Dan Proops Answers Fad’s Questions

1 When did you start to make art?

Bright young age of 5yrs 2 months.

2 How did you evolve into a professional artist?

I organised 2 one man shows age 14 – sell outs!

3 What drove you to make art as a professional vocation?

I figured it was good to make money doing what you wanted to do, also I needed cash for paints and going out to meet girls.

4 Explain your inspiration?

I am inspired by the ridiculous, the obvious, the least expected, the most opposite to what’s happening, how design meshes with technology, getting to the heart of the zeitgeist.

5 In what way does your inspiration transform into ideas?

I wake up at 4 am with some wacky thought, grab a coke and start doing sketches, (occasionally this happens in the bath before or after some crappy TV).

6 From ideas to production of art – how? And why?

How – taking ideas worked out in Photoshop – making 20 –30 print studies, making collage, designing the painting and then making it. Why - have so many ideas, need to get them out there, take over undiscovered art territory, like playing a game of Risk. (I have a lot of the board).

7 Could your ideas be portrayed in any other medium? If so which?

I think I would like to make computer games out of crates or milk cartons and have them giant on the side of buildings.

8 Which artists would you most like to blatantly rip off?

As I do a lot of collages I literally ‘rip off’ a lot of artists. All of them if I could.

9 Why is your art made?

Because it’s making statements about the relationship between fine art and interface design links and associations never made before. Genius needs to get out there. Also I then have pictures to put up in my house.

10 What does being an artist mean to you?

Getting up any time. A lot of trips to art shops. Making land mark cutting edge pieces filled with cunning, humour and ‘of the moment’.

11 Are you happy with your reasons for making art? i.e Are there any trade offs that make life hard?

I would never take seriously a happy artist – if you are happy with what you have made you won’t try to make better. As an artist you are always on the outside of life, but your always trying to get to the core of whats going on.

12 When does your art become successful?

When I complete the last brushstroke.

13 What is art?

Art is art (..blood thou art blood…Shakespeare.)

14 How do you start the process of making work?

Getting over a hangover (alka seltzer), taking my motorcycle to the studio, getting into clothes covered in paint (looks like combat gear), coffee (lots)…choosing the brushes of the day, then the first splodges.

15 Who prices your work? And how is the price decided upon?

Me, instinct.

16 What is your next; move, project, show etc?

Sam’s Desktop II in association with Eric Franck…May 17 – 27 @ Menier Chocolate Factory.

17 What are the pros and cons of the art market?

The cons are there are a lot of stupid people in the art world, the pros are there are a lot of stupid people in the art world.

18 Which pieces would you like to be remembered for?

Drawings from my first show when I was 14. My latest.

19 Any routine in making your artwork?

If so what? As many hours as possible as much of the day..

20 What has been the biggest break in your career?

Meeting Lisa Agasee

21 Who has been the biggest influence on you?

My mum, the bionic man, early Picasso, 70s video games, Windows XP

22 How many artworks have you given away and to whom?

I give a lot of ink drawings away. People seem to like them as presents.

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This entry was posted on Friday, May 4th, 2007 at 11:26 am and is filed under Art, FAD Q&A's + INTERVIEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.