Sabina Nore
Brian Despain is an artist I discovered back in 2007 when I deeply fell in love with one of his paintings. Today it is my pleasure to not only once again feature that painting as part of the beautiful art series, but also introduce you to the quirky artist himself. So read on…
The Original Dialogue
Sabina Nore talking to Brian Despain
Basics and the Banal
Lack of situational awareness. I absolutely hate it, for instance, when someone parks their shopping cart right next to another cart effectively blocking the entire aisle for everyone. It takes so little effort to realize there’s other people in the world and yet so few people ever do.
Great art.
Black tie.
The weather watch on Saint Swithin’s Day.
Anything I have to do. Art jobs, chores, cook, clean, whatever’s currently on my “to do” list.
Green. Because it’s awesome.
Paul Newman, because then I could come up with some crazy new salad dressings and people would have to make them. “That’s right, I said creamy bacon and raccoon. Now make it bitches!”
The First Steps
At about 14-18 years old. Prior to that I did art, but around high school I finally realized that art would be my career path.
Yes and no. My parents always supported my art with praise and by giving me supplies and they never forbade me to pursue a career in it but it wasn’t until I became successful at it my father admitted that he was a little disappointed in my aspirations while I was growing up. Until I proved otherwise he thought I was headed down a road of hardship and poverty.
I had favorite artists that were not necessarily painters. I was big into comic strips and even danced with the idea of being a strip artist for a while. As such my biggest influence growing up was Berke Breathed.
Dare Devil and Batman.
Use bigger brushes.
The Art
Neo-symbolic.
Of course. Art is simply the physical manifestation of an artist, their skills, their ideology, their idiom, etc. Because we humans are always changing, both physically and mentally our art is also changing.
No. In fact I want them out of my sight. The sooner the better.
I have no favorite really. Each is handy for a specific purpose and for a specific reason so I use whatever fits best given the task at hand.
You and Others
Abe Vigoda.
No.
I teach people art all the time. It’s rarely in a formal setting, more handing out advice and critiques over the internet but the results are the same. I have taught a couple of classes here and there but don’t think I’d like to pursue that venue too strongly. I prefer the intimacy and directness of one on one of mentoring.
James Jean, Jeremy Enecio, and Rick Berry
Always be true to yourself when it comes to your art. The person that uses art as a means to an end will always fall short.
Practically Speaking…
and send me money.
Dessert
Just like an exquisite dessert is the perfect conclusion to a good meal, so is an old Ego Dialogues favorite the perfect conclusion to this interview. If you are a regular visitor, then you already now what it is…
“Ninth Angel” by Brian Despain
Thanks to Sabina and my passion for Ego Dialogues I have also discovered Brian Despain back in 2007. I have enjoyed getting to know him and his art from a closer perspective through this interview. An well-composed interview and interesting answers.