Laura Prieto-Velasco

Laura's metalsmithing process is an enigma; she finds her best work is made when she is simultaneously being OCD and making a HUGE mess (it's all about balance, yes?)...instead of keeping a diary, Laura has been keeping a collection of daily detritus samples (pictures please!)...having worked with metal for the past decade, Laura's still intrigued and obsessed with the material; perhaps it's the crystalline structure? Its response to fire? Its recycle-ability? Even when working with other materials, Laura finds she treats just about everything she touches as if it were metal. One time, for example, Laura tried to rivet together a wood frame, only to fail miserably and leave some sweet hammer-marks on the surface (hey, live and learn, right?)...

Website: http://www.lauraprietovelasco.com/
Blog: http://www.skrapmetal.wordpress.com/

James Swanson: Artist and the traveler

MD: Tell us about your work.

JS: I've been working on a series of paintings called "Painting from Afar - the Artist and the Travelers' Journeys." I'm trying to travel the world in paint with the help and the travel experiences of friends, new and old.

The friends are normal Travelers from all over the world, that as the Artist, I have somehow met through this project. The Travelers share their stories and pictures with me and I share the journey with brush on canvas with them. It's a journey with many twists and turns.

I've met some wonderful and crazy people so far that I would have never met were it not for this idea. Like a couple who live in an RV and drive around the country fly fishing, or hill walkers in England who need to see what's over the next ridge, or a bird watcher in Seattle.

It is a collaborative effort between the Artist and the Traveler to make the art. Each Traveler, story, and painting is blogged about from start to finish, with the blog staying with the painting to tell its story. I have been able to make some really nice pieces so far and have many pieces to paint, but I'm always on the look out for new Traveling friends, so come join me in this adventure.

MD: What is your background? How did you get involved with art?

JS: I started out my Art career as an Illustrator out of college, painting covers and ads for magazines, and was very successful at it, winning advertising and design awards for my work. I always joked that my art portfolio has traveled around the world, while I sat in my studio. That's part of how I came up with this concept.

The others parts were a mix mesh of needs wants and wishes that this concept answered for me. 1 - I'm not a very good traveler myself, but I love history and research. 2 - I live in Chicago and for a landscape painter, winter is a tough time to paint. And also being the Prairie State doesn't really help when things are pretty much flat to look at. 3 - I wanted more out of my paintings. I wanted them to have a real story and not just be a pretty landscape painting or portrait. I also wanted each painting to have its own unique idea but still be tied to the other paintings in the series.

I'm just starting to send out feelers about this concept to galleries for shows, but the last art show I was in I won the Best of Show prize with one of the travel paintings.

MD: Is any of your work political?

JS: With my art I'm trying to pull things and people together, so I do try and stay away from political issues. But that being said, one of my paintings did have something to do about endangered wetlands in California. I just didn't know it at the time when I met the Traveler for the painting. Turned out to be one of my favorite paintings so far in the series.

MD: What are you currently reading/ listening to?

JS: Current books I'm reading besides the art books that I read over and over again such as "Oil Painting, the workshop Experience" by Ted Goerschner, would be The Saxon Tales series by Bernard Cornwell, Dirty Job by Christopher Moore and Death of a Maid by M.C. Beaton. I listen to a lot of things when I work. When I start a painting I like to listen to classical music for the rhythm. But when I get down to finishing a painting I listen to books on tape; murder mysteries are always good.

MD: Favorite comic strips/ comic books/ graphic novels?

JS: Danger Girl by J. Scot Campbell. One of the best-drawn comics that I've ever seen.

MD: Favorite visual artists?

JS: NC Wyeth, Colley Whisson and Jim Dine.

MD: Favorite movies?

JS: The Commitments.

MD: If someone were to come to your town/ city to visit, what places/ bars/ parks/ events etc should they be sure to check out?

JS: If you are coming to Chicago you must check out the museums and "the Bean" in Millennium Park. And one of the best burgers in town can be had right there at Cafe in the park.

Website(s):

James Swanson
Theartistandthetraveler.org
http://paintingfromafar.blogspot.com/

Michael Brucks

Tell us about your work.

This new series of work started with the idea of creating a cult but without an ideology. As if someone was lost in a forest and accidentally stumbled upon some ancient, long-forgotten world rife with all its symbols, relics and artifacts but no understanding of what it meant. I loved that idea. I wish I could discover that world. Instead I made it myself!

What is your background? How did you get involved with art?
I'm from the suburbs. I went to Catholic schools my whole life. My older brother and I used to put on mock masses when we were little ones in the middle of the night. I loved cartoons on Saturday mornings. I once made a promise to god that I would NEVER give up my Saturday morning cartoons! Alas, I grew up and discovered girls. But I always loved to draw and create narratives. It's just in my blood. I had to do it.

Do you have any upcoming exhibitions/ shows you'd like to discuss?
The new work had been planned to be exhibited by a not-for-profit organization called Gen Art. We had some problems but I love the people there and I really hope we can do the show together.



Is any of your work political?
No. I'm officially apolitical. So many people shouting "Obama this" and "Obama that". Do all these people truly believe their destiny lies in the hands of some random dude? My future belongs to me. Who cares who's president.

What themes does your work generally revolve around?
I remember watching Dustin Hoffman on "Inside the Actor's Studio" and he was telling a story of having dinner with Sir Lawrence Olivier. They had just finished filming "Marathon Man" together. Hoffman asked him "why do we do this?" and Olivier said, "you want to know why?" and then leaned over the table and stared him dead in the eye and whispered intensely "Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!"

What materials do you generally work with?
Paper, Canvas, Wood, Oil, Acrylic and Charcoal. I love wood. I love cutting it. I love the smell of it.

Did you study art in school?
Yes. I too have one of those useless Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts! I met great people in school. School is a great place to strike up friendships and socially interact. But as a witty American writer once said, "never confuse your schooling with your education."

Have you held any jobs/ careers that you'd like to discuss?
I once heard that Bruce Willis said that he got laid more as a bartender than an actor. I was a bartender once.



Any amusing anecdotes regarding your work?
The nicest thing anyone said to me regarding my work was "you're fucking crazy! (dramatic pause) but in a good way."

What are you currently reading?
I found an old book publish in 1885 on "legerdemain" which is an old way of saying "sleight of hand." But I really just got it for the old instructional illustrations. I love those! But I don't read that often. I mostly just sit alone in my studio and stare at the wall or walk around and pretend things and talk to myself.

Favorite movies?
Braveheart, Apocalypto. I love strong archetypes and I don't think anyone does it better these days than Mel. I don't care what anyone says about him.

Trois Couleurs: Rouge, Bleu, Blanc. The late Krzysztof Kieslowski made this trilogy and he's amazing at creating these compelling, intimate moments that really hit me in the gut. They don't seem to have a clear logical explanation to them. I value the gut much more than the head. He's dead now, but he had guts!



Music you like:
Aphex Twin, Underworld, Marilyn Manson, Eminem, Old Metallica

What are some of your interests?
Close-up magic, filmmaking, languages, mimicking accents... especially strong Russian ones like Sean Connery did in "The Hunt For Red October."

Favorite comic strips/ comic books/ graphic novels?
I used to love when Jae Lee did Sandman. I remember always hunting for anything that Bart Sears drew. I never read the stories though. But after finding out that "A History of Violence" was a graphic novel, I changed my mind! Great story! Great movie!

Favorite visual artists?
Luigi Serafini created a series of works called the Codex Seraphinianus. What an amazing idea!



If someone were to come to your town/ city to visit, what places/ bars/ parks/ events etc should they be sure to check out?
There is a tree growing in an alley way on Leavitt street (in the city of Chicago). I used to remember the crossroad but now I forget. But you should drive up and down Leavitt until you see this tree growing in an alley. It's magical!

Your website(s):
http://www.michaelbrucks.com/