Wine, women and song of course.

 Q: What/who are your major influences and inspirations?

Nature first and foremost. My brothers and sisters. Guys with influence, not power.

Q: Tell me about the bunnies?

Lots of my paintings have bunnies, skulls, flowers, thorns and stuff like that... sort of a psychological rebus, me, my ego, life, struggle...

 Q: The paintings for your upcoming show are quite different from previous shows, is there a reason?

Hopefully that can be said about my work often. I consider myself more art director than artist, and suit the image to the message. In this instance the message is one of celebration, love, and a tribute to the psychedelic experience.

 Q: Can you talk briefly about the process of creating one of your paintings?

For the current series I was trying to find joy, and sketching what that meant to me in those little moleskin books. I would basically doodle when I felt good, sitting poolside in Palm Springs for instance.... then I let those doodles sit in my head...

Then sketch full size from memory, just immediately on tracing paper taped to a piece of wood from home depot or somewhere...

Then I mask stuff off... meaning, I cover the board w/ masking tape, put the tracing paper down again and trace off onto the tape the 1st layer of flowers I want to paint...

Then I cut those areas with a xacto knife, peel off the areas I want to paint, airbrush those. Let that dry, peel the tape off...

Rinse and repeat about 5 times a piece....

Then I do line art over top, gold leaf, fixer upper stuff... etc...

and when I say "I", I mean myself and my team, currently Jean-Paul Bondy and Kristy Baltezore, with Nic Cowan and Sophia Lin.

Q: Why do you paint on wood?

Considering the mechanical nature of my process, I want some organic forced on me. Same reason I use gold leaf really roughly, just to bring nature in and let it do its thing.

Q: I notice it's on Halloween is that a favorite for you?

Never heard of it. :)

 Q: Have you ever considered using other mediums or doing 3D work?

With my audubon series I used watercolor on paper, and I’ve made a doll and stuff... but yeah. i always enjoy switching up, and look forward to more.

Q: What makes a good day in the studio?

Hardwood floors, beautiful atmospheric music, the rustic bronson canyon stretching before us, french doors wide open before us, did I mention coffee? The golden hour of course.... looking to the left and watching the hawks catching the drifts in the warm air currents... delicious food on the grill....I mean dude, the average day here is a mix of decadence and bohemia that even the woods cannot compare to. and cats.

 Q: How do you spend your time when taking a break from painting?

Answering these questions, flying in zeppelins.

Q: If you didn't paint for a living what would you do?

Work in animation.

 Q: Greatest Joy?

She knows.

Q: Greatest sadness?

They know.

 Q: As an artist what message do you carry?

We place no reliance on virgin or pigeon, our method is science, and our aim is religion

Q: Hopes for the future?

Joy.

 Q: Advice for young or not so young emerging artists?

Follow love, learn techniques and stop 1 step before you think you may have gone too far.

Q: What can we look forward to with this show?

Extracted exactness.

Q:  What direction is the new work moving towards?

Joy, beauty and appreciation.

Q: Favorite medium? (for an artist who works in so many)

Decadence.

Q: What kind of art interests you?

Art that entices either my emotions or intellect.  Most doesn't.

Q: What do you think about when you first wake up?

A woman.  The first smell of the day, what is the price of tea in China?

Q: What kind of legacy would you like to leave behind?

My goal is always to be a gateway drug to people that want o bring independence and beauty to the masses.

Q: Can you tell me about some of your commercial work?

That’s what affords me the opportunity to do art.  Google the rest

Q: You have this wonderful Asian feel to your work, how did this happen for you?

My parents traveled a lot and had a great collection of Asian art when I was young. I've always appreciated the simplicity and natural beauty of that kind of work.

If you are interested in seeing a preview for Andrew’s upcoming show at CHG please contact jch@coreyhelfordgallery.com

Thank you Andrew for taking time out of your very busy day to chat with us and share some of your insight and inspiration. Special thank you to Sofia age 10 for helping with this weeks blog.

Richard Scarry and The Chipster