Artist William Zdan "unlocks a lot about [him]self when [he] paints." See the product of this creative self discovery at the next San Diego RAW showcase on Thursday, August 26th at the Se Hotel! 

Tell us about yourself.
I’m a Southern Californian artist, originally from Detroit. Schooled at The University of Michigan and Cal State Fullerton and raised on classic punk rock music.

How did you first get started making art?
Finger-painting with chocolate pudding in Mrs. Hammerick’s pre-school class. My sister, Jean Munday, was my first mentor, though.

How would you describe your aesthetic?
Distressed, visceral, dark, modernized-classical pop surrealism with a black sense of humor.

From where do you draw inspiration for your work?
Politics, religion, nature, music and from other artists/artwork. I greatly honor the masters and classical style and attempt to pay homage in my own work. I consider works by Carravaggio, Jan Van Eyck, and Bosch to be amongst the most sacred contributions to the history of human accomplishment. Contemporary artists from whom I draw inspiration include: Michael Hussar, Mark Ryden, Zdzislaw Beksinski, Sheppard Fairey, John John Jesse and many others. A lot of my work is prompted by a sense of urgency regarding current topics in politics and ecology, such as with the recent oil spill or the ongoing Middle East conflicts. Other times, my work celebrates my interpretation of beauty or my love of the human form and the art models with whom I work.

What do you love most about what you do?
Being able to communicate a message. While the message is sometimes (deliberately) murky, I think that sparking inquiry is equally crucial in my art (at its best). More selfishly, I just find a lot of meaning in translating my personal visions. I feel like I unlock a lot about myself as I paint.

Do you engage in, or draw inspiration from, any other forms of art?
I listen to music constantly. I used to impose a rule that I could only listed to instrumental/classical music while I painted, as not to allow lyrics to influence my paintings. More recently, I’ve opened up to listening to all kinds of music while I paint … from chamber music to French hardcore rap. I think that music operates with the same kind of mathematics that painting does. There are (albeit loose) rules about rhythm, pattern, proportion and mood that music shares with the visual arts. You might even be able to find the “rule of thirds” and “golden mean” in Reverend Horton Heat music if you listen carefully. Our ears and eyes are similar sensory organs with similar pathways, I think.

Medium of choice?
Oil on distressed panel.

Are there any artists or art movements, past or present, that strongly inform and influence your work?
Surrealism has inspired me, from Bosch to Dali to current “Lowbrow” pop-surrealism. I think that Surrealism has a strong psychological undercurrent. Given my family’s (and my own) involvement with the psychiatric profession, I think that surrealism appeals to me as it speaks to some truths in psychological phenomenon. Proto-Renaissance, Byzantine, and Mannerism are important to me and my work as well. Although in an ironically humanistic way, I draw from the typically religious themes and I even try to incorporate some of the compositional oddities that they used. For example, I might deliberately include an awkward proportion to a body/face…or include an uncomfortable linear perspective, such as you’d see in these periods of art. Flemish and Italian Renaissance art is a strong influence on my concept of perfect art.

Any previous exhibitions/collaborations that you are particularly proud of?
“Digging for Fire” was a great show. It was at the Hibbleton Gallery in September of 2009 and featured work by me and Chris Peters, an artist for whom I have great admiration. I named the show to narrate a concept about both of our works. It was a great duet show and seemed to generate a good deal of interest and exposure.

Any accomplishments/goals you hope to achieve as an artist in the future?
In the future, I’d like to show in Europe. In a more general sense, my goal is to spark free inquiry and promote humanistic thought. I believe that we live in very volatile times, ecologically and culturally. Science and reason seem to me to have been pitted against faith for the benefit of a privileged class. Instead of progress, we find oil spills, wars, and schools still debating evolution. My work often addresses what I consider injustices to the environment and insults to the human condition. I suppose that my work sometimes takes a harsh stance on the themes depicted and can seem dark or dreary. When people see my work, though, I’d like them to see it with a sense of underlying hope… while also understanding the murkiness of promise.

Why showcase at RAW?
It gives me a chance to be a part of a collective, a community of artists. I think artwork can’t thrive in a vacuum; it needs influence, critique, and audience. Event-driven shows can also draw an audience that might not otherwise be exposed to art.

Favorite thing to do outside of your craft?
Go to gallery openings and showings, listen to/play music, watch films, photography, drinking.

Any current rising stars within the art arena that you would recommend we look out for?
I’ve recently discovered the art of Glen Arthur. To me, he has a kind of Amy Sol/Audrey Kawasaki Approach … which he attributes to Alphonse Mucha influence. It’s visually exciting, but generally gentle, stuff.