Featured Artist: Holly Dixon - 4.20.2009

Interview by: Gian Hunjan

Age: 20
Specialty: Painting
Institution: Tyler School of Art
Equipment: Colors of the wind
Preferred Pudding Flavor: Banana

Q: Hi Holly.
A: Hi Gian.

Q: Did you know you’re the first Pudding Painter?
A: Sounds delicious.

Q: When I saw you today you had paint on your hands; does this get in the way of your social life?
A: I asked a guy out on the street a few weeks ago and he told me he might be moving away soon. The paint may have been the culprit. I kind of like it though. It is like when you see a mechanic with grease all over his hands paying for coffee and you know he lives for it.

Q: Personally, I’m really into “A Portrait in Violet.” I like her puckered up, full lips and uneven hair. Is she real?
A: She’s sexy huh? You’re in luck Gian. It’s me. I often take a break from my work and do a series of self -portraits. I find it really useful when transitioning subject matter within my paintings. My hair usually finds itself all over the place like that by the end of the day but I never fix it because of the paint on my hands. As for my lips, I was hoping you would notice.

Q: Your paintings have so much texture throughout them. Whenever painters incorporate a lot of texture it makes me angry because I just want to touch the piece. Is texture some kind of tease for the artist? When you’re painting do you think to yourself, “OK Holly, lets get some texture in here, heighten that sense of touch and then pull it away… muwahahaha” What makes texture so important to you?
A: Texture can be a great aid to a painting when used correctly. I never want to overwhelm the viewer with it so it gets in the way of the painting. It is very important to have a push and pull between paint application and paint reduction. It is much like a dance. The paint and I take turns stepping on each other’s toes but the dance never stops. I am notorious for scraping off a finished painting from a canvas and starting over to paint on a worked area. There is something about the history of my marks that really intrigues me. I prefer to let them show so I know where I’ve been.

Q: “Philadelphia Wild” has dimensions of 60 inches by 66 inches! That is gigantic. How long did it take you to finish? How did you know you were done? Did you have to walk back and forth a bunch of times to see it from different angles and views? How do you transport it?
A: This size has actually become average for me. I need to throw my whole body into a painting to reach my euphoria. I feel too constricted working small. I think I worked on this painting in two or three one hour sessions. Knowing when you are finished with a piece is never a clear prediction for an artist. It is an orgasm of sorts that varies depending on the foreplay. When my spirit and my painting reach a parallel that is when I am finished. I don’t know if I could ever really explain how I feel when it happens but it does, and I keep going back for more. Walking back and forth is a given. Sometimes I run up and down the stairs until I’m ready to go back to the studio. When that doesn’t work, I take my painting with me. Everyone needs a break.

Q: Why painting?
A: Why pudding?

Q: Did Maytag pay you for “Little Red Jacket?”
A: No, but they should. My obsession with appliances has given them way too much publicity. These photos document my interaction with the Laundromat as I commit my clothing to the washers and dryers. We lose complete control of our belongings once we subject them to the Maytags of our day. My friend found the jacket at a yard sale for a dollar but handed it over to me because it was too feminine on him. It has seen its days and is retired in my closet but it may make an appearance when autumn comes.

Q: Holly, other than feelings, what do you want viewers to get out of your work? What do you get out of it that you wish others did as well?
A: I am forever in debt to my childhood. I remember being a little girl, walking with my mom in the mall while listening to the sound of a business woman’s heels. I always wondered if she ever took them off to play. Too many people are in a hurry to grow up. There is something timeless and free about the soul of a child. I promised myself a long time ago that I’d only ever grow as old as my heart. I can’t rejuvenate the stressed and preoccupied, but maybe my paintings can.

Q:  Where is the one place on this earth you want your work to be displayed? Other than The Pudding! Why?
A: Where ever I can find the grumpiest of men, it’s about time one of them cracks a smile.

Q: Everyone has an Achilles heel, what is yours in regards to your craft?
A: I only have two hands.

Q: Whenever I watch a youtube video of someone dancing to Beyonce’s “All My Single Ladies” I get so pumped to dance. What pumps you up to paint?
A: I am pretty sure I painted to “All My Single Ladies” this past winter and I wasn’t disappointed. That woman has some serious moves. I think living outside of the studio is essential for healthy productivity. I search for adventure as often as I can so I never get bored. Inspiration comes from experience and variety. The more you know about life, the more you know about being an artist. Being a slave to your studio practice is only effective for so long.

Q: Would you ever consider painting with pudding? Which flavors?
A:  I actually did a project last year where I painted with condiments. I needed a really deep orange color that I couldn’t mix so I microwaved a yam. I burned it and the apartment smelled for days. That was the dumbest idea I’ve ever had. Maybe pudding would be more forgiving.

Q: Thanks for taking the time Holly. In closing, can you relay any general advice to the young Pudding painting public out there? Those who may be unsure about whether or not to take on painting in university?
A: If your still life turns into a dance party, don’t be afraid to shake it. Life is too short to be predictable.

Q: Where can we find more of your work?
A: I am working on getting a website but until then there is my Facebook. I’m too young to be embarrassed by it so I update my work there. Other than that, look for the grumpiest of men. I’ll be close behind.

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Featured Artist: Thomas Reynolds - 4.27.2009

Interview by: Gian Hunjan

Age: 20
Specialty: Industrial Design
Institution: University of the Arts
Equipment: Any tool
Preferred Pudding Flavor: Vanilla

Q: Hey Tom, can you briefly explain what exactly Industrial Design is, and why you chose to pursue such a unique field?
A:  That’s the thing Gian; Industrial Design isn’t exactly one thing. It really can be anything.  I have done projects that are just research based, graphic based, as well as designing and making objects.  That’s what I like to do - make things and design them.  I like making things that people can use, functional things that are simple and making them in a unique way. 

Q: How is your aquaponics system progressing? Can you tell us what its function is and how it’s going to assist in the sustainability of the Greensgrow Farm?
A:  Well aquaponics is the combination of hydroponics and aquaculture.  The great thing about it is that one system can produce two crops: fish and plants.   The function of the system is not only to produce a small amount of food, but also to demonstrate what aquaponics is with graphics and text on the system.  Awareness and education is a big part of the system, which is a part Greensgrow’s mission.

Q: Based on your Clipped Flatware and the way they all interlock while still being able to serve their core purpose, it seems that one of the driving factors in your work is simplicity and resourcefulness. Is this something you try to incorporate into the majority of your work?
A:  Yeah it is. I always try to make things that are simple. Some of the best-designed objects are the simplest.  I try to make things as simple as they can be.  As far as resourcefulness goes, I am always conscious of what material I am using and how much of it is being used. 

Q: What is the process you go through to bring an idea or thought into fruition? Is it better to work and discuss your idea with a group to garner additional information?
A: Well group work is an important part of design.  You have to be able to work in a group and communicate ideas and get inspired by what others are doing.  About half the projects I have done are group projects.  On the other hand I also believe that it is important that you have time to think and do things by yourself.  My process always includes research.  You need to know about whatever it is you are doing.  Once I have started research I begin to draw, and then make models and finally figure how I am going to execute my idea.

Q: Again, in the Flower Box transformation by yourself and Shannon Malone there is a simple concept behind it’s purpose. How did you the two of you come up with the idea of a flower box conversion? Has this concept collected any sort of following in the Philadelphia area yet?
A:   Hahahaha, I don’t think we have any following it would be funny to see someone do the same thing to one. I’d be stoked on that.  That would mean it accomplished its function.   We came up with the concept through research and brainstorming.  We did a lot of research on newspaper boxes and one of the things we found most interesting was that space under the paper compartment is used or gets used as a trash can.  By turning it on its side we could use it as a planter. 

Q: What would you convert a pudding cup into?
A:  I would probably eat the pudding inside, wash it out and use it as a container.

Q: Your pocket notepad is brilliant. Do you use it for class? By using the Trader Joes bag you definitely hit on the hipster population of Philadelphia. Would you consider an American Apparel pocket notepad? It will probably be purple spandex with glitter all over it and not very eco-friendly in the least.
A:  Hahaha thanks Gian.  If you really want a purple glitter spandex note pad I could probably make you that and then laugh at you for using it. 

Q: Tom where can an Industrial Design student seek employment post graduation? It seems like an extremely broad, yet highly demanded craft that can find itself in any profession. What kind of places are you looking into after you graduate?
A:  To be truthful, I have no idea what I am going to be doing when I get done at school.  Any job would be great and the more creative freedom the better. 

Q: Philadelphia has an extremely large growing student populous, much of which is comprised of art-based students. What is some advice you can offer to prospective Industrial Design majors? What are some things you have learned along the way that you wish you knew earlier?
A:  That you should do what you want.  And not just do things because some else said it.  Question things.  Listen to everyone’s advice then formulate your own thought on the subject.  Also get ready to be obsessed with making things and get ready to loose a lot of sleep.

Q: Tom it has been a pleasure, where can we find more of your work for future reference?
A:   I try to update my blog thomasrex.blogspot.com weekly or when ever I complete something.  Also when you are on my blog you can head over to my flickr by clicking on the photos.  Its been great Gian, thanks a lot. I am really honored you wanted to feature me on The Pudding.  The site looks great.

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Thomas' Work:

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