This week’s artist’s spotlight is on @beeragon
1. Can you talk a little bit about your art for those who are not familiar with it?
“I am a stop motion artist, which means I spend hours and hours and hours (and hours) taking thousands of pictures and stitching them together in order to create the illusion of objects moving on their own. My specific style is based on nostalgia, both in form (I like old film grain, vinyl crackle, light leaks) and content (childhood toys, dinosaurs, Godzilla, etc.). I also utilize lofi hip hop beats pretty exclusively, and most of the actions involved are innocuous or cute – mostly, I just like imagining what big scary monsters do in their off time, like Godzilla having tea and reading on a Sunday afternoon.
My intention is to invoke warm, cozy, safe feelings — something like a half-remembered dream, or a sleepy childhood memory. I want people to experience my art like they would if they were receiving a comforting hug.”
2. What is your process in choosing you main subjects for your stop motion art?
“I don’t really have a process, I just never grew up. I’m 33, but still am in my 4-year-old dinosaur phase. I want to craft the world I liked as a kid, full of cute monsters and loving, comfy experiences. Godzilla specifically has been an important fixture in my life, as silly as that may sound, so when I received an articulated figure a few years ago as part of an old job, it just sort of felt like a coincidence I couldn’t ignore.”
3. What inspired your to do stop motion art vs another art medium?
“I’m honestly not sure, it always had a hold on me. When I was little I was obsessed with Ray Harryhausen films, specifically Clash of the Titans – that Medusa scene is still a favorite. I once had a teacher describe stop motion as the greatest magic trick, because it’s completely real. I have a soft spot for good CGI (even cheesy bad CGI), but it’s hardly profound for me to say that practical effects in video can’t be topped – there’s no surpassing something that’s actually physically there. Stop motion allows you to create actual magic without leaving the bounds of reality.”
4. What is your favorite art piece you have done and why?
“Last Summer I did a preshow bumper for Cinepocalypse Film Festival that was a spoof of a spaghetti western film starring Baby Godzilla riding a T-Rex.
It’s my favorite because it was essentially a tribute to my dad and the way we used to play when I was little. I’m proud of it because I was able to have really great sets thanks to my fabricator Phoebe Jane Hart, so the world I built for these characters felt full. Also, I just personally like any story that has a ‘switch-up’ moment.”
5.Any exciting news or projects that you would like to share?
“I am very excited to say I’m working on a music video for my favorite musician, Chelsea Wolfe.”
“I am most active on Instagram @beeragon but I can also be found at http://beeragon.org/ and I can be reached for commissions at beeragon@gmail.com
Thank you so much for the interview!
Until next time!
ladycultblog 