1xRun Thru Interview
Robots Will Kill by ChrisRWK + H.veng Smith
1xRun: Tell us a little bit about this piece, what materials were used, is it still for sale?
ChrisRWK: I used acrylic paint, oil paint marker and pencil on this piece. The original is still for sale here on 1xRUN, this piece was created in April of 2013, from the idea to the sketch to the back and forth painting, I’d say this piece took about 3 weeks.
H.veng.Smith: On this piece I used oil paint. It’d be important to highlight the two different style of the piece and how they work together while being totally different.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
ChrisRWK: Veng and I went back and forth with a few ideas but nothing was seaming to fit just right for the print. I have done a few Viking pieces in the past and so has Veng. I had done a sketch of a Viking holding a sword for a possible mural idea. Veng really liked it and I said what if you painted one of your detailed birds sitting on his hand instead of the sword. He was definitely into the idea and said “what about this for the print?” I painted in the background, Viking character, lettering and then handed it off to Veng. He painted the painted and then passed it back to me. I added the pencil sketches and small detail.
1xRun: What is unique about this piece?
ChrisRWK: It’s our first prints together and it encompasses what we do. I’m known for my illustrative characters and layers and Veng is known for his detailed oil paintings.
1xRun: Why should people buy this print?
ChrisRWK: It definitely showcases our strong points as artists.
H.veng.Smith: I think for it being our first print it is something special.
1xRun: Describe this print in one gut reaction word.
ChrisRWK: Balance.
H.veng.Smith: Harmony.
1xRun: When did you first start making art? What was your first piece?
ChrisRWK: Like any kid I tried drawing but I stuck with it. In high school is where I started to learn I could do more with it. My first graffiti piece with paint, funny enough, it was the Wizard from Hagar the Horrible holding a spray can. I believe I was 13 years old and it was an old tunnel by my house.
H.veng.Smith: Since I’ve been a young kid and as a young teenager skateboarding I got into graffiti. My first piece was some really bad throw up in a park near my house.
1xRun: What artists inspired you early on? How about now?
ChrisRWK: comics and cartoons were big with me. All the Disney stuff, Warner Bros., Gary Larson, Jim Davis, Eastman and Laird etc. I still love the cartoons and comic stuff but as far as other artists, well Veng and all the guys in RWK are def a huge inspiration. I love Nose Go’s new work, Michal Banks (sugar fueled), Burn353, Downtimer, Chris Rini and then there’s all the Graffiti and street art stuff; Jos-L, El Toro, UWP, Demer, Rubin, Sen2, Royce, Cake, Kem5, the 2DX crew. To be honest there’s a lot of stuff out there that I like to look at these days.
H.veng.Smith:From the start I’ve always been into the Dutch artists from the 17th century. I’m inspired still by a lot of Dutch art from the 15th to 17th century to modern painters.
1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? What is your environment like when you work?
ChrisRWK: Music or television. I find the noise helps me not stress as much. For example if I’m outline and it’s quite then I over focus on what I’m doing. The noise helps me relax. It’s like when I’m painting a wall, it’s never quite. There’s always some kind of background noise; cars, people talking, skateboards etc.
H.vengSmith: Music or an audiobook is always on while painting.
1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why? Any deceased artists?
ChrisRWK: Right now I’d say SHAG. I love his clean work and compositions. [For the latter] I’d say Walt Disney. Mainly because I’d love to see how he worked. He had tons of ideas and drive.
H.veng.Smith: Tough question ,but the first artist I can think of is an oil painter Daniel Sprick. He creates a real sense of reality but at the same time paints in things or by certain types of brush strokes eliminates any real sense of reality. [For the latter] It would either be Jan van Eyck or Rembrandt.
1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it? The last?
ChrisRWK: I’d say my Mike McGill skate deck. I loved that graphic. The skull and snake were amazing. So technically it was a Vernon Courtlandt Johnson aka VCJ. I don’t have the original one I bought but I did find one a few years ago and had to buy it. Mostly I do a lot of trades with artists. I just did a trade with Jos-L. It’s one of his birds painted on a panel. It’s simple and powerful.
H.veng.Smith: To be honest I cannot recall. Not many buys but Ive had a few trades.
1xRun: Where else can people find you?
Robots Will Kill: – Website –
H.veng.Smith: Instagram @h_veng_smith
ChrisRWK: – Website – Instagram + Twitter + Vine @ChrisRWK
-1xRUN