An interview with::

wlfmrs : You've been in SF for about 4 years now, how do you like it there?
phoneticontrol: I love it here. The galleries have been really supportive and given me a lot of opportunity to grow.

wlfmrs :How was the support back in Chicago? Different/better/worse than SF?
phoneticontrol: Different, Chicago is more spread out and much larger
and fewer galleries, also the artists there tend to show outside of the city.


wlfmrs: Did you notice a change in your art after the move?
phoneticontrol: For sure, I noticed with the new digs I was trying new things and different approaches, plus I was seeing more art that was more up my alley.

wlfmrs: Were there any artists in particular that you were inspired by or just stoked on?
phoneticontrol: yep, Blaine Fontana, Martin Hsu, Damon Soule, David Choong Lee, Erik Joyner, Giant, Mars-1 and n8 Van Dyke.

wlfmrs: Did you ever get into the tattoo stuff like Giant?
phoneticontrol: I really like the old school flash style for sure.

wlfmrs: Ok.. so taking this back a step... can you describe your beginnings with art?
phoneticontrol: For sure, I have been drawing and painting my whole life. My mom would pick up unpainted plaster statues and we'd paint em, so I started customs really early in life. I think I was about 5 or so.  I’m a lifer!
Also my high school had a crazy art department, we had painting classes broken up into oil, watercolor and acrylic. Funny I really didn’t like acrylic at the time:)
We also had cartooning classes and an advanced art class that taught you to keep a sketchbook. Pretty amazing to get all that exposure all at once


wlfmrs: It's pretty sweet that your high school had such a diverse art program. Was there ever a time when you didn't want to do art?
phoneticontrol: During the acrylic class, but I think the teacher and I didn’t get along. He liked to paint on your canvas to "instruct", I REALLY didn’t like that plus the assignments were kinda boring, but now that’s the medium I use. Funny how that works

wlfmrs :Were you ever into graffiti at all?
phoneticontrol: Totally. The wildstyle idea is amazing. Changing up your name to make it hard to read is such a great idea. It turned letters into art plus the control you need to pull the stuff off is mind blowing. Guys like giraffa, tenfold, PI and chubs also throw tongue and cheek humor in there, keep it light hearted


wlfmrs: Where did you come up with the name 'phoneticontrol'? What's that all about?
phoneticontrol: I ran a boutique record label back in Chicago mostly analog electric music, like early AFX. WE called it phonetic recording master systems. I also was a DJ of a pirate radio station called the phonetic control hour, we needed a website and phoneticontrol was born.  I took it over as my art site and now my robots have a lot of sound equipment drawn in, full circle:)

wlfmrs: Tell me about your paper craft figures. .. How did that whole process come about?
phoneticontrol:  Sjors and I have worked together on projects over the past few years. We both are fans of each others work. We decided to have him sculpt one of my designs. I wanted to present a figure that allowed for easy collaboration. After a few back and forths, Tho Pro is in full effect, now I am taking Tho Pro on a world tour.



wlfmrs: Do you get people printing them out and sending you photos?
phoneticontrol: I email them a blank template, they then put their art onto the shape, when folded together it is the Tho Pro, with their interpretation or "spin" on it, like the Mad*Ls or dunnys.
Right now I am focusing on the tour. We just got all the SF series up, and are working on the LA stuff. So the downloadable Tho Pros are just of that series. Each series is paired with an art show.



wlfmrs: You're doing t-shirt designs as well... how many designs do you have printed now?
phoneticontrol: Lucky 13 and right now I am all sold out.  They go fast. I plan to print up some for the tour. A few collab tees are in the works but nothing I can speak on yet.

wlfmrs: nice! Can you tell me more about this world tour?
phoneticontrol: For sure, it is being booked one city at a time. The stops so far are; SF, LA, SEA, CHI NYC and the Philippines. Stops in Manchester, London, Germany, Australia and Canada are in the works.



wlfmrs: You do really detailed pieces like 'The Brick Moon', then simpler characters like 'Sleep Mode'..do these types of work have anything to do with your state of mind at the time? Does your work reflect your personality?
phoneticontrol: The brick moon marked my transition to using only brushes. I used paint markers for my outlines initially, those pieces are really fun because they allow me to work more intuitively. I get to shoot form the hip.

The characters like "Sleep Mode" also allow for free painting. I’ve been working on having those two worlds happening together lately and gotten some fun results. I am always trying new things. Keeps it interesting. Never know where its gonna lead.

The sleep mode stuff is more from my illustration side and brick moon is more my painterly side.






(Brick Moon)
 

(Sleep Mode)
wlfmrs: Do you find your work getting personal at all? Have you ever had a hard time letting go of pieces?
phoneticontrol: Yep, each one has meaning for sure. I do have a hard time letting go sometimes. There are a few here at the house that either Alice or I don’t wanna let go of. Back In Chicago I made a lot of handmade posters for wheat pasting and that helped the whole letting go thing a ton.

wlfmrs: Are you selling prints and originals of your work?
phoneticontrol: yes I am all over, in SF at Fabric8, Gallery1988, Lower Haters, 1AMSF, Double Punch , Super7 and my apt.
In LA at Munky King, Monkey House Toys, Ronin, Beatrock and Alpha Cult.
In Philly at Metropolis.
In San Jose at False Idols.
In Australia  through www.sketchel.com.



wlfmrs: Nice that you make your work so available. Do you get a lot of people asking you to do custom work, logos and such?
phoneticontrol: I do, I enjoy it. Collaboration is the birth of something new. I tend to learn something every time:)

wlfmrs: Are there any bands that you're hyped about right now?
phoneticontrol: Been really into Gas Lamp Killer, Flying Lotus, mandate, Illum Sphere and Johnny Dub, madlib.

wlfmrs: What do you listen to when you're arting?
phoneticontrol: NPR, This American Life, movies or my iPod on random, which could be anything from Squarepusher to Johnny Cash.

wlfmrs: Is your art your full time job?
phoneticontrol: It was, now I am also working part time at a frame shop.

 wlfmrs: How's that for you?
phoneticontrol: its good, I am learning a ton about handling art and making it last longer. We shall see if I actually APPLY that knowledge or not:) Most of the stuff I am learning applies to my illustrations on paper.

wlfmrs: Nice. Get some behind the scenes work.
 phoneticontrol: For sure, helps with curating too.


 
wlfmrs: Are you a beer drinker?
 phoneticontrol: For sure, mostly during openings cheaper that way.

 wlfmrs: Do you have a favorite right now?
phoneticontrol: Beer? I am from Chicago so I am not really a connoisseur I am easy. PBR, Rolling Rock, Fat Tire. Here, there are all kinds of crazy flavors and mixtures. I am fine with them all, as long as they are cold

wlfmrs: Do you have any advice for younger artists starting out in these crazy times?
phoneticontrol: If you enjoy it and it is your passion, keep on doing it. Don’t let anybody tell you different. Get into as many group shows an competitions as you can. Collaborate w/ other artists if they are around. Always keep an eye out in the streets for stuff to paint with/on and places to show in.


 

wlfmrs: Is there an artist that you would really like to do a collaboration with? ( I meant to ask this earlier)
phoneticontrol: For sure, Travis Millard, Jesse Balmer, Josh Herbolsheimer, gaNyan, Alice Koswara

 wlfmrs: What's the dumbest thing you've done since you moved to SF?
phoneticontrol: The dumbest thing was flying here from Chicago in shorts and a tee
  c-c-o-o-o-l-l-l-l-d-d-d! That and not knowing the hills, that is a killer!

wlfmrs: haha..no doubt. Do you have any last words?
phoneticontrol: Time for lunch!

Check more of phoneticontrol's work on Flickr : bug him on twitter : and visit his website!

Also.. check out his upcoming show at Double Punch Gallery ::