Interview with Art Off Paper Artist Chris Malfi

When did you know you wanted to be an artist, and what goals did you set for yourself while getting into it?

It's something I've wanted for as long as I can remember. I have a lot of goals I'd like to accomplish but the first one I set was to hold a successful art show and make whoever came leave with a reason to come to the next ARTOFFPAPER event. 

What type of art do you specialize in? What are your strengths, and what do you feel are some of your weaknesses? 

I wouldn't say I specialize in any type, I just run with my emotions and experiences in each piece; my art is an extension of me.  My weaknesses are stick figures and kryptonite.

What is Art Off Paper? Explain what you do and who the other members are.

ARTOFFPAPER is about recognizing that art does not have to be defined by a brush stroke or pencil line, we all have our own ARTOFFPAPER. Art is about personal expression, from canvas to the street, fashion, music, dance, literature, to the rhythm of your speech.

Society has a way of influencing people to believe that if something is exclusive it adds an undefined feeling of value to our lives. ARTOFFPAPER was formed to create a philosophy that can connect everyone. There are no outsiders; we all have our own ARTOFFPAPER because what makes us different is what makes us the same.

ARTOFFPAPER was started by Brendan Munday, Jared Long and myself; in our eyes everyone is a member. 

What makes your art so different as a crew, and what do you all bring to the table?

We are complimenting opposites with an indefinable chemistry. We all have our own unique styles and abilities that are strong enough to stand-alone but together we form like Voltron. Because of this we are able to accomplish any creative task at hand. We do illustration, graphic design, jewelry/accessories/fashion design, murals, interior design, commissioned artwork, as well creative consulting.

How important are expression and inspiration to you? Is it possible to make something from nothing?

Expression and inspiration is an essential part of any creative process, inspiration can come from anywhere, anyone, and anything.  Yes it's possible to make something from nothing, because it's just an interpretation of what nothing and something is, what one person views as nothing maybe something to the next.

What events/shows have you displayed or done work for?

I've been fortunate to be apart of a few but my top 5 so far;

Special Sauce- Huntington Long Island

Rare - Tribeca, NY

The End Recording Studios - Green Point Brooklyn 

Research Fundraiser at Nicotra Ballroom - Staten Island 

The Leaky Life Boat- Seaford NY 

Each show has its own special meanings to me as well as personal accomplishments. 

Have you been commissioned to do any really big projects, or is most stuff local and/or private?

The first check I ever received from designing jewelry was from Maurice Galli, a French designer who has designed for royalty as well as Tiffany & CO., when I met him he was the head designer at Harry Winston but most importantly, he was my teacher. Needless to say it was a big deal to me when he approached me willing to pay for my creativity.

I have also been commissioned by Dr. Sherrill Antonio who is the Associate Dean for Film, Television, and New Media in the Kanbar Institute of Film & Television and the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. I was asked to do the book cover for Dr. Antonio's book on Spike Lee, a truly rewarding experience which became even more of a dream come true when I heard Spike Lee has been to my website and loved the portrait I did of him.

Another great moment for me was when ARTOFFPAPER was asked to be part of the grand opening of The End Recording Studios. We got to paint a large scale mural on their building's rooftop in front of hundreds of people while watching the sun set over Manhattan. 

What project are you most proud of?

I'm proud of every project I am a part of but the one that sticks out the most to me is when we were asked to donate our art for a cancer research fundraiser. I knew I wasn't born with the mind for science or medicine, but I still wanted to be a part of the fight for a cure. 

I'll always be proud to know my graffiti inspired art raised money for the fight against cancer.

What are your plans for the future and are you currently making a living off of "Art Off Paper?"

I have many plans for the future but things don't always happen according to plan so I'm just going to continue my journey and try to enjoy my life the best way I can. Yes, I currently make a living off of my art. 

What is the most rewarding thing about being an artist?

The most rewarding thing about being an artist is doing what I love to do every day.

What would you tell someone who wants to get into a specific type of art, but may feel they aren't creative enough?

I would tell them Creativity and confidence kind of go hand in hand, if you don't believe your an artist no one will. 

Anything else to add?

Shout out to Rawthentix, Rare Salon, Richmond Hood, DeadLine, The End Recording Studios, Stefan Barone, Tre Giovani, Untouchable Cutz, FSP, Eargasms, The Voices of the Summer, and The leaky life boat. Thank you to everyone who has supported my art and ARTOFFPAPER. 

A.O.P will be painting live July 21st at Van Duzer days in Staten Island.

http://www.artoffpaper.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ART-OFF-PAPER/160113224052048

Merissa Xhelili Lends Her Artistic Services to Bands, Movie Projects, and More

Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Merissa Xhelili, and I am an artist who also creates custom-made jewelry.

When did you first begin experimenting with art, and was it a natural talent of yours?

I began experimenting with art for as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a child. I would say it is a natural talent of mine; the art of drawing seems to run in my family.

What is your preferred style of art, and what are your strengths and weaknesses?
I love colorful abstracts; according to the organic curves and structured lines, the image paints a different picture to what each person sees, pun intended. However, my favorite method of art is sketching in black and white. It makes the viewer focus on the importance of how dramatic shading and lighting can make a picture appear. My strength is in bringing portraits to life, I have a fascination with faces. One thing I would like to learn more about is photography. I’ve taken pictures as a hobby, but would like to have more professional experience in this.

How important is expression and inspiration to you? Is it possible to make something from nothing?
Art is where you can express yourself through your own take on reality or a dream you see in your own mind to share with others. I get inspired by the everyday things in life in even the most mundane objects, focusing on the way natural curves and lines are shaped through man-made objects and in nature.

Have you ever had your art displayed at a gallery or event?
I’ve had my drawings and paintings displayed in the College of Staten Island’s gallery, as well as in Snug Harbor’s gallery.

Do you get commissioned for projects or are you working on your own stuff?
I do get commissioned by people coming to me for various art projects. I also work on my own for enjoyment and to keep adding to my portfolio.

Tell us a little bit about your jewelry work and start up.
About a year ago, I made a unique necklace I had in mind but could not find in stores. I received many compliments on it and people asked me if I could make other pieces as well, and it began a snowball effect from there. For both women and men, I make pieces that have an artistic flair to them which makes it different from what you would find it stores.

You are currently storyboarding a project, tell us a little about that.

I am currently working on a storyboard and concept art design for an independent film project which is currently still a work in progress.

Do you think there are any similarities in being an artist and a musician? Why or why not?
I think there are definitely similarities between art and music; I feel they go hand in hand. Both are created by people expressing themselves through an art form. I know that music is an extremely important part of my life, and it inspires me totally. I can’t create art without listening to music that speaks to my soul, just as musicians see the beauty in art and become inspired to put that inspiration into song.

What is the most rewarding thing about being an artist?
Being an artist, you do not feel chained to your work. You have the ultimate freedom to create and sometimes even a mistake can become a happy accident, becoming the most interesting part of the piece.

What are your future plans as an artist and where do you see yourself in a few years?
I am currently a freelance artist and hopefully will become more successful with my jewelry line. Within the next few years, I would love to design album covers for bands, combining two of my favorite passions together.

Anything else you'd like to add?
Contact me if you need an artist for a project or want to purchase custom-made jewelry. And to the bands out there, if you are interested in me designing an album cover or accessories for your band merch!


CONTACTS AND LINKS

http://merissax.wix.com/xessories

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Xessories-Art-You-Can-Wear/126654267427179

http://merissaxhelili.deviantart.com/

https://www.facebook.com/mxartdesigns

Artist for the Bands, Helder Pedro, Makes Works of Art

IO "Materioptikon (United Kingdom)

I came across this amazing artist when I interviewed Ninth Moon Black. I asked them who did their artwork and they pointed me to Helder. What I found was some of the most truly amazing and inspirational art I've seen. I immediately knew an interview was coming. The following pictures are all band covers by Helder. Information to see further artwork is at the bottom. Enjoy!

Ninth Moon Black "Kalyug" (USA)

Who are you, and what do you consider yourself?

My name is Helder, I currently reside in Portugal and I am a graphic designer.

Was art something you always did? Did you develop this gift as you grew?

Art was actually not something I did growing up, although I always had a keen eye for it. I was always good at sports, maths and sciences in school. Only in more recent years did I develop or discover that maybe I had a talent for it. The so called "discovery" happened as I began listening to more music and being exposed to various different styles- genres that progressively made my brain tick. I started to develop my own vision over some band's music and how I could perceive the visual part of their releases to be. Then slowly I began to explore my own ideas and improve, all of this was done on a self taught basis as I tried to better visually express their sound through my art.

Jakob "Solace" (New Zealand)

What inspires you to create these images, and where do the creativity and ideas come from?

It's rather difficult for me to pinpoint my influences My main inspiration is music itself, besides the music, it's difficult to pin point influences, since everything is an influence. What I do is very technical too, so I improve all the time by looking at other artists work or researching more. My biggest influence is my own goal and I suppose this is what drives me, is achieving something that is fitting for what I feel the music transpires and represents. This way, not only is the music alive in the sounds we hear but also it comes alive visually which I find very stimulating.

How do you create your art? Freehand, graphics, pastels, etc.

The art I create is done mostly by a mix of media which I manipulate digitally. I have some techniques of my own, that I've developed over the years and I guess I have really tried to define my own style.

Do you only do artwork for bands? How did working with bands come about, and is music important to you?

I mostly do artwork for bands, although I have worked for private businesses, expositions, film and music promoters. I began to pay more attention to the visual part of the music albums I listened to and as I listened to the music I tried to picture in my mind alternative album covers for them. That lead me to begin exploring ideas. At the start, it wasn't easy since I didn't have the necessary knowledge and control to create intricate pieces, however as I put online my "tries", people seemed to liked them. The feedback was very positive and I began receiving requests to do work. As my volume of work increased, the requests and contacts increased as well and things just naturally grew by themselves. I love music on its own, I listen to music everyday and it's really rewarding to be able to "work" with a media that I enjoy so much and with bands that I truly find inspiring.

Tides of Nebula "Aura" (Poland)

Do artists give you ideas or do you listen to the music and come up with these things yourself?

Most times, I work on ideas by myself listening to the music with none or only general ideas from the artists. I prefer it this way, since it allows me more freedom and I am also capable of surprising them with things that initially they didn't envision and then ended up loving- this happens very often. There are other artists who have a very clear idea of what they have in mind, which is sometimes tricky because you're not inside anyone else's head and it may be difficult to exactly recreate what is described to you.

What is the most difficult part about being an artist, and what's the most rewarding?

The most difficult part is the nature itself of having to create something new each and every time and meet not only your own expectations but also the expectations of others. While doing this you have to deal with people that may not be the greatest at being clear at what they want or just be hard to deal with in general. The most rewarding is to see your work printed and the client (i.e, a band) appreciating it. It's a great feeling to contribute to the work of others and establish long lasting relationships that sometimes transcend the 'artistic' or 'business' side of things, becoming a friendship.

Do you have rates for artwork, or does it go by a person to person basis?

I don't have set rates. I am flexible with what I charge as it depends on numerous factors.

The Mantra above the Spotless Moon "Defeated Songs" (Italy)

Where do you hope to see yourself going with this, or are you there already?

I know I am not there already but although I can't quite say where I am now and where I see myself going with this. I never imagined to be at this stage to begin with, things have just been happening very naturally. At the moment, it is something that I enjoy doing and as long as I am with how it is going, then that is all that matters. My ultimate goal is to have the opportunity of working with more artists and develop by taking on new challenges that push me to the next level.

Where can people check out your work, or contact you?

Visit my website www.helderpedro.com or contact me directly through hepemo@gmail.com 

www.helderpedro.com
Facebook
Myspace
Flickr

God is an Astronaut/The Mantra Above the Spotless Moon Spilt (Ireland)

If you are interested in having Helder Pedro do work for you, contact him at hepemo@gmail.com

Juarez