Craig Drake, whose work you might have seen featured all over the Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, has a new solo show at Hero Complex Gallery starting this Friday. His work has a classic 80's feel while taking on pop culture from TV, Film and beyond. Craig was nice enough to answer some questions about the upcoming show and himself.
TTDILA: How
would you express yourself with having another solo show a year after
the first, quite the accomplishment. Perhaps you could express it by
drawing yourself with champagne flowing over yourself.
Craig Drake: That sounds like I'd need a special soft focus lens and right out of an Emmanuelle movie.
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| Craig Drake |
CD:
I am sworn to secrecy but I can tell you, it's partially
an extension of themes I wanted to draw for the last solo show and never
got time to. Much of it draws from pre-internet films. 1980 - 83 was
the greatest. Although, I've got some modern pieces in there too.
You
have many different pieces of work so far from Star Wars (just at Star
Wars Celebration) to anime to comics. Are you a fan of it all or just
pick what others are fans of? If a fan, what fandom have you had for
those subjects...other than creating art about them.
CD:
Life long Star Wars fan. I knew early on I wanted to eventually work
for Lucasfilm as a result of collecting "art of" books as a kid. In 2007
the dream became real. "I've seen things..." As a kid I was mega altered
by those films.
On
hoping you do like anime and other stuff please tell me some of the
more current series you're a fan of. I swear if you write back about not
having the time...
CD: Not a HUGE anime fan, but I like the good stuff. Classics like Akira,
Ghost in the Shell and Blood the Last Vampire. Beyond that not so much. Although I will say Space Dandy and Cowboy Bebop breaks the mold. I enjoyed those. I LOVE Studio Ghibli, but don't classify it as anime. Just incredible craft of story telling like no other.
Your
work, when it comes to ladies, seems a bit flirtatious, do you try and
capture the physical form of ladies as sensual as possible, same goes
for the robots you make. You make sexy robots.
CD:
I think flirtatious is a good word to use! Early on I wasn't aware of
some objectification I may have drawn in my work but I definitely like to have a bit of that flirtatious tension, even in the machines I depict.
We never see two characters from separate properties meet each other in your work, is that rule.
CD: HA! If there was a good concept for this I'd consider it. Mashups can go wrong real fast!
You
did do a lot and I mean a whole lot for the Star Wars Celebration, did
you have freedom with that or were you thinking like the Rebel Alliance;
I'll put damn Ewoks all over my art!
CD:
I had a fair amour of freedom for sure. There were character changes
but very minor, for example We swapped a Boba Fett for a Stormtrooper
Are
you involved in anyway with Moonbeam City coming to Comedy Central, the
show looks very much like Patrick Nagel's work as well.
CD: Don't actually know about Moonbeam!
CD:
Hero Complex Gallery is family. I really mean it. Adam and Soua both
who run it. And Adam has been instrumental as a creative collaborator.
We spawn ideas all the time.
Any other talents than being an artist, do you have or have ever had a pop synth band?
CD:
YES and yes. I'm a huge synth nerd. I grew up outside of Detroit and
watched the electronic music scene prosper. I've been collecting synths
since the 80's. A couple years ago I finally acquired an Arp 2600, the
synth responsible for R2-D2's sound, created by the great Ben Burtt.
Did
anyone in art school say, "Hey, your work belongs back in the 80's."
Now they have a shitty job and you come by and hold up money at their
window at graphic design at some nameless company. Or did you make
friends at art school?
CD: Luckily no
haters from art school! (least that I know of). There's 80's in my work
but hopefully just the good stuff. I'm always trying to evolve it. Pre- internet times rule.
Meet Mr. Drake in person and try and get him to play some synth with you at his solo show this Friday.
Craig Drake Solo II
Opening Reception, Friday, May 22nd 7-10pm
Hero Complex Gallery
2020 S Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90034
