Alaska! is not a state. Alaska! is not a band! Alaska! is not what Shrimping Boat Captains scream. Alaska! is a graphic artist out of LA …

alaska

WHo are you?
I’ve been asking myself that question for years. for the sake of the
interview, I’ll say ‘alaska’

ala

and Where are you?
I’m in my girlfriend’s office in east Los Angeles

How long have you been creating art?
since the beginning. I’ve only been doing design for the last 3 years,
but I’ve always been involved in the creation of some form of art from
music, painting, graffiti, video/film, etc.

skg

What are your other artistic interests besides graphic design?
at this moment in time, I’m solely focusing on design. While it’s
necessary for me to do so to pay the bills, I’m still really young and
I’m learning my craft.

how do they relate?
I guess they all influence each other. In video, painting, and
graffiti, I was always aware of composition and color. In graffiti, I
was attentive to typography and abstract shape proportions.

How did you get involved with the porn industry??
Eon McKai scored a deal to make a movie for VCA and he went in to the
VP and firmly said, “This kid is doing my design. I don’t want
‘corporate’ hands to infect the look of my movie. Those from the scene
whom I’m making this movie for will know it’s not authentic if a
corporate porn staff designer does this box.” He and I are usually on
the same page visually and we’re both really into the same art/music
subcultures.

Where can we currently see your art?
The best place to visit is my online portfolio. Otherwise, you’ll have
to visit your shady local adult video store (who probably doesn’t carry
“alt” titles). check out:HERE

Does music effect your (creative) process at all?
Yes. i’m an avid music collector and I’m always listening to and
researching new stuff.

Current playlist:
Bizzart “Bloodshot Mama”
Mastodon “Blood Mountain”
Facedowninshit “NPON”
Russian Circles “Enter”
Harvey Milk “Courtesy and Good Will Toward Men”

How?
not sure other than how one is naturally influenced by their own
surroundings.

What would you say are your biggest influences?
the internet. It’s amazing how much art work I can see in an afternoon
of clicking links.

If you could turn anyone on to a artist you love, who would it be?
why/?
Okay, I’ve got a few so hang tight. It’s impossible to just say one,
because there are so many great artists out there and no one individual
deserves to be “The One.”

These young designers continuously amaze me:
We are Bitch.
Happy Pets.
Super Low.

Like that dirty cousin or a lover?
Um, I’m gonna stay away from that one.

How do you feel about the current state of art in LA?
it’s great. I wish I had more free time to go out to galleries and
check stuff out.

Any cool projects you are working on now?
too many things right now. Large update on my website soon. I just
finished “Skater Girl Fever”. I like how that one came out. Currently
working on Dana DeArmond Does the Internet (D3ti) and I’m liking where
this one is going (hopefully I still do in the end). I’m incorporating
a lot of low-res/pixelated/8-bit elements into it, and that’s been a
lot of fun.

Dana Dearmond is pretty tall, right?
I think she’s the same height as me, maybe she’s a little taller. I
don’t remember, but I don’t recall her being a towering woman.

How does porn become art and vice versa?
I’m not sure. I guess it depends on the context it’s put in and the
foundation of the piece, whether it was produced to be art or produced
to be commerce.
Check out GRAFUCK, that’s porn/art

alaks

how does art become porn?
i think in the case of “alt.porn” perhaps.
you’ve got artists whom are aching to make visual stuff and want a lot
of freedom in doing it. Porn comes along and says, “I’ll pay you to do
your thing and give you a lot of freedom, if you follow these few
restrictions.” Of course, the amount of restrictions vary from company
to company.

So, I’ve got these restrictions:
I must have:
*a girl on the cover
*title of the movie on the cover
*stills from the movie on the back
*name of the movie on the disc
*logo everywhere

so, if you come across a package designed by me and one or more of
those elements are not on the packaging, you’ll know I’m smiling
somewhere.

Do you love Eon’s fly car or what?
it’d be better if he cleaned it. :) I love my fly car. 1979 firebird.

Any last words on why people should check you out?
find out what all the hub-ub is about, i guess. :)

CHECK OUT HIS SITE HERE.