“Just to set the scene. I recently moved out of my fully equipped silkscreen wonderland in Bushwick, Brooklyn where I have been hand making all my own prints, none of this “send the file to the printer and just autograph ’em when they come back shit.” So when the nice folks at 1xRUN asked me to do a print I had to do it the Skewville way. I always wanted to start making prints of some painting I really liked. So I have had this one in mind for a long time.
First off to make this image into a print was a real technical challenge. It would been easier to just make another painting. But finally after a few days of getting the image ready i was off to print. “oh” but first to home depot to get the paper. That’s right, Home Depot is my art store. I print on roofing asphalt felt, better know as tar paper, YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST. So then off to my brothers studio(near home depot) to cut the paper by hand and flatten it out.
Next stop, Bushwick Print lab to rent a spot so I can personally silkscreen the first color. Little did they know I was showing up with tar paper so you could imagine the fumes of plastisol oil ink being heated on tar…”for the love of art”. So then after that, back to my new studio in Brooklyn to scrape away the excess ink fuckups and add the second tone of white as well as include some on the spot hand finishing. Then back my brothers spot in Queens to pack and box the prints. So after weeks of prepping, printing, packing and borough hopping, I’m done with Sucks Either Way.” – Skewville
1xRun Thru Interview
Sucks Either Way by Skewville
1xRun: Tell us a little bit about the original piece, is the original still for sale? Also what materials did you use to create these screen prints?
Skewville: The original piece was made for a show at High Rollers gallery in London in 2011. No, it was just sold in France. These prints are made using organic asphalt felt aka tar paper, plastisol ink, oil paints, oil markers and pigment ink.
1xRun: Anything immediate you would like us to highlight about your work?
Skewville: Most figures I paint are double-sided or have 2 point of views. Straight on and looking to the side. Being a twin and growing up without my own individual identity, I now paint my images as kinda self portraits that make reference to the duality of ever individual.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about for Sucks Either Way?
Skewville: Having personal problems in a love/hate relationship I thought it apropos to use my dual character to literally get my point across. Sucks either way.
1xRun: How long did the piece take?
Skewville: That relationship was 11 years.
1xRun: What is unique about this piece?
Skewville: have you not been listening…
1xRun: Why should people buy this print?
Skewville: Because I don’t have wall space for all 50.
1xRun: Describe the print in one gut reaction word.
Skewville: Skewville.
1xRun: When did you first start making art? What was your first piece?
Skewville: Who’s to say we even started yet. Well, my grandmother told that the wallpaper in our kitchen had so many stains on it because as babies me and my brother used to the throw our food at it.
1xRun: What artists inspired you early on? What artists inspire you now?
Skewville: Early on it was my mom. She was an art teacher. Now it is my twin brother, Droo. He thinks completely different than me. Yet, sorta the same.
1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work?
Skewville: My new girlfriend is my favorite DJ. She recently turned me on to “Theme Time Radio” with Bob Dylan. Otherwise I’d honestly forget to turn on the music. Thanks Lea.
1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why? Any deceased artist?
Skewville: Who’s that guy that’s famous for those completely white canvases? I’d think it’d be fun to fuck around with him. For the latter: Bob Ross.
1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it? The last?
Skewville: We were 8 and saved up my allowance for when we took a trip to Disneyland. We bought a pirate head made out of a coconut with a leather eyepatch , feather earring and a bandana. The works. To this day me and my brother fight over who bought it. Yes, I had it at my old studio for years. I would say that was the last as well.
1xRun: Where else can people find you?
Skewville: Website – Twitter @skewville
-1xRUN