Poster Shizzle…

Next up in our interview series we are very pleased to welcome one of Cardiff’s finest, the mighty Godmachine.

Influenced by a mixture of Santa Cruz and 2000 AD from an early age, his distinct style lends to Skating, Clothing and of course Art, Gig and Movie inspired prints.

One of my favourite artists working today, Ladies and Nerds, I give you Godmachine…..

Tell us a bit about yourself, how old are you, where are you from, where are you based, how long have you been illustrating and what is your preferred medium? Etc…

Im really old, Like a turtle but young like a sparrow…? Im from Wales, its in the UK. I live in the city of Cardiff, we have a castle in the city center that is massive and beautiful and was built by one of the richest men in the world at one time. The castle was first started by the romans in 50AD. Nice bit of trivia there. I have been illustrating or as I like to call it ‘drawing’ as long as I can remeber; my earliest memory of being aware of being able to draw when I was 9 and I drew a picture of Hendrix and my mate Bumpy went nuts over how good it was- that too me made me aware of what I was doing and that I was even any good at it.My prefered medium is PS, a wacom tablet and a cup of black coffee. I have been going back to my roots more and more lately- It all started for me with a pencil and a pen, a black pen doodling scrawny smudgy horrific stuff on scraps of paper.

How and when did you first become interested in art/illustration ?

I have always drawn as far as I can remember- I remember laying on my grandparents floor drawing on the back of wallpaper- that was the thing in my house: the pack of wallpaper- it was cheap and there was always some around. I have always been interested in art but never believed I could make a living out of it. Its only been in the last 4-5 years that I have realised I could. I was always taught I would only be a laborer or an electrician at most…I was told I could be anything I wanted, but no one ever was where I grew up.

Can you remember your first/earliest piece of work?

Yes totally- it was Mickey Mouse- of course it was. Then Hendrix (my brother was a massive fan) then I would spend ours copying these record covers my brother had- it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen as a kid- I had never seen anything like these images and these colours and would spend ours drawing them…turns out they were Iron Maiden album covers. I cant stand the music though. Then Stewart Forester gave me a 2000AD comic and that was it.

Did it end up on the fridge? What were your early influences ?

My mum would encourage me to draw on the walls when they were redecorated the rooms. Recently they stripped the wallpaper to find some doodles and even a public enemy logo from when I was 14 haha. I was influenced by my brother and my mum, I dont think they could draw really well, but they would draw stuff for me to look at and encourage me as I was amazed by it all. Then it was Eddy from Maiden, Swamp thing, Bizley, Santa Cruz skateboards, Rad magazine, Thrasher mag- the whole skateboarding and thrash scene from back in the day. As I was studying I was always into the classics; Beardsley, Klimt, Rackham etc. And then it went cold for years as I joined the work force and the pub force. I wasn’t really inspired to draw again Until I saw Chris Cunningham sketches and that started me off.

Did you attend art school or are you self taught ?

I did Art in school- didnt really study it or apply myself- how could you; you’re 14 and your hormones are going wild and you spend all your time building fun-ramps and boxing. I Went to uni to study a bit of film but left due to illness, then went back to uni’ to study Graphic Communication. I would say that I didnt learn anything But one of my Tutors Olwen, would argue otherwise. I didnt learn anything I use now though, Most of the tutors there didnt like my work and would take pleasure in telling me how much they didnt like it. I was painting at the time too and dragging these huge skull canvases around clubs and pubs trying to get shows but they didnt get all this skull/doom shit. One day my mate gave me a computer and I found a home on the web. That was the real start of it all for me; learning there was a huge community of similar artists starting out and a load of good people that supported art in all its forms and styles. It wasnt till I saw the artist Horsebites and Ray Frendens work that I really wanted to take it all seriously and made a conscious effort to learn what I could from them.

Do you think artistic talent is something you are born with or can it be taught ?

Probably both to be fair….I have seen someone who cannot draw stick at it for years to become quite prolific. I have seen someone who was shit at drawing become phenominal in a matter of months. How would we ever know that it was their ability to learn, the measure of their passion or that they just had this ability dormant inside them for years. I have also seen people never get better; not knowing what it is to be good at art. I am no way good as far as I can see and I will keep trying and learning and working at it. I have seen some artists that are shit at drawing, they cant draw at all, but they are massive and make a living off it…because they love it, they are passionate about it, the have a desire to produce pieces. And sometimes thats good enough. If someone loves it, someone likes it, you are good.

As an artist are you always learning and developing your skill, technique, style etc?

I hope so. I feel queasy looking at work from weeks ago at times. Other times I wonder if I will ever be as good as I was.. Either way my aim is to get better, to learn new things and new ways of mark making.

What was your first illustration job and how did it go ?What would you do if you couldn’t illustrate ?

I think apart from selling my paintings my first job was given to me by Iron Fist- I sold them three drawings straight off the bat having met Nick, one of their distributors. Nick is one of the coolest people I have ever met, his great personality is only matched by his business acumen. Iron Fist looked after me for many years and I owe them everything, some of the nicest guys and the hardest working in the business. There is no surprise they are as big as they are now. If I couldnt illustrate I’d probably be in sales maybe? Fuck knows, I liked cleaning too. I dont think there is a job I havent done. Mohammed Ali was once asked “what would you be if you werent a boxer” to which Ali replied “I dont know, probably a binman….but I’d be the best binman in the world.”

Have you held any other jobs ?

I used to work for the YMCA which was a building that housed homeless and halfway people and anyone the government was willing to pay the rent on. It was a gnarly job which included some nasty people, scary people and some dead people. I heard a death groan from this one guy I found dead on a chair, I wrestled to get the guy on the floor having felt warmth in his neck (turns out when blood pools it can stay warm) lifting him up (I know where the term ‘dead weight’ comes from now- he was only a skinny guy but was heavy as hell right then) to lay him on the floor. As I got him out of the chair I banged his head on the radiator too- made a massive noise. Flat on the floor the air escaped from his lungs in this skin crawling groan followed by loads of goopy spuz spit bile out of his mouth. My intention was mouth to mouth, on seeing this I had his mate do it instead. Turns out the guy had been dead for hours though so we really didnt have any hope. He was a junkie that had been clean for ages but took some shit that night and it killed him. Most of that job I spent drunk or high. It was super stressful but all my friends worked there so it was kinda cool too. Another job I liked was cleaning the loacal Uni’ at night, being left alone at night in super old Uni’s was kinda romantic- they had a massive science lab (cardiff is the UKs leading research center for the common cold) and a load of animals skulls… The professors used to leave use sweets and notes- it was kinda rad. They also had a morgue.. I will leave it there.

Talk us through your creative process ?

Usually the client suggest a few things and I sketch some stuff out and we work through it there. If I have free reign I just draw what Im into at the time. I scour magazines, films books, the web for inspiration sometimes, I have a wall full of sketches and notes and magazine cuttings that perk my interest. I get ideas from everywhere and from nowhere. Then I sketch it up- take it into PS and ‘ink’ it, colour it and send it.

Of your own work, do you have a favourite piece ?

I honestly dont know- there are a lot of them for different reasons…I like the way I did the light on this one piece but love the skin on this other piece and so on. I like the Sullen piece I did, not as a whole but for the sum of its parts. And its like that with a lot of pieces. I dont know if I will ever really be proud of a piece, happy, grateful and pleased but not pride…must try harder haha.

Have you ever butchered a piece of work and had to start again ? If so what went wrong ?

I dont know, Its happened, I think in the end I apologized and scrapped it and started again. The band liked it but I couldn’t hold my head up or sleep at night if they took it. Sometimes your head or your heart disengages and it gets lost. you worry about this and that and you forget its a whole piece. It hasn’t happened again and I wont allow it to. Art is not flipping burgers or building a wall, you have to be in some way emotionally attached to what you are doing right now- in the moment- if your head or your heart isn’t in it you risk fucking it up…unless you are shit hot and you piss excellence.

Which other artists do you admire, and do you collect others work ?

I collect art work from everywhere and everyone. Someone does a doodle in their living room watching TV, I see it, I love it- I ask for it. I buy art in galleries, No I dont know who the artist is when I see it, I just fall in love with it. I buy stuff I see on line from Hair clips for the mrs or posters for me. I admire a load of artists, artists that have been truelly inspirational to me are too numerous to mention for fear of leaving any of them out. I am not blinkered when it comes to art at all, I cant imagine anyone would be if they loved art. I really like cute simple stuff, people are amazed that I do, whats not to love though. I love all sorts of art. I am inspired by people mostly, I love who peple are and how they work and what they are; right now I am having to pick up my jaw by an artist called Skinner, the guy is like a whirlwind of passion and positive energy- if you get a chance- follow his twitter. Other artists that keep pushing me are Miss Monster and Chet Zar- their creative nature is beautiful. There are a lot of good artists out there but truly creative people are the best.

What are you currently working on ? Do you have any new projects you are looking forward to ?

I have a lot of work on at the moment- I like to work months in advance with gaps in between for things that crop up. I have a load of jobs I am chomping at the bit to get too. I have also just started renting my own studio with flat beds and t-shirt carosels. I am looking forward to being in a position where I can create physical objects again, and do it when I want. I have also joined/formed a collective of UK artists: The Dead Sea Mob: Drew Millward, moi, Dan Mumford, Tom Hovey, Tom Newell, Scott move, Andy Council, Ollie Mumden, Carla and Buster-G. We have already had some awesome shows and its started kicking off already with threats of a film and a trip to the states, we already have sponsorship and a PR company behind us. Generally illustrators are solitary animals who never get out, have sallow complexions and lurk websites from afar. The intention is to travel city to city picking up artists from each city and drawing live or ding shows- either way just a chance to showcase talent, meet all the big names, have a chance to draw live and get into trouble

Do you read praise/criticism of your work and if so how does it make you feel ?

I would be a liar if I said I wasn’t bothered by it. Anyone who tells you they don’t like it when they get praise or hate it when they get slated is talking rubbish. On saying that, knowing a few good artists as a I try to do I seek criticism, they are invaluable to the learning process. I used to ask Jimiyo shed loads, that guy is a stoic art machine capable of anything. He was always good to me and taught me a lot. I show my work to Josh Belanger too- he is a force of art…these type of people you should seek criticism from…never seek praise. Praise is the cherry on top, but the meat and bones of any artist should be criticism. The stuff I laugh at is small bitter pricks that like to try and pull you down to their level- its so funny- they try and criticize like they are doing you a favour but such shallow bitterness is obvious and hilarious. Seek criticism form people willing to help, Ignore trolls.

How does it feel when you finish a piece of work? What are your immediate thoughts and do they change towards the piece over time?

YES FINISHED LETS GO PLAY ON THE SWINGS! I do feel somewhat elated and think I deserve a break, but in reality I go for a walk and start lining up the next job. Some pieces I think, shit, I could have done that, and depending on the time frame or how much guilt I can stand I am late on the job trying new things or seeing if this ir that works or adding more detail. In all I hope the client is happy with how much I care about it all. They are my babies after all.
Is a piece of work ever finished ?

Can you describe your typical work day ?

Get Up at 11 in the morning (hang on- listen to the rest of this first), I make coffee, check on the cats, change food and water etc. Scan facebook to see whats going on there; my personal one and my fan page one. Check twitter, check some blogs I like, see whats been posted on Tumblr…usually in the morning there is all detritus of porny stuff from the night before…I dont know why I follow these people really. I like tumblr, its like a scrap book for people into images. Check emails- answer as many as I can, I get a lot and weekly I get jammed up- if you are reading this please dont hate me- Im slow and need to work. Then line up the work for the day- I dont start being really productive till the sun goes down. work from about 8 till six in the morning and then fall asleep watching some shit film with a cat sat on my face as I sweat buckets and wake up screaming at 11 to start it all over again.

How do you unwind, hobbies, travel etc ?

I eat out in a lot of places. I work from home so never get to leave work. To remedy this I go out a lot to eat. Its not that expenssive around here and there is plenty of places to eat- there are 6 restaurants on my street alone. I like to watch films although dont do it enough. I like screen printing- I get a massive buzz from that. I am hoping to travel soon, I really want to go back to the states, Turkey, Germany is a great place- the people are awesome. I dont read much any more- the web has stolen all my time and energy from that which is a damn shame- last time I read a book was shamefully about a month or two ago.

What are your favourite movies ?

I love Solaris, Apocalypse Now, Taxi Driver, La Haine, Jacobs Ladder, the 9th Configuration, Fire in the Sky, There Will Be Blood, Anti-Christ you get the picture.

Whats the best thing about your job?

There really is too much to mention, I couldn’t possibly find one thing. I love drawing and making things, I love being around creative people (if only on the web), I love working with creative people; clients. I like being able to have a job that allows me to justify working through the night. Working to briefs, solving problems, creative new things thinking new ideas….

Whats the worst thing about your job?

Everything I mentioned just then..

Do you think the current trend in movie art is a fad or will it stand the test of time ?

To be honest I dont really Know. I am not a prolific movie poster artist having only produced a handful- hopefully producing more, But I couldn’t tell you if its a trend or a phase. If it is reliant on movies I cant see it ever be a fad; a movie moves you , touches you and speaks to in ways most art cant; its linear. If you have a poster by a favourite artist of your favourite film which reminds you of that feeling- I don’t think it will ever go away…But then I don’t know where there was a time before it was ‘in’.

Thank you very much for your time and keep up the good work. Is there anything else you would like to add ? 

Do what you want, just don’t hurt anyone.