Interview with Artist: Hera

Hera- "I would have to say my resilience. The constant drive to keep doing what I love regardless of any pressures to work through, against, other people’s opinions, what have you; has been a constant. That and what I consider to be my unapologetically sarcastic charm."

S~ “Who would you say are your heroes and inspirations?”

Hera- "She-Ra! No seriously, I grew up watching the best of 80’s cartoonery and they had a huge impact on my impressionable young imagination. Other than that I had two awesome professors in college that were my inspiring eccentric mentors. My cultural anthropology prof was the first dude I witnessed scream at his class for being culturally incompetent, and my psych prof for looking like George Carlin and acting more like House, holy shit did I study just not to get belittled, mocked and kicked out of the room! Which turned out to be a great personal academic motivator. It’s pretty crazy that to this day they’re still the voices in my head for better or worse."

S~ “Where do you find inspiration for your characters?”

Hera- "In random day to day life, or just a spontaneous flash for an idea or concept can sometimes be enough to spark the need to get that image out of my head and onto a wall."

S~ “Can you describe your work process and what media you use?”

Hera- "Aerosol! What can I say, I love the stuff. To take something so chaotic and raw and bend it to your Jedi will is the most awesome thing in the world. In terms of process; I sometimes start with an idea in mind and then use photo composites as aid. I don’t really draw that much before a new project, I like to see where the idea takes me. Sometimes it’s great and I finish a wall in a few hours and sometimes I have to rework things, but I keep working on a piece until I feel good enough to walk way from it. Otherwise I won’t be able to think about anything else."

S~ “How do you feel about a structured art education?”

Hera- "Aaah, well I don’t think it should be so structured. Having said that…I have to admit my own structured art experience is subjective (kicked out of my first art class when I was nine). Even so, I believe art education is so Paramount important, however the “structure” should be broadened to include new art mediums, and teachers with more open minds. I remember being so excited to take drawing classes in college, and then quickly disheartened to find there wasn’t a wide acceptance for people that had developed their own techniques, or short hand. I learned to just take what I could use for practice and disregard the air of failed- artist fume masquerading as some Professors. I think that the underground artists in the scene doing amazing work would be the best artist teachers given more opportunity to teach in so called structured schools."

S~ “What do you hope to accomplish as an artist?”

Hera- "First, to keep pushing myself and working on my craft and second, to be paid a lot better."

S~ “What do you consider your greatest achievement to date?”

Hera- "I always consider the last thing I worked on to be the coolest thing I’ve done. It doesn’t matter how large or small, or weird, or if no one ever even saw it. I just keep trying to learn from each project and build on it."

S~ “Do you prefer collaboration and painting for an audience over studio painting?”

Hera- "Oh, man I love to collab. It’s so much fun to work with other artists, hang out and bounce off ideas back and forth, it can really be the best time. Studio painting can be great because I can take my time, but even then I always appreciate company."

S~ “Who are some of your favorite artists to collaborate with?”

Hera- "Zelot has been my painting partner the last couple of years, hetero-life mate, and of course my favorite to collab with, we’re a pretty damn good team. Then there’s the fam: Depth, Chrek, Musr, and my son.

S~ “Where can your fans go to see your work in person?”

Hera- "I painted a room at City Hostel Seattle, people can go see that when it’s open to the public and I think I still have a canvas hanging somewhere in there. Me and Zelot also have a mural on Pho Viet Restaurant, 14th and Jackson in Chinatown, go for the art; stay for the Pho ;)"