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Feature Artist Interview: Nicholas Di Genova |
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We don't know where Nicholas Di Genova is from or how old he is or anything like that. We know he's had his art published in several magazines, and he's had several group and solo exhibitions. He did an interview with us, and he has great art. You can see more of it here. [Note: His website seems to be cuttently down. Probably for an update. Check back often.] |
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SM: What started your journey to becoming a professional artist? How did you develop your craft (school, etc)? NDG: Been drawing since I was old enough to pick up a crayon, I've always been into monsters and fantasy stuff... when I was about 8 on the way home from icefishing with my dad, we stopped at a corner store to get snacks... I saw a marvel comic on the shelf and my dad bought it for me...it pretty much rocked my world, and I've been really inspired by comics, anime, monster movies and all that ever since... drew throughout gradeschool and highschool, but never knew if I wanted to be an artist or a writer...enrolled in artschool, studied sculpture for 2 years and drawing for 3, and now I draw monsters everyday... SM: Do you expect that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving you? NDG:uh...no. Except on the few occasions that I have tried (and failed) to quit smoking, my mind is shot and I always lose my pen, and I'm convinced that my bestfriend is hiding it on me... one time I almost punched him in the face, and then i found my pen about 6 inches away from the drawing I was working on. So let me answer again: sometimes. SM: What are your top five books? NDG:In no particular order: Akira, the Dark Tower series, Kurt Vonneguts "Galapagos", the Green Lantern, and Animal Farm. I don't read all that much lately, but I listen to a lot of audio lectures... usually stuff about early civilizations, biology, and theology... SM: If your artwork was a meal, what would it consist of? How would it taste? NDG:It would be a raw animal-hybrid carcass and it would taste awful... SM: Do you examine your body for signs of illness? NDG:Yup, I'm a bit of a weirdo with that stuff...I'm often convinced that I have something wrong with my lungs, which might make sense because I rarely move, smoke, and never sleep well... when I get chest pains I usually do pushups and situps and lift weights until all of my body hurts, so I can't tell the difference between my chest hurting and everything else hurting... SM: Do
you plan to pursue more sculptural artwork? What made you NDG:I've always been into sculpture, I studied it in college for a couple of years... when I was studying it though, I found myself drawing more than working in 3D, so I switched my focus... I only make maybe 1 or 2 sculptures a year, and rarely show them. Its just something that relaxes me and I love doing, I'll work on a 8 inch piece for 6 months, and just tuck it away on a shelf when I finished. I would like to have a sculpture show in a few years, of all the old work I've done... SM: What does your artwork reveal about your personality? For example, your drawing seems very tight and meticulous. Does this reflect you accurately? NDG:I'm actually a complete slob. My kitchen is filthy, no clean dishes, right now I'm trying to deal with a swarm of flies in it. My bedroom contains stack of bare mattresses that I've found around the city and is surrounded by garbage...all of my clothes are covered in paint...my hair is usually full of paint...I'm kinda gross actually... I've always been a slob, but very meticulous with my artwork. SM: What/who is your biggest influence outside the art world? NDG:Old Mother Nature, I'm really into animals and biology, most of my inspiration comes from studying that stuff... SM: What
does your artwork say to you after it's finished and on NDG:Usually I'm just surprised that I got it all done... in a show I might have between 30-50 pieces, which takes the better part of a year to finish, so when I walk into a gallery where it is hung, I'm usually just relieved its over... when I see it all framed up and the pieces side by side, I always create little situations in my head... "This monster would totally kick that monsters ass..." SM: Do
you experience age-appropriate social relationships with NDG:Are you asking if I've had sex with anyone in my family? SM: If an illness or disorder were named after for you, what would it be called? What are its symptoms? NDG:It would be called Hermitism...people who suffer from it would withdraw from society and rarely go out in public...wait, that already exists...okay... it would be called Nickitism, and it would be the same as Hermitism, and people who suffer from it would withdraw from society and rarely go outside, except on saturdays to work their part-time jobs... SM: What
well-known piece of artwork do you wish you'd done? Why?
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