keep art alive: erik abel

keep art alive; art by erik abel

the ten questions project: erik abel

*1. what music 1. what music (or other art form) inspires you when you create your art?inspires you when you create your art?

Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Latin Jazz. Also been into Ruben Gonzales and an excellent ESL Album.

*2. long distance road trip: what three people do you invite along (fictional or non-fictional, dead or alive)?

1) George W. Bush, so I could give him a noogy the whole way there. 2) Bob Ross, so he could paint some happy little clouds along the way. 3)And, I’ll go with Rachael Ray, so we can all stuff our faces until we pop.

*3. what is your favorite breakfast cereal?

I’m a Honey Nuts Cheerios kinda guy. OH’s are really unbelievable and better tasting than Cheerios but they tear the crap out of your mouth.

*4. what is one thing that is hanging on your bedroom wall?

There is a picture I painted for my girlfriend when her goldfish Nigiri died. It’s Nigiri in a smoking jacket, smoking a pipe, blowing rings with a tumbler of whisky in one fin. He’s in a big chair in front of a fireplace with a gaudy hand painted frame around the whole thing. You can see it at the bottom of my blog in the “Scoop” section down at the end. May he R.I.P.

*5. what smell/scent evokes strong memories for you?

The salty ocean air.

*6. coffee or tea?

Love’em both. Got into Yerba Mate in the French press for a while there but have been loving the coffee a little more during the wet, cold Portland Winter.

*7. what has been the most impactful compliment, or criticism, you have ever received?

I can’t think of one that stands out. Maybe it’s when Nathan Cartwright, of the Hive Gallery, invited me to be in my first group show in LA. It kicked my butt into gear and opened my eyes to my possibilities.

*8. three words that describe you?

On. A. Mission.

*9. cartoon character crush: who is, or was, yours?

Smurfette. Something about her being the only female Smurf, and wondering if she has sex with all of the Smurfs, or just one of them, or does she even have sex at all? Do Smurfs even have genitals? Maybe they lay eggs?

* 10. the world is ending in ten minutes and you get to listen to one, and only one, song: which song?

Who can answer this? I might have to go out listening to Johnny Cash... maybe “Man in Black”

***

erik would like to tell you about his website: erik abel and his blog; he has the following upcoming shows that you should check out if you can:

february '08: seattle, wa: group show at blvd. gallery

june '08: washington d.c.: solo show at art whino
june '08: san francisco, ca: solo show at 1998

i would like to thank erik for participating in the keep art alive: ten questions project, and for being inspirational to my writing.

go now go and check out more of his work, visit a gallery showing, and buy something if you can. keep art alive and show your support.