Thomas Libetti's Floral Drawings
Thomas Libetti sent an invitation to join him to celebrate the exhibition of art from his new book, Floral Drawings, tomorrow night. so I invited Thomas to do the Artist Q&A. Here's
what he wrote:
Q: Originally from the Bronx, what are some of your favorite things about living and working in the Village?
A: Being a working artist in Greenwich Village, knowing the history of the place and the pioneering artist who've paved the way for a new American Art form never gets old and always inspires.
Q: How and when did you first become interested in art and illustration?
A: As a kid I always drew cartoons and collected things such as comics, baseball cards and newspaper clippings of my favorite sporting events while pursuing the arts. But it wasn’t until in my 20’s on a solo trip to Paris, seeing Matisse’s frescoes at the Musée d'Art Moderne did I clearly have the awareness that this was what I wanted to do.
Q: Do you keep a sketchbook? What is the balance between the art you create on paper versus In the computer?
A: I
don't keep a proper sketchbook. When I travel, I draw on hotel stationary and cheap pads from general stores. I use the computer to clean and arrange drawings mostly for illustration purposes.
Q: What do you like best about your workspace?
A: The stone walls.
Q: Do you think it needs improvement, if so, what would you change?
A: My neighbors.
Q: What is the most important item in your studio?
A: Paper.
Q: What is your favorite part of the creative process?
A: The primal act of marking the blank page or canvas. When a likeness I create also works in a formal or abstract way.
Q: What was the strangest or most unusual assignment you’ve taken? What made it a success or a failure?
A: An assignment for Tricycle The Buddhist Review magazine. I was asked (if I recall correctly) to depict the different psychological approaches between eastern and western psychology using riders on a horse. I think the fact that they were gestural drawings of horses in motion made it impactful and unique.
Q: What was your favorite book as a child?
A: The Black Stallion
Q: What is the best book you’ve recently read?
A: Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi by Geoff Dyer
Q: Who and what are some of your strongest influences?
A: Giorgio Morandi, Matisse, Arte Povera, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Michelangelo Antonioni, Sócrates (the Brazilian footballer),
Massimo Troisi, Merce Cunningham.
Q: What was your first professional assignment and how did you get it?
A: A portrait of Jack Kerouac for the New York Times Book Review, in 1999. I kept at Steve Heller, showing him portfolios and calling him as per his request every Monday morning.
Q: What was the last art exhibition you saw and what did you take away from it?
A: The last inspirational exhibition I saw was Gary Hume at Matthew Marks Gallery.
Q: What is/would be your karaoke song—and why?
A: I'm not a big karaoke person but my son and I like singing Beatles' songs, and lately, have been into the silliness of 'You Know My Name (Look Up the Number).'
Q: What do you like best about teaching?
A: I taught learning disabled kids in middle school for three years. I miss the critiques.
Q: Where did your idea for your new book originate? What was the most difficult part about getting from idea to finished art?
A: In the case of Floral Drawings, the art came first. I had always been interested in comprising studies of flowers, trees and such. I started out working from life but ultimately found myself referencing photographs and encyclopedic sources. It's an artists book and not necessarily a botanical guide although there is an index at the back with names of the varietals.
Q: What is your hobby?
A: I play amateur soccer.
Q: What would be your last supper?
A: Sashimi and sake.
Join Thomas and his friends at the exhibition launch party and book signing on Thursday, July 18 at Jones Street Wine, 23 Jones Street (between Bleecker/West 4th Street), NY, NY. The exhibition of Floral Drawings continues through July 31 at the New York Public Library Hudson Park Branch, 66 Leroy Street, NY, NY.
Thomas Libetti is a New York City based artist working in both fine art and illustration, in the mediums of painting and drawing. His emphasis lies in the gesture and economy of his line. Channeling a bold, direct voice inspired by street and contemporary art, Thomas' art has been widely collected and exhibited, and his published drawings have received numerous accolades in the graphic art and illustration fields. [more]
