Artist Interview With Steven P. Perkins
Today’s Artist Interview Is With Steven P. Perkins From New York.
Whopple: How long have you been an artist?
Steven: Zero interest in the arts when I was a teen–well okay I listened to music. Spent two years in Germany courtesy of Uncle Sam and while living in Europe I visited some of the great museums. Started to be curious. G.I. Bill paying for university, I tried everything incl. a film history course that led to another that focused on one artist, Charlie Chaplin. Studying one artist and how his life fed his work and vice versa–I was hooked. Suddenly I wanted to make art to sort out my own life and experiences. Thirty years later I am still hooked.
Whopple: Tell us about your first attempts to be creative.
Steven: I plunged in head first and made a short film. The sucess of that film shown on PBS and at festivals, encouraged me. While in graduate film school, I was writing a lot and started a visual diary using the fortunes I got from Chinese take-out. I called them THE BOOK OF GOOD FORTUNES. Those playful collages to escape writing were the real beginnings of my visual art and led to larger works, which led to the extreme good fortune of having my first exhibition at the Oakland Museum.
Whopple: Do you make a living with your art?
Steven: Yes, I am living with my art, living by my art, living for my art. Sometimes I make too much money, sometimes I make too little. There is no escaping it: I am an artist.
Whopple: How many hours a day do you create?
Steven: Every day in some way I do something creative.
Whopple: How did you pick your creative medium?
Steven: I’m not sure I picked a creative medium. I think they just spilled all over me, now I have no choice–I have to do them all! Seriously, I select the medium that best fits the idea.
Whopple: What are your inspirations?
Steven: Oh my, where to begin? Rather than a distinctive or singular style, I pride myself in being a chameleon, channeling the creative spirit of a place. As such my work changes significantly from place to place, while retaining a part of me, I’m sure.
Whopple: How do you recharge when your creativity hits the wall?
Steven: Walk away. Play basketball. Watch a mindless Hollywood movie. Go out for lunch. And push through by simply making a mark. Getting started in any way. Attack the canvas. Attack the white.
Whopple: What was your first job?
Steven: Ancient history. Let me see…newspaper delivery–on a bicycle.
Whopple: What are your favorite snacks when you are creating?
Steven: Cuban cigars and Armagnac.
Whopple: What gives you hope in the world?
Steven: The compassion of strangers.
Whopple: What do you wish you could do?
Steven: Learn to read and speak foreign languages easily (I’m a visual artist geek.)
Knowing how to add and subtract would be nice.
Whopple: What are your artistic goals?
Steven: Healing myself and others.
Whopple: What has been your most exciting moment as an artist?
Steven: Intrinsically it would have to be the satisfaction I drew from a negative moment when I realized I was forcing my work to sell it. Felt horrible. It was a revelation about myself and how I approach my work. Since then I’ve stayed true to myself at all costs–and believe me, there have been many costs.
Extrinsically it could be selling work for the first time, my first international exhibition in Bangkok, or being invited as the only non-Asian to a Biennale in Taiwan (where I was a Rock Star).
To See More Of Steven P. Perkin’s Artwork Please Visit The Following:
www.lifestyleartproject.com
These Interviews With Artists Are Copyrighted To Whopple.com.
Classifications: Abstract Art Artists, Modern Contemporary Art
6 Responses to Artist Interview With Steven P. Perkins
Leave a Reply
Interesting art. The use of shapes is certainly provocative.
What this artist needs is a gallery to invest heavily in his work.
Just like a Warhol or Pollock, just one gallery breakthrough could mean the difference between New York and Leominster.
Congratulations on your success, even with your earliest documentary on PBS!
It sounds like you are truly passionate about what you do.
Great interview! Really interesting exploration of the mind of an individual who both understands and feels the connectivity of life, work, and self — and whose art is, as a result, diverse and rich.
I can relate on the recharging the creative batteries part. When I feel wiped out, I play basketball or kick the soccer ball around and then I get my second creative wind.
Great post. Wow, I could totally relate with your story. Back in high school and college I was never interested in art except music. When I got married that’s the time I wanted to try something new. I did some digital arts and the rest was history. Thanks for posting.
Great stuff Steven! Good to see you on here.