T-SHIRT DESIGN and INTERVIEW:

...and now have fun with our interview with Stephen Blickenstaff from 2007:

Michael: when did you start being an artist?

Stephen: Ever since I was old enough to hold a pencil in my hand I was drawing monsters, so I guess I’ve been doing it all my life.

Michael: have you ever drawn a self portrait ?

Stephen:Yes, I’ve tried drawing myself several times in the past, but the world doesn’t deserve to be subjected to such horrors.

Michael: what are your influences ? horror movies, tv-commercials, music, nbc-news, your dreams, spongebob, syntethic drugs...

Stephen: I’m pretty much influenced by everything I see, hear, smell, taste and feel, but I’d have to say the major influence in my work would have to be the monster art and toys that were so popular in the early 60s when I was a kid.

Michael: do you hear music while you are drawing ?

Stephen: Most of the time when I’m working on a drawing or a painting I’ll be listening to music.
Either that, or watching TV or a DVD.

Michael: since when are you a Cramps fan ?

Stephen: I remember a friend of mine picked up a copy of The Cramps Gravest Hits when it had first come out.
He brought it to my house and played it for me.
The next day I went to the store to buy my own copy. I’ve been a fan ever since.

Michael: how often have you seen them playing live ?

Stephen: I’ve seen The Cramps live many, many times. It would be difficult to count how many times.
I never miss them when they are playing in my area.
I’ve even made a few road trips to see them.

Michael: did the Cramps ask you for an artwork for the record cover or did you just send the art to them ?

Stephen: I gave them the artwork at a show in Washington DC. I had been giving them drawings every time I saw them perform, and I will continue to do so.

Michael: did you make more drawings for the record cover or did you know exactly how it should look like and you made only these two designs for the front- and back-cover ?

Stephen: They were just two separate drawings that I did for The Cramps.
At the time I had no idea that they would be used for the front and back of the Bad Music for Bad People album cover. When I was contacted about it, I flipped!

Michael: what is your favorite Cramps song and/or album ?

Stephen: The very first song I ever heard by The Cramps was Human Fly.
I think that will always be my very favorite, although it’s difficult to pick a favorite song or album.
They’re all my favorites.

Michael: what is the most creative place for you ? a place where you have the best ideas.

Stephen: That could be anywhere really.
It’s more about the state of mind I’m in at the time.
I really enjoy working on a drawing or painting when I’m at the beach.
I find that I’m most content when I’m working near large bodies of water.

Michael: do you have a special wish for the future ? something you always wanted to do or to draw but you had not the opportunity yet. for example releasing an artbook or designing a tourposter for a special band or whatever...

Stephen: Sure, there are lots of things I’d love to do.
I’ve been wanting for years to release a book of my collected work.
I’d really like to do more stuff for The Cramps.
I’d like to design a series of monster toys, T-shirts and stickers.
I could go on and on.

Michael: what’s your favorite artist ?

Stephen: There are actually two artists who I would say are my absolute favorites, who I’ve admired since I was very young, Basil Wolverton and Bernie Wrightson.
Their styles are worlds apart from each other, but both artists had a way of drawing monsters that was truly unique.

Michael: have you ever been in europe ?

Stephen: No, I’ve never been to Europe.
I went to Canada on family vacation when I was three years old.
In 2004 I went to China for a couple of weeks.
Other than that I really haven’t done any traveling outside the US.

Michael: your art-monsters are very scary. do you have any plans what to do when they are coming outta the paintings and gonna getcha ?

Stephen: Hopefully if that happens they’ll recognize me as their creator, otherwise I’ll be in some big trouble!

visit Stephen Blickenstaff at his websites:
http://www.myspace.com/3998073
http://www.stephenblickenstaff.com
cheers,Michael