Using recycled paper, Garrett Wicks, his own breed of creates visually stunning paintings. He tells RAW about his process. RSVP to see his paintings live at the Los Angeles RAW showcase on Friday, March 12th! 

How did you first get started as an artist?
I first got started doing art as a young child and was encouraged by my family to keep developing and practicing my art. I won a few elementary art shows and took art through junior high and high school and then majored in illustration at Cal State University Long Beach.

From where do you draw inspiration for your work?
I draw my inspiration from several areas; first, my friends and family (as I tend to use them as my models for my portraits) second, my travels (as commentary or point of view) and third, nature (color combinations).

How would you describe your work?
My work is "green." I have been practicing green art for over 20 years. I currently use recycled magazines to create my work. I use a collage technique and my goal is to use a one dimensional medium, in this case, paper and use it in a more painterly way giving it the same type of movement and layering as paint tends to have when applying it on canvas.

What do you love most about what you do? 
I love the challenge that it provides me and also another method with which to communicate thoughts comments and ideas.

Do you engage in, or draw inspiration from, any other forms of art?
I draw inspirations from several other art forms mostly music, film, architecture.

From start to finish, explain your process; what does a typical art-making day look like for you? 
Well for me, I start with a concept of what I want my piece to say. I might research or take several pictures or start on several drawings of composition. Then, it's about figuring out my color and collecting the color through rummaging through several magazines and drawing out the final layers of highlights, medium light, medium, medium dark, and low lights. Then, cut and paste and glue it all together as one large puzzle. 

What sort of techniques do you most like working with?
I mostly enjoy all techniques as long as I am able to do them by hand.

Anything you hope your viewers will take away with them after seeing your paintings? 
Well, art is as much objective as it is subjective. So, I would hope that the viewer derives there own feelings of my work but would hope that they can start to see art in every day things and challenge them to find new uses for them as well.

Are there any art movements that strongly inform and influence your work?
Dadaism, pop, modern, post  modern, contemporary. 

Any previous exhibitions/collaborations that you are most proud of?
I have won several awards though the PVAA and have shown at several local galleries in the San Gabriel valley as well as a large group show in Hollywood.

Favorite thing to do outside of making art? 
My favorite thing outside of art is to travel.

Why showcase at RAW?
I enjoy being one of many artists showing at a night that focuses and highlights the many faces of art.

Jimmy Bell says that his "world is constantly expanding" through his art-making, one layer at a time. See what he's created live at Angeleno Hotel on Friday, March 12th! 

How did you first get started as an artist?
My first experiences were from my mother who used to draw a lot, and my father who is covered in tattoos. When I got a little older, my mom stopped drawing for me and told me to do it myself. It wasn’t as harsh as it sounds.

From where do you draw inspiration for your work?
Inspiration comes from other people who are also trying to make a living and a career out of their work. It let’s me know I’m not alone.  

How would you describe your work?
Subconscious mixed media.

What do you love most about what you do?
The thing that gets me the most is that everything I do is MINE. I’m not referencing from any images, or thinking about anything I’ve seen before. It all comes out one layer at a time. My “world” is constantly expanding. 

Do you engage in, or draw inspiration from, any other forms of art?
I definitely need music to work. I can’t sit in a quiet room and try to paint or draw. I’m into lots of types of music, but lately it’s been hip-hop. I get a new cd, play it for a month or two then I need to get something new to keep that creativity going.

From start to finish, explain your process; what does a typical art-making day look like for you? 
My pieces begin as either splattered color, or scribbled color. Once that layer is down, I begin to search for images. Once I see something I bring it out using a variety of techniques. The original layer is either completely covered, fully rendering each image, or partially covered, leaving behind some of the original markings. My day usually begins about 9 a.m. and ends at around 4 p.m. when my wife and son come home. After the boys down, it’s back to work until bedtime.

What sort of techniques do you most like working with?
Most of my work consists of layering. The paint is acrylic but used almost like watercolor. That way you can slowly build up your colors and also have them translucent to see the color underneath. 

Medium of choice?
Acrylic, pen, ink, markers.

Anything you hope your viewers will take away with them after seeing your work? 
I would definitely like for them to appreciate each piece, but more than that, know how each piece came about. I feel that the way I work is something that anyone can do and should try to do. It’s a great starting point to figure out what they can or would like to do in regards to technique and process. It’s really a personal experience, and personal images have the opportunity to come out. Even if you don’t understand them yourself, maybe in time you will.

Are there any specific reoccurring themes or subjects that you deal with most in your work? 
I see a lot of figures, creatures, animals, in my work. Sometimes a theme emerges from a certain piece that permeates throughout. There are a lot of “giant-like” figures around smaller ones, which makes me think of hierarchy and different class systems. Maybe that’s something I’m trying to deal with personally that is coming out in my work.

Any previous exhibitions/collaborations that you are most proud of? 
I don’t know about most proud of, but I am definitely proud to be able to show in L.A. I’ve been showing the last two years in Santa Barbara and am glad to be able to show my work in another city. 

Favorite thing to do outside of making art?
Just being with family and friends. I know it sounds cheesy but it’s true. 

Why showcase at RAW?
This seems like a really cool way to network and meet other people who are trying to do exactly what I’m trying to. It’s obviously possible for people to do it alone, but it definitely helps to be surrounded by those like-minded people. 

Any current rising stars within the genre that you would recommend we look out for?
My buddy David Cooley is one. He only has a myspace right now but in due time, you will definitely see his work. You can check some out at myspace.com/dwcooley. Also, Edward Frausto. He’s just starting out and blows my mind. His site is edwardfrausto.com

View his RAW artist profile here. 

Joseph Cabello is a man of many mediums. Be sure to RSVP to see his acrylic paintings on display at our next showcase at the Angeleno Hotel for our 1st Birthday Party on Friday, March 12th! 

From where do you draw inspiration for your work?
I usually draw inspiration from everything: artists I look up to, ideas that people bring up randomly, my environment at the time. I pretty much get inspired from anything and everything from the way I feel when I wake up, to the way a tree looks/the way I see it when I walk by.

How would you describe your work?
I would describe my work to be different every time. I feel like the main reason is because my mindset on every piece is so varied that a lot of times when I hang my works people comment that despite the similarities it could easily be passed off as a different artist every time. I'm sure it also has a lot to do with the fact that I'm still young and learn new things everyday that can dramatically effect my work.

What do you love most about what you do? 
I love the way my artwork makes people feel, whether it's a mural job, a tattoo, a commissioned painting, or even my own work; I love seeing peoples eyes light up with excitement from the work I created. I'm really happy that I'm able to perform at a level that makes people notice the work I've put in.

Do you engage in different types of art? 
I actually touch a lot of mediums. I paint both traditionally and digitally. Traditionally, I use Acrylics, Oils, guouache, and Water Colors. I've used pastels for a lot of pieces, I do a lot of ink work with a rapidograph, and tattoos almost every day of the week. I paint with spraycan as well. Digitally, I paint with Photoshop and Illustrator. I use a lot of mediums on a daily basis I really feel like whenever I excel at one medium that it pushes my skill set in another. I've found that all art translates into one another, its just about finding out how.

Medium of choice? 
I love Acrylics, it's a relatively new medium to artists and I feel like this medium can be dramatically varied in almost anyway that I can use it to learn other mediums as well.

Anything you hope your viewers will take away with them after seeing your work? 
Honestly, I just hope that the viewer remembers seeing my work. If someone who has no idea who I am and sees one of my works and can remember it even for four hours after seeing it is a huge statement to me. I think its a huge compliment.

Any previous exhibitions/collaborations that you are most proud of? 
Yes, I do a lot of collaborational canvases and mural work with my friend/ fellow artist Lanny Markasky. We're both the same age and we've done a number of gigs together, ranging from graphic design to murals to live painting projects. We've done amazing work together and he helps me push myself to learn.

Favorite thing to do outside of making art?
I love wrestling both Professional (WWE) and amateur training. I love the sport and level of respect thats taught in grappling and jiu jitsu, the level of discipline in boxing it helps to keep you humble and an awesome way to excercise. I've also performed as a professional wrestler in an amateur setting in my hometown, it's an awesome experience.

Any current rising stars within the genre that you would recommend we look out for?
Nathan Ota, Craola Simkins, Jo Harrison, Jeff Gogue, Guy Aitchison

Morgan Lariah seems to have found herself part of many different artistic niches. But it's her mixed-media paintings that will be hanging at our next RAW showcase in Los Angeles. RSVP for March 12th to see them live! 

How did you first get started making art?
I have always painted, drawn, performed and created. I honestly can’t remember when I first “started” as its always been there. 

From where do you draw inspiration for your work?
I find that I mainly draw my inspiration from the people in my life. I often find myself (usually, at first, subconsciously) putting down their essence or the essence of our relationship or an event that transpired between us on canvas.  I keenly feel the relationships in my life (like a breathing Richter scale) and I guess my hope is to pass that onto a third party a.k.a the audience/viewer. If not the people in my life, then I find inspiration in a moment in time, captured, which will haunt/nag me until I put it down on paper. 

What do you love most about what you do? 
I adore the creative process.

Do you engage in, or draw inspiration from, any other forms of art? 
I find music is one of the quickest ways to get inspired. A great song can change you entirely within the first few seconds. I act as well, which is actually my main source of fuel (painting being my second) so ... films, theatre, plays and the whole process of building a role. It's all connected though of course. 

What sort of techniques do you most like working with? 
Tone and shadow. Various proper and improper water-colour techniques.

Medium of choice?
I prefer acrylics and mixed mediums. Film is amazing, too.

Anything you hope your viewers will take away with them after seeing your paintings? 
I have a lot of hopes. 

Are there any artists or art movements, past or present, that strongly inform and influence your work? 
Well, the German expressionism movement. I think this/they is/are the biggest influence on my work but I didn’t know it until I really started to study the movement about three years ago. It became clear at that time that there was a name. Art Deco, Patti Smith, Michael Walter, French New Wave, and Blixa Bargeld all have really informed and inspired me as well. 

Are there any specific reoccurring themes or subjects that you explore and deal with most in your work? 
Examining the human experience and psychological truths in one form or another.

Any previous exhibitions/collaborations that you are most proud of? 
I starred in and helped to produce an independent film that was screened at a film festival and referred to as a, “ dadaistisch anmutenden Experimentalfilm (a Dada-like Experimental Film)”  in his article in WAZ by Lars-Oliver Christoph. This was in Germany and with Michael Walter.

Why showcase at RAW? 
I admire the creed and M.O. of RAW. I think it's vitally important to support the arts and RAW gives people a place for that. 

Any current rising stars within the genre that you would recommend we look out for?
I think what Tino Sehgal is doing is really interesting. I plan on keeping a close eye on what he is up to.