Have you ever known someone for years only to discover that you know so little? That's what happened to me the first time I saw a painting done by Brian Cheatham. I marveled that I'd missed this impressive detail. He paints? Who is Brian in his entirety? It's with great pleasure that I introduce my wonderful friend, Brian. Before I start firing questions at him, please let me interrupt with a tip about this month's giveaway.
GIVEAWAY TIP: I meant to post this last week when EC Newman was my guest. I always have giveaways on my site. For January, someone will win a $20 gift book(s) from Amazon, B & N, or the Book Depository. I will add options throughout the month to the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom. Therefore, new chances to win will pop up all the time in a new post with the giveaway at the bottom. Check back after January to see who won.
GIVEAWAY TIP: I meant to post this last week when EC Newman was my guest. I always have giveaways on my site. For January, someone will win a $20 gift book(s) from Amazon, B & N, or the Book Depository. I will add options throughout the month to the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom. Therefore, new chances to win will pop up all the time in a new post with the giveaway at the bottom. Check back after January to see who won.
Brinda Berry (BB): I first discovered you as an artist when you painted a canvas for my sister. Is that your first piece or have you been doing this for a long time?
Brian Cheatham (BC): I started drawing before I learned to write and took as many art/painting classes as I could all the way into college. Unfortunately, real life set in, and I didn't do anything for about 10 years. I took it up again a couple of years and am re-teaching myself all the things I forgot.
BB: Have you ever done a show/contest/taught an art class, etc.?
BC: This past year, a musician friend of mine, Roy Holiday, and myself created a small Music/Art festival at another friend's farm in my hometown of McKinney, TX. This was the first time I displayed my art in public and received very positive feedback. My friend's band, Sand Dollar Rodeo, provided the music, and OkraFest TX was born. After that experience, I am planning on displaying my work at a few of the many Art/Music festivals in the Dallas area.
BB: What's your favorite medium: oil, acrylic, watercolor, tempera, or a fresco in/on plaster? All?
BC: I love to experiment with new mediums, brushes, surfaces. I am mainly working with acrylics these days, because it dries faster. I can get more done in the limited time I get to paint working around my day job.
BB: I've seen some work from you that was abstract. Is that the norm for your work?
BC: A lot of my recent work begins with trying new things with large brushes, pallet knives, crumpled bags, etc.. This usually results in an abstracted version of whatever is in my head.
BB: Who is your favorite artist/painter/sculptor?
BC: Classically, I love Johannes Vermeer's ability to create light. In contrast, I love the simpleness of Mark Rothko's abstract work.
BB: I've been told that you might be a writer as well. In which genre would you be writing/like to write?
BC: I don't know who told you that... I get these ideas to begin stories, but then I can never figure out where to go with them. If I ever do write something someday, it will be an action/mystery with a Sci-fi twist.
BB: Do you have any favorite authors?
BC: Besides yourself, I grew up on Stephen King. I'm huge of fan of Starwars novels, Steve Perry did several great ones. And I've just discovered Larry Niven's Ringworld Series written back in 70's.
BB: You officially studied advertising, or at least Facebook says this. That's very creative as well. Is there a creative outlet you haven't tried but would like to?
BC: I am fortunate to be able to use my graphic design skills in my day job. As far as something I haven't tried, I would love to learn how to weld to create metal sculptures.
BB: Favorite song to sing? I SAW A Facebook photo of you singing. So, don't deny it.
BC: Time to delete my Facebook account... However, I always have music playing when I paint--anything from classical to heavy-metal. I find alternative rock lends itself to abstract painting.
BB: BONUS irrelevant question: Switch bodies (like in that movie "The Change-Up" with Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman) with someone for a day. Who would it be?
BC: Assuming you mean a real person, I won't say I'd be a Jedi Knight for a day... I would like to spend the day in the head of a wildly creative person like Quentin Tarantino, Jerry Garcia, Seth MacFarlane.
And I'm betting it would be pretty sweet to be George Clooney for a day...
Thanks, Brian. I'm sure your wife would protest on the George Clooney switch. Right?
Say "hi" to Brian, talk about your own art, or tell me the person you'd switch with for a day. Inquiring minds want to know.
Brian Cheatham (BC): I started drawing before I learned to write and took as many art/painting classes as I could all the way into college. Unfortunately, real life set in, and I didn't do anything for about 10 years. I took it up again a couple of years and am re-teaching myself all the things I forgot.
BB: Have you ever done a show/contest/taught an art class, etc.?
BC: This past year, a musician friend of mine, Roy Holiday, and myself created a small Music/Art festival at another friend's farm in my hometown of McKinney, TX. This was the first time I displayed my art in public and received very positive feedback. My friend's band, Sand Dollar Rodeo, provided the music, and OkraFest TX was born. After that experience, I am planning on displaying my work at a few of the many Art/Music festivals in the Dallas area.
BB: What's your favorite medium: oil, acrylic, watercolor, tempera, or a fresco in/on plaster? All?
BC: I love to experiment with new mediums, brushes, surfaces. I am mainly working with acrylics these days, because it dries faster. I can get more done in the limited time I get to paint working around my day job.
BB: I've seen some work from you that was abstract. Is that the norm for your work?
BC: A lot of my recent work begins with trying new things with large brushes, pallet knives, crumpled bags, etc.. This usually results in an abstracted version of whatever is in my head.
BB: Who is your favorite artist/painter/sculptor?
BC: Classically, I love Johannes Vermeer's ability to create light. In contrast, I love the simpleness of Mark Rothko's abstract work.
BB: I've been told that you might be a writer as well. In which genre would you be writing/like to write?
BC: I don't know who told you that... I get these ideas to begin stories, but then I can never figure out where to go with them. If I ever do write something someday, it will be an action/mystery with a Sci-fi twist.
BB: Do you have any favorite authors?
BC: Besides yourself, I grew up on Stephen King. I'm huge of fan of Starwars novels, Steve Perry did several great ones. And I've just discovered Larry Niven's Ringworld Series written back in 70's.
BB: You officially studied advertising, or at least Facebook says this. That's very creative as well. Is there a creative outlet you haven't tried but would like to?
BC: I am fortunate to be able to use my graphic design skills in my day job. As far as something I haven't tried, I would love to learn how to weld to create metal sculptures.
BB: Favorite song to sing? I SAW A Facebook photo of you singing. So, don't deny it.
BC: Time to delete my Facebook account... However, I always have music playing when I paint--anything from classical to heavy-metal. I find alternative rock lends itself to abstract painting.
BB: BONUS irrelevant question: Switch bodies (like in that movie "The Change-Up" with Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman) with someone for a day. Who would it be?
BC: Assuming you mean a real person, I won't say I'd be a Jedi Knight for a day... I would like to spend the day in the head of a wildly creative person like Quentin Tarantino, Jerry Garcia, Seth MacFarlane.
And I'm betting it would be pretty sweet to be George Clooney for a day...
Thanks, Brian. I'm sure your wife would protest on the George Clooney switch. Right?
Say "hi" to Brian, talk about your own art, or tell me the person you'd switch with for a day. Inquiring minds want to know.
RSS Feed
