Born: 1976, St.Louis, Missouri. Education: Laurrel Hearst Pre-School, Graduated with Honors 1980. Art Institute Seattle, Washington, Associates Degree in applied arts, 1996 Art Center College of Design, Pasadena California, BFA,2001.
I have been doing art since I was little, like a lot of artists I started out with crayons on the walls. So far I have experimented with many different techniques and mediums, Silk screen, acrylic painting, sculpture, wood, cardboard, spray paint, computers and the list goes on. I feel that my strength is my creative vision, the ability to create art that is not limited to the medium but has its strength in its finished form. In the finished form, the look, message and reaction that it produces is effected by the medium, but does not necessarily rely on that medium. That the art speaks to people, makes people think and makes them feel my intent.
The reason why I do it is to make a difference, not necessarily to try to change the world, but to be a voice that speaks to people through my art. But of course I do it for myself. Its my cup of coffee in the morning and my warm milk before I go to bed. It helps me get up in the morning and it is what relaxes me and allows me to to sleep at night.
Q:"Are they Space Men?" is what people ask. A:I guess there what you perceive them to be. The people, or "characters" that appear in my paintings are a kind of compilation. They are based on or originate from a tin toy helicopter I bought at a garage sale a few years back. I was intrigued by the pilots inside, and the way there simplicity, and quirkiness spoke to me.
Q:Why do your characters look confused? A: It goes back to where they originate from. They are tin toy pilots (people), they are not real, so in the real world they feel out of place... I feel they also represent me, at times I feel confused and out of place, like do I really belong here? I use my "characters" like actors in my play. They do things we do, play pool, push shopping carts, race around life trying to finish the race, trying to survive. They represent everyone and yet no one at all. They are there to tell a story, a point of view, their my voice.
Q:Why shopping carts? A:They are everywhere. They are part of society, life and even pop culture. I was working a project dealing the subject of obsessions. The shopping cart is a compilation of consumerism and not having a permanent place to reside. I move around a fare amount and I don't like to leave anything behind. The shopping cart is a vehicle that solves that problem. It also has the homeless reference that I am interested in. Those that are considered outcasts, they are like a band of nomadic people. Surviving on want we don't want, living were we don't, trying to stay alive just like everyone else, just no cable TV.
Q:Who or what are things that influence me? A:The list is endless. First my family got me started. I used to draw and color with my older brother David when we were little. My mom painted when I was little and I use to help here when she made stain glass windows. My dad is a teacher and he also writes poetry, in 1999 I had a show where I made paintings about some of his poems. Other than family, friends, teachers and other artists. Some painters are Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kerry James Marshall, Jacob Lawrence Keith Haring and so on. To round of the list... cartoons, sugar cereal, and music. Jacob Lawrence described his philosophy about making art that I relate to." My Belief is that it is most important for an artist to develop an approach and philosophy about life. If he has developed this philosophy, he does not put paint on canvas, he puts himself on canvas." Jacob Lawrence, 1946 So now I'm just living and developing my philosophy on life. Robert Joseph Bellm 2002