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Scott Radke Interview
Posted in Interviews on Jun 07, 2007 at 6:50 PM by MadElephant

1. Tell us a little about what inspires you: people, art, places,
stories, music etc.
My 3 year old daughter, Isabella. She can get
focused in such a beautiful way. I love watching her when she just
gets into something new, like picking up stones at the beach. The way
she decides which stones to pick up, which ones to throw, which
ones to give to mommy. That kind of thing. We gave her 2 goldfish
for her 2nd birthday, and they had babies, so I built her a pond in
the backyard. I love sitting by the pond at the end or start of the
day. I'm also inspired by animals and nature. I used ot be inspired
by living in the city but I'm sorta sick of that lately. Too nosiy,
too dirty. I'd rather sit on my porch and swat flies than hear
someone swearing about their 40 ouncer.

2. Describe an average day for you. First you wake up......
have some coffee about 5:30am, check email. Get my daughter up about
6:30am, give her cereal, get her dressed. Then I get to work about
8-8:30. End about 2-3pm I could work much more. My wife, Sarah,
directs a dance company, so we both need time to work - its tricky
with a kid, but I love the time I get to spend with her anyway.

3. At what point in your career did you begin to develop your unique
style?
I don't know really. It's evolved over the years. It's still
evolving - at least in my mind. Whatever I am working on seems to
morph into the next thing, and so on. Sand sculptures to murals to
puppets to sculpture. Characters to figures, I don't really know who
to explain it.

4. How do you come up with the ideas for your characters? Are they a
reflection of parts of yourself?
I used to draw a lot of people in
bars. I've always focused on faces and expressions. I used to get
character ideas from the colorful people of Cleveland and there are a lot of them. I just try and get an expression out and decide where
to go with the character from there. Things are different now,
though. Right now I am doing a lot of animal costumed characters.
I'm more influenced by my 3 year old now.

5. Explain how you got into doing marionettes and sculptures for film
makers.
They saw my work and asked me to participate. I wish I
could get more jobs like that.

6. Art school?
Just a little. Cleveland Institute of art for
about a week or so (didn't have the money to stay) and a lot of
figure drawing classes here and there.

7. How do you work? Are you organized or messy? Do you listen to
music when you work?
I call it organized but others would call it
messy, I suppose. I'll listen to music, but not as much as i used
to. I like to work on my front porch when the weather lets me.

8. What is our price range for your work?
$800-$1200

9. Does your daughter take an interest in your characters or in your
process?
Yes very much. Sometimes I wonder what she thinks of
them. She seems to get the humor in them, which I love. She'll help
me gesso stuff and I'll give her scrap parts to paint on while I am
painting.

10. What if anything would you like your audience to take away from
your work?
I'd like them to connect with it in some way. For them
think about it when they are not looking at it.

11. What are your mediums?
Epoxy clay, acrylic paint, wire, foil,
tape, wood, hair, glue, found objects of all kinds.

12. Favorite bands?
Red Red meat, Califone, Flaming lips.

13. Any exciting exhibitions or commissions coming up?
I am part of a group show at Strychnin gallery in sept 07and possibly some
others in 08.

14. How do you approach commissions?
Same as my other work unless there are requirements. In that case, I adjust accordingly.

15. Elaborate on your process, please. I start out working on
faces. Most of the time I just get right into it with the clay, but
sometimes I'll sketch some out first. Once I have the faces, then I
decide what do do with them. What type of body, what expression I
want to convey. I'll build that up with wire or whatever else needs
to be used for the armature. Then i figure out how they will be
mounted or what kind of base to build. Once that is done i sculpt
the body. Then i paint. I usually do at least 3 of whatever it is I
am working on. Not 3 copies, but a set of 3 or more of the same
character type. That way I can keep painting form one to the next
and back and forth while others are drying, until they are complete.

16. Being an artist is hard sometimes. Are you secure in your
work or do you question yourself from time to time like the rest of us?
I always seem to question my work the most right after I feel I am
most comfortable with it - kinda like a roller coaster. It always
seems to work that way. I just try to not think so much about where
I am and how good things are when they are good, and the same when things are hard - although it isn't always that easy.

17. Could you name a catalyst in your career?
Kasara Gahnbari

18. What makes you salivate? (Favorite food).
Indian

19. What are some of your favorite spots in your town to go and relax
or think?
By my daughters fish pond - the one I built for her baby goldfish.

20. Do you have any pets?
4cats, 13 goldfish, and a bunch of tadpoles