Awesome Interview With Joshua Budich By Jason Zenga

Great Interview Of Artist Joshua Budich By Jason Zenga, June 2009

Courtesy of CurbsAndStoops

JOSHUA BUDICH Rat Pack Print Set Sammy, Frank & Dean

Curbs and Stoops: So let's start with the usual, tell us a little bit about yourself ? your lifestyle / background?

Joshua Budich: I live and work in the Baltimore/Washington DC area. My family has lived here, in-and-around Columbia Maryland since 1985. Columbia is what’s referred to as a “planned-community”, so growing up in this environment has been an interesting experience. One that afforded many great opportunities, but could also be extremely sheltered at times. Recently, as Columbia has grown far beyond its original vision, we’ve sought shelter from the masses in the outlying countryside.

Curbs and Stoops: You are an artist of many trades: a painter, an illustrator and a graphic designer, also lets not forget photography, did you attend any type of school to develop your artistic skills?

Joshua Budich: Always the local-boy, I attended the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where I majored in “Imaging and Digital Arts.” My degree, primarily used for vocational purposes, was never my true passion, as you can probably tell from my portfolio. I’ve had a life-long obsession with mark-making, always considering myself first-and-foremost an illustrator. My degree was simply a means to never end up a “starving-artist.”

Curbs and Stoops: Of these many mediums, which of them do you prefer to work with? Do you favor one over the other?

Joshua Budich: I like to always start with pen on paper when approaching my work, regardless of the final medium whether digital or analog. I like each one of my pieces to retain that one-of-a-kind quality that only the imperfection of using one’s own hands can produce. Computers, although my primary 'finishing' tool, have a knack for creating things that lack the human-touch. 'Happy accidents' don’t occur as they should when you can UNDO! everything. For me, my art is about taking calculated risks, and then dealing with the outcome.

Curbs and Stoops: How would you classify your art?

Joshua Budich: I’m not sure what to classify my art as, and I hesitate to do so. I believe that art (being naturally subjective) should mean many different things to many different people. As long as I’m creating imagery that makes me happy, it’s only that much better when other people think the same thing.

Curbs and Stoops: What inspired you to do digital art?

Joshua Budich: At first, I felt that using the computer to create art was the only way to have a lucrative career in the business, while continuing to make my brand of analog-art on-the-side. But, I soon found that the computer could be an invaluable tool in the art-making-process for it’s ability to give the artist a means to try many different ideas and techniques much quicker than through manual means. When combined with traditional mediums and illustrative techniques, digital art can be just as satisfying and personal as applying paint to canvas. I think that my inspiration for digital art came first out of necessity, and only recently have I gained enough experience with my own artistic-process to truly utilize the power of the computer as a tool.

Curbs and Stoops: What is the process from start to finish? Do you start with a sketch and go on from there or does it start with a digital file?

Joshua Budich: I prefer that the artist’s hand be present in my pieces whenever possible. I like to start with a simple pencil sketch on paper, or a fully polished illustration, and then through various digital techniques, use that initial hand-drawn illustration as part of the final digital piece. Conversely, when it doesn’t suit the direction I have for a certain piece, I’ll use the computer exclusively, and apply my illustrative technique to it, to still give it that one-of-a-kind analog feel.

Curbs and Stoops: What and who are your major influences in the development of your style?

Joshua Budich: As a young illustrator, I was drawn towards the masters, like Michelangelo and Da Vinci’s illustrated studies for their oil paintings. On the other end, was of course, my great affinity for comic books; Sam Keith, Simon Bisley, Frank Frazetta, Art Adams. I love when an artist with an immense knowledge of the traditional “rules’ of art and anatomy is able to successfully merge that knowledge with a highly stylized execution. Alphonse Mucha also comes to mind. Lately, my influences have ranged from propaganda-inspired urban to comic-esque traditional. My personal collection contains many works by Shepard Fairey, Tyler Stout, Jason Thielke, Strawberry Luna; just to name a few.

Curbs and Stoops: What is your motivation towards new projects and what determines the medium of the image?

Joshua Budich: Usually, I’ll get inspired by something I hear musically, or a running theme in my life will inspire me to personify and illustrate it graphically. Sometimes, I’ll get completely infatuated with a particular character or mood. Right now, I’m totally in love with the process of screen printing; the way the paper and the ink smell when they’re fresh off the presses, and the “happy accidents” that come from the hands-on process.

Curbs and Stoops: Digital art is finally starting to receive the attention it deserves in the art community. What has your experience been in utilizing this media to produce your work?

Joshua Budich: I think as long as you approach the use of the computer as a tool in, rather than as the source of, your creative process then the voice of the artist is still present in the work. The computer, by its very design, lends itself to creating things that are too reproducible and too polished. The artist’s own hand must be present in the work, or the artist himself can be completely removed from the art and never considered by the viewer. Humans are still the artists; never the machines.

Curbs and Stoops: What subject matter are you most interested in?

Joshua Budich: Right now, I’m very much into exploring personalities that embody something that is universally accepted as an example of a specific trait or idea. I love to find pictures that capture that solitary stare; that keen moment of contemplation that reminds us who this person actually was. On a more playful note, I love the look of classic comic book art. The whole 8-bit art scene is amazing!

Curbs and Stoops: How would you describe your work to those unfamiliar with it?

Joshua Budich: I would describe my work as graphical illustrations of various subject matter, often portraiture, or people and themes that I find fascinating. I like to use vibrant colors and bold typography, and keep the subject matter elegantly simple and easily recognizable.

Curbs and Stoops: What are some of the pros and cons of being a digital artist?

Joshua Budich: The pros of being a digital artist would be the ability that the computer gives you to experiment with a vast array of techniques and ideas, quickly and efficiently, without making too large of commitment. This ability would, in turn, be one of the biggest cons of digital work, in that the artist’s own hand can often get lost in the perfectionism that only a machine can create.

Curbs and Stoops: What else do you enjoy outside of art, what are you passionate about?

Joshua Budich: I’m most passionate about my family. I’m a “home-body” for the most part, finding inspiration in the simple day-to-day aspects of life. My wife and baby are my muses. I do my work for them. I also love a good round of golf, smoking a rich cigar over a pint of full-bodied beer, a rousing game of table-tennis, or playing my PS3.

Curbs and Stoops: Can you give us your thoughts about the benefits and challenges of being an artist and independent designer?

Joshua Budich: The benefits are obvious in that you’re only ever answering to yourself. The decisions you make are your’s alone to make, and that can make or break you. The challenge is in openly accepting other perceptions and ideas about your work and being able to come to a happy medium. Creating artwork solely for your own amusement and appreciation is something every artist should strive to do, but it won’t make you successful. As much as I like to create things that I like, it means a lot to me when others enjoy me work as well. Especially when they give it as gifts to their own loved ones. Then I feel as if I’ve really made something of value.

Curbs and Stoops: What type of software and / or tools do you generally use to create your artwork?

Joshua Budich: Adobe CS3. I primarily use Photoshop and Illustrator in combination.

Curbs and Stoops: You use images of very iconic people both famous and inspirational, how do you determine who gets the honor of being turned into one of your works of art?

Joshua Budich: I look for people who personify a certain timeless quality that people can admire or relate to, and then I try to find a look for them that shows the complete opposite side of that person. People who embody 'cool' or 'confident' are always favorites of mine. But, I like to show them in quiet contemplation or solitude.

Curbs and Stoops: Where do you see yourself in ten years? Is it important to you as an artist that you constantly evolve or would you like to continue maintaining a unique style that represents your work?

Joshua Budich: If I could establish a style for myself that people continue to associate exclusively with my work,that would be fantastic. Right now, I think I’m pretty comfortable with the look that I’ve established. I think it’s a timeless look, but also one that can grow and evolve and lends itself to various treatments without diverging too far from it’s basic feel. Staying true to myself is of the utmost importance to me. I never want to be considered as a sell-out or that I’ve lost my edge and have ceased to be relevant.

Curbs and Stoops: What can we expect from you for the upcoming year, what’s new and what do we have to look forward to? Anything you would like to share with your audience or those newly introduced to your work(s)?

Joshua Budich: I have a few ideas up my sleeve for the near future. I’m hoping to pay homage to one of my personal favorite characters soon. I kind of want to keep it a secret though. However, I’m a big believer in collaborative thought and process, so people are always welcome to send me their own ideas for consideration. Email me at jbudich@gmail.com.