Thepunkguy

What is your name?

Joel Dugan

Where do you live and work?

Brooklyn

How long have you been selling paintings for?

1997, I believe.

Do you have any exhibits running right now? Any future ones?

Lineage Gallery in Philadelphia show just came down.

August 31, through October 28. UVA museum

September 14 – Juice design 3160A 16th St. @ Albion 6pm

October 5, through October 29. 111 Minna Gallery. Working on that show now.

What is your creative process?

Now I’m working on dead fish stills, I heading out to the local fish market here in NYC searching for the freshest and most interesting fish. Sea bass, mackerel, salmon, porgie, bronzini and tilapia are among the norm. I bring them back to the studio hooking and hang’em on the wall. I do a few drawings of them to get to know there forms and overall shape before I set up to do a painting.

I also enjoy searching reference books and old photos from book stores and second hand shops. I also like working from life too, ie. the fish still lifes I’m working on for the 111 Minna show October 5.

What is your favorite medium?

Oil paint

What is your current favorite subject?

Salt water fish.

How has that changed from your past paintings?

An evolution of subject matter.

I know you are into music quite a bit, what have you been listening to most?

I’m into older stuff because I have it, not so into downloading. Just down make time for it, and don’t always know where to go to get it. I really like older punk/metal/folk/classical/country/rock/blues/rap/hiphop you name if it’s good I’ll listen to it. Slick Rick, Gram Parsons, Bob Dylan, Mastodon, ODB, Slayer, Isis, Rolling stones, Waylon Jennings, Voivod, Otis Redding, Cash, The Byrds, and stuff.

Does it effect your process? (note from writer: always remember to ask WHY)

Yes.

How long does it take for you to finish a piece?

some take hours, some take months and others might take a life time.

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

The UVA Museum show is pretty amazing, being the youngest artist in that show next to some real greats.

You were painting apes for a bit? How did you start? Why did you stop?

I was commissioned to do a painting consisting of a pig, a rabbit and three apes as a gift for a mutual friend. I started doing a lot of research on the apes and really got into there form, meaning, and metaphor. I was doing a bunch of paintings of apes and one of the paintings was accepted as the commission. I haven’t completely stopped, I’ve just moved on to other things. Being pigeon holed with your work might be one of the worse things that could come between an artist and there work. I’m painting my life and my interests.

I know that a lot of your paintings have a glossy look to them, how do you acheive that?

I was using epoxy resin but, due to the toxicity I now use old fashion varnish.

You and I went to art school at the same time in SF, how does your location effect your paintings?

San Francisco was a great location to study art and experiment, there are a ton of great artist and styles there to soak up and to collaborate with. New York on the other hand is just huge with a ton of art and artist here all working hard. What can you say, it’s tough to work here, there are so many thing you have to contend with. The extremes here equal lots of fun and inspiration.

Are there any contemporary artists that you love? Dead artists?

Homer, Witkens, Andrew Wyeth, Jared Buckheister, Jason Peters, Hernon Bass, Marzel Dazama, Kim Cogan, Nick Haimes, Jenny Saville, Daniel Adel, Pat Rocha, Rich Jacobs, David Ellis, Matt Mallams, John Copeland, Inka Essenhigh, Jud Bergeron, Eric White, Les Rogers, Kent Willaims, Robyn O’neil, Taylor McKimens, Whiteing Tennis, and Joe Fig.

Do you think that the art movement in Brooklyn is important or do you think it’s bullshit?

Mostly bullshit. There are a lot of people here in Williamsburg trying not to look like there trying but, obviously care way to much about there tight jeans and stupid hair. You will find people here doing really cool shit, the ones you won’t see out.

Can we buy your paintings / sketches anywhere?

www.duganstudio.com or any of the upcoming shows.

Anything that people should know about that we don’t??

Lobsters are relatives of the mosquito.

Any last words?

Lets rendezvous and thank you.

(no, thank you.)

GO TO JOEL’s SITE NOW here.

Mastadon – hearts alive

Gram Parsons – In my Hour of Darkness