss that car, I had to donate it after a short time being the engine was shot, but it was the only car I could drive around in L.A. and people would stare. I named him ‘Jacque-Jacque’, after the mouse from “Cinderella”.
LH: Name an artist or artists that inspired/influenced you in some way or the other, and why?
AP: Soudeikine , because I grew up with several of his paintings; Tamara De Lempicka for her style and the fact she was a selfish nut; Albrecht Durer because he was amazing; and John Currin, because he was doing the kind of stuff I liked when it was unpopular to be a figurative painter. When I was in art school, it was all about installation art.
LH: What does your wish list look like?
AP: Right now I really want a new Dodge Challenger. Wondering if a Chrysler dealership going out business will sell me one for $400?
LH: Have you seen the video about Elizabeth Gilbert's ideas on nurturing creativity? If so what are your thoughts on the subject?
AP: I started watching this a while ago and got bored. I’m more of a Malcolm Gladwell fan when it comes to analyzing these things. I guess I don’t reflect on myself that much or get anxiety about anything where I would need nurturing or help getting over a block of some sort, and it probably helps that I don’t really care if someone likes what I do or not. If one person doesn’t, another one does. Maybe I’ve been blessed in that I’m a rather emotionally and psychologically stable individual; I was told by my family I’d be an artist from age 3 onward, and I agreed with it. My mom said her worst nightmare was if I had become an accountant. And by the way, what is wrong with drinking Gin at 9am? Okay - Gin is gross, can we make that a Brandy and Coffee instead?
LH: Do you still have any items from your childhood, and if so what are they?
AP: I still have a teddy bear, pieces of jewelry, children’s books with illustrations by Nicola Bayley, and many of the little books I used to write and illustrate as a kid myself.
LH: What makes you happy?
AP: Spending time with my husband, we waited a very, very long time to finally be together, so I don’t take it for granted.
LH: Something you geek out on?
AP: It used to be old film equipment; projectors, cameras, editing equipment, animation stands etc. but I haven’t used any of that stuff in years. In recent years my “thing” has been being a beer snob and trying all the micro brews I can.
LH: Something you still have yet to do, and is a must?
AP: Show at Copro Nason, get to Italy, and to Giraffe Manor in Nairobi.
LH: You never leave home without:
AP: Wallet, lip gloss, and I would say cell phone except that I hardly use it.
LH: Any upcoming exhibits or projects we should keep our eyes out for?
AP: I’ll be in a tattoo themed show at Eclectix Gallery in the Bay Area in August; a show with Brandi Read at Art Whino Gallery in the DC area also in August; a solo show at Box Heart Gallery in Pittsburgh the next month, and I’m working on showing in Philadelphia after that.
For more, visit: Arabella Proffer
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1 comments:
Great interview. Interesting subject. Nice work.
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