Those of you who red the Conspiracy Issue will
already be familiar with the art of Snow Wolf, 99% of the art in that issue,
including the cover, was done by Snow Wolf.
His website, www.snowwolfart.com,
contains even more impressive art. His
paintings depict surrealist scenes that inspire awe and move the viewer to
consider more than just the tangible world around them.
Snow Wolf and I have been corresponding for over a year now, since his
first generous offer to help with the zine.
I was thrilled when he consented to doing this interview, and I believe
it is one of the best that this zine has ever accomplished.
Of course, Snow Wolf gets all the credit for that, I just asked the
questions. Read on to learn more
about this great artist, then head over to his web page to see more of his
amazing work.
Dilapidated Zine: What
is your background?
Snow Wolf: I am 50 years old. I was born June 18, 1950 in Dallas, Texas. I was adopted at the age of 5 years old. I was living with my adopted family long before the adoption date. I have always loved art and pictures. I was raised in South Carolina. In the 7th grade I won my first art contest. Got paid 7 dollars. I was not encouraged by my adopted family to do art. It was considered a waste of time. I have often done art for friends and Family. You know the type, I need an ocean scene for my living room. Please paint me a picture. That kind of art stuff. I got married when I was 23 to Joyce my wife of 27 years. We had three children, one Boy and two girls. I do believe all this prepared me for who and what I am today.
For a living I was an instrumentation and control specialist for power plants across the USA. I fixed pneumatic, hydraulic, and electronic instrumentation. I also did computer repair and installation. The year 1996 is very special for me and art. I was disabled due to health problems. I then found I could not go back to school and learn due to the health problems. I decided to try one of those correspondence schools. I found an art course to try and it was like magic to me. I did not make straight A by any means. I did get B though and a diploma. The one main thing I learned is that being able to draw apples or oranges do not make you an Artist. Since 1996 I have found out what type of art I have done for years. I just did not know what to call it, Surrealism. I do all kinds of art from Logos to scenes and hand sketches. It has always come naturally for me.
DZ:
When did you first realize you had a gift for creating art?
SW: I think this is possibly the most confused concept in the world today. The Artist, no matter what the media, never feels that he or she is gifted. That may sound strange but it is really the person who indulges their senses in the experience of the art, who will determine if an artist is gifted, this is in relationship to each personal experience. I feel that an Artist is always struggling to try and present the most creative and fulfilling possible presentation that he or she can. I know that is how it is with me. I feel that I can only succeed if I can make the experience something special for the person viewing the art. Artists therefore, in my humble thinking, are people who want to do something special for those who come in contact with the artists attempts at communicating a sensory experience. I also believe that imagination or creativity is a type of sensory experience.
So what do I think of the people who make records for big bucks. Is the money making individuals an Artist? That is what each and every one of us must decide for our selves. Are those moneymakers gifted? Time will tell. Personally I think some are and some are just moneymakers and non-gifted performers. So there it is! Artists do not consider themselves Gifted, in my opinion, if they are honest with their answer.
DZ:
Did you take any art classes throughout the years, or are you 100% self-taught?
Is it possible to “learn” how to be an artist?
SW:
I did and have
taken instruction. I have a Diploma in Art. However, I do not feel that a
diploma is the most critical part of becoming an artist. I think the intent of
the heart is the most critical ingredient.
I did not become an artist till I was able to put my experiences, whether
real or imaginary in a heart felt expression for others to experience.
Now
can you learn to be an Artist? You can learn and acquire the tools to be an
artist. I think, in my opinion however, that you can only be mechanical until
you get the priorities in your life right. For example: Did you know that in
Monet’s Life he actually destroyed some of his paintings to keep bill
collectors from taking them and selling them for his debts. I believe no mater
how great they may have been, the paintings could not be art till Monet was
willing to share these experiences with others. I
think any one who has an interest in art should try and develop their art
skills. Seek help! Snow Wolf Art, as a
new part of our establishment, can provide some of this help. All of the Masters
in Art had Teachers and or people who helped them. So if you have an interest in
art, You just can not put down that pencil till you have done that small
drawing. Contact some one and get some training in skills you can use to see if
you are that artist inside.
DZ: If you could have had a conversation with any Artist who is no longer alive, who would it be and what would you say?
SW: Well, you know I would have to talk to Salvador Dali. The Artist who is considered the master of Surrealism Art. I would first ask him if he had any Idea as to what he had started? Then I would ask him, why you, Salvador Dali, had started Surrealism? The readers and I both understand, that Surrealism is more than just drawing and painting things that we know can not be and making them appear to be real. Surrealism is using an outlandish Idea to make a statement to our society and culture. There are a lot of talented artists who claim to be a surrealist, but they have not learned the deep truth of Dali’s Surreal art. There is the pleasant appreciation on the surface of the subject, but there are also the subtle touches that make the picture speak out about the economical exploitation of women, in some cases. The paintings speak volumes about the unreal exploitation of our culture’s governments’ attempts to effect the lives of every one. What Dali would say I do not know? I do know that once he spoke at a college and wore a diving suit to the class with an umbrella. So I am sure the volumes I could learn would really fill books and paintings.
DZ: Do you have a piece that you created that is your absolute favorite? If so please describe it and tell us why it is your best.
SW: I must first say that there is always the problem of selling my paintings. I love each and every one. I think that all are my best. I have done even small drawings for this zine and I have a problem letting them go for use anywhere but for me. I do not have a favorite. So I will describe one that is on my WebPages for all to see. The Painting is called “Arid Solitude”. Arid Solitude is probably the most thought provoking painting that Leroy Busby has ever done. It gives the appearance of a desert floral scene. Then the more you look the more you wonder if it is floral detail surrounded by desert or desert textured scene with flowers, then you notice the light reflection and it leads you to wonder if it is a sunset scene with desert and flowers. Then the very last image that generally gets viewers attention is the Eyes of Snow Wolf Art, observing the viewer from inside the cactus. This painting is my comment on the college scene in America. The American College is a vast desert with many flowering aptitudes. The facilities of today however are interested only in making money and turning out degrees. The Colleges of today are turning out high intellect book learners and button pushers, but the art of the renaissance education for any one is quickly becoming lost. I feel this is true in most cases. However, I think that there has to be some one, some where in our Culture wanting to teach a person to become the next Master of a field, not just an observer. That is whom this painting is about. The people who really want to understand and question will love this painting. I believe only those people who really question and try and understand will appreciate the painting. This is what I want My Paintings to be, so the real thinkers, men and women of reasoning skills and questioning thoughts, can enjoy the paintings and understand the enjoyment of thinking.
DZ: I know that Artists look at their work as one of their own children in a way. What sort of feeling do you get when you sell a piece?
SW: How I feel is a very hard question to try and answer. The feelings are so strong and tart at the moment of selling; it is like having many emotions at once. I will try and explain. I am thrilled that some one has thought enough of my Labor to want to purchase it. I am also saddened and a little heart broke to see the painting go. You see, when the painting is gone I will then only have my pictures of my art to look at. It is a conflict with in. Part of me wants people to see and enjoy my labors. Part of me wants to hold on to the painting as long as I can. Like some one you have met and talked with and shared moments of long learning periods together it is hard to say good bye.
DZ: If your Art Work could be exhibited in any museum or gallery in the world, where would you choose to show it and why?
SW: I would choose The Smithsonian Art Museum where free admission is given. The reason why, is simple. I believe more people and more good can be achieve if I could do a free showing at the Smithsonian. My second choice would of course be your Office of the Dilapidated Zine. So all your readers could come see and appreciate the Art.
DZ: I’m assuming that it is safe to say that your favorite form of art is Surrealism. What is it about the movement that appeals to you most?
SW: You are right of course; Surrealism is my favorite form of art. I however have an appreciation for the Masters also. I like Claude Monet and Manet also. What I like most about Surrealism is Dali. Dali perfected the art to the point of the paintings meaning many things to everyone, and yet it is still enjoyable. The enjoyment in creating art is now a lost cause. People feel you must suffer and labor till you die to make art. Dali proved them wrong then, before he died in the 80s, and continues to do so even to this day. Fun and enjoyment is what I like about Surrealism.
DZ: What advice can you give to those just realizing they have the talent to be an artist?
SW: Talent is not the key! What is the key is the intent and desire of the heart or one’s true self. Advice I would give is to develop your art Skills and get to know your self. Not what some one tells you that you are. Learn, and learn to appreciate who you are. Then you can learn to express your self with emotion and intensity that an artist tries to have. The person who is truly free from self-doubt and the wrong teachings that flourish around us is just taking the first steps to becoming an artist.
DZ: What advice do you give to those like me who have no ability to paint, draw, or sculpt, yet who have the great ideas of what they would do if they could?
SW: What you have asked is what do I do if I do not have skills? I say Learn Skills that you enjoy! Just because you can not draw, does not mean you are not an artist. Your art is pen, paper, the printer, and the ability to ask the right questions then present an interesting Zine. That is an art in it self. I will not avoid your question however. Skills can be learned. Practice drawing enough oranges and you can draw a good orange. The skill is to see the orange in the tree with the good and the bad then draw the orange. How you present the orange is the art. That comes from with in. You want to learn to draw, contact Snow Wolf Art. Learn the skill. It will not necessarily make you an artist though. I will also say an artist has a burden. The Artist is compelled to draw or paint or write or sculpt or print or produce or perform, no matter what his or her art form is.
DZ: It is said that writers often take something from their life and draw on it to build a story or a character. Is this also true with painting? If so, what aspects of your own life have inspired you the most?
SW: I think that most of all the inspiration is your compelling desire to do something to try and ease the suffering, of being unable to express your self. I am sure that some artist use events, places, and teachings to inspire them to produce what we call a masterpiece. I personally try and focus on creating a message that is not only pleasing to look at but also has an endearing message that will speak to all those that choose to see the painting. Arid Solitude may just be a desert scene to some, but to others it will be more and speak volumes.
Now I do have moments in my 50 years that have been inspiring. Some good and some not so good. I do feel that when I was disabled and could no longer do Instrumentation work. I became restricted to having to focus on the Art Labor or feeling sorry for my self. This circumstance has caused me to reevaluate and perhaps become the person I am today. Perhaps the Snow Wolf has even become an artist.
DZ: Okay, here is the obligatory follow up to the previous question and I think it appears in every interview on earth, but I have to ask it. Who or what is your greatest inspiration for your paintings?
SW: Well, I would have to say Life is my inspiration and motivation. Life has molded certain beliefs and rights into my heart. I believe all people have the right to live and propagate in peace and a caring society. In contrast our history shows that most people try and force the humans into subjugation and slavery. This may be with might or the mental duress most calls religion. It really all boils down to one thing they want to control and subjugate all. So Life is the ultimate inspiration. If you can not get excited about living, what can inspire you.
DZ: My art history teacher said that illustrations in children’s books are today’s largest art venue. Do you feel that there is any truth to this statement?
SW:I think that perhaps on the surface your Art History Teacher may have had a point, from his point of view. The earlier you expose children to beauty and thoughts of beauty perhaps you can inspire some one to learn the tools and maybe have the heart to become a student to be come an art master. The first thought I have though is sure you may have a market for art, but do you have the audience to hear the message we need to be telling. Children’s books have a certain requirement and it may limit the ability to express ones artistic drives. If this is the case then where is the art, has it become just an illustration? It may be and art venue but where is your artistic expression. Art is the heart speaking through a medium that is accepted by society as a worthwhile and enduring medium. Surely Dr. Seuss will go on forever, but as a storyteller. Just as Shelly, Poe and others. So Is Children’s book a venue of art. No, I think maybe it is an escape from the impelling desire of the soul or even a job to survive. I am speaking for that artist who is here to compel and document Society. Those artist who have the heart and artistic spirit to care about humanity’s plight. Those who leave this calling can not be satisfied with making a living and producing for societies whims. This Artist must seek newer more spirituals inspiring grounds to explore and use in artistic expression.
DZ: It seems that art for the art’s sake (and not for the sake of book illustrations, ads, and the like) isn’t as popular these days as it was 100 years ago. Do you think that is true and if so, why?
SW: Art is now to Commercialized. When business got society to by into the Business fact that there was commercial art they also got the public to sell then their soul for the serious art appreciation. Yes I think it is not as popular. It is actually getting harder and harder to experience art. We experience reproductions and prints. Where every town use to swell with pride when it produced a serious artist, no matter what the medium. We very seldom even hear of it now. Leaders of today want Artist to conform and learn to draw circles, apples, and oranges. They want to teach a formula for drawing a fence and a correct way to position elements of a painting. The teachers now do not teach love of Life or beautiful things in life. This is why we are no longer that interested in Art. I can prove this point with ease. Ask any young aspiring High School art student what he wants to be. His answer will be almost anything but Professional Artist.
DZ :Do you have a least favorite style of art?
SW: Well, I have tried to seek the inspiration and artistic value of all forms of art. Notice I have said tried. There are some forms of art I still have trouble with. Violent, gross, shock art does not appeal to me at all. Some modern art does not appeal to me, however I do like Starry Night, by that guy who is so famous. I find the exhibit this past summer in New York where cow parts and an abstract done in cow dung not something I can call art. I hated the thing. The pictures I saw of it show it certainly was not art. Surely this is not going to be a medium for the future. So there you have it, my weakness in art. I have likes and dislikes.
DZ: Aside from art, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
SW:I love to set and read a good zine, or watch a good action movie. I also enjoy doing projects with my family. I still can do some small projects of fixing things, but these projects are limited. I still like fixing things. I try to be and am an observer of all around me. This is the making of our society. A trip to the small town library will cause one to think just watching the patronage come and go. So you see we are back at art again.
DZ: This one is a question I always ask: I believe that you can tell a lot about a person by the books on their shelves So tell me What is setting on your shelves right now?
SW: Well we have books of all description and to numerous to mention so I will give you the ones on the head of my bed. The Artist Handbook 3rd edition by Ralph Mayer, Piercing the Darkness by K. Ramsland (a vampire story), Robinson Crusoe by Defoe, The Prodigal Spy by J. Kanon, Several Sherlock Holmes and even a Buffy the Vampire slayer or two. Now if you want to know which periodicals I read, I read several art periodicals at the library. I also like good comic books. Like Tank cop or detective comics.
DZ: In the past decades, there has been a lot of hoopla about so called obscene art and special interests groups trying to have funds pulled from the National Endowment for the Arts. What is your take on this? Why do you think people get so outraged by art?
SW: The hardest thing for any one to do is to face the truth. Some people call it continence; some call it a soul. I personally call it the inner self, or the Artist point of view. Art is the voice of that inner self found in those few honest Artist who are given the eyes to see and the ears to hear. These few brave Artists are also given the Heart to care. The major part of society has a problem with hearing the truth. They make money off porn and prostitution, but do not want to be told or shown porn or prostitution. I must stop for a second to explain. I consider prostitution the selling of ones self or others, strictly for financial gains or activities of self-gratification, not just sexual. This definition then lets us look at what is happening in a true light. We do not want a record of what we are doing sexually or prostitution wise in the world. I think this is why the big flap over pornographic material. You know we have had porn since the beginning of time. We just did not call it that. Look at Manet’s gardens. The Gardens documented what was going on. Then to confuse every one the special interest groups then get some one or a college to try and get garbage on a board considered art. This is the flap. Big Business is trying to cover their souls and control the thoughts of our selves. Big Brother is hard at work. I just hope there are enough Artists to come in the future to stand and express the truth, as the Artists perceive the truth in their hearts.
DZ: How can the public get their hands on your wonderful paintings?
SW: I have art all over the United States in private collections. I also have art for sale on my web page: www.snowwolfart.com. A person can also by a back issue of Dilapidated (Zine # 5) for a sampling of my work in pencil. I must state I only do pencil when requested to do so. There is one more way. You can email me” snowwolfart@email.com, or contact Dilapidated Zine and they can help you get in touch with me. Oh! And there is one more thing to comment on, Any comments about this interview, please contact the interviewer, I only tell the truth.
DZ: Do you have any closing comments?
SW: I am very pleased, and blessed to have been a part of this interview. I do have a few comments I would like to make. Honesty of the heart is now becoming a lost art in our world today. There are people who are born to be kite makers, who are becoming lawyers, just for the income. We as a society need to look at what we have done to our children’s future. We need to stand and take a moment to think and ponder or actions upon the future. Each of us should ask our selves this, “No matter how great a Lawyer or Doctor or computer programmer I am; this is the Honesty question, am I where my heart says I ought to be?”
The leading of the inner self is what is most important to us and to our future. Sure people are burning out in their jobs and careers; it is because they should not be there. Aptitude does not mean this is where each of us should be. Consider the works of Leonardo da Vinci, he had an aptitude for war weapons, thank all that we consider good, da Vinci was an Artist.
So In closing I say this to one and all, from the Snow Wolf, “Be True to your self. Lying will only bring you and your children heart break, and misery!”
The Blessings of all good
intentions be upon you,
“Snow
Wolf”
