Glen Brogan |
Through Hero Complex's own Adam Smasher we had a chance to ask Glen a few questions about the upcoming show. He answered, not giving me a fun story about drawing some sort of pretty watermelon women for a Korean magazine or some weird anthropomorphic watch for Maxim Magazine. No, just down to Earth answers about dressing up as a Ghostbuster when it's not Halloween.
Jonathan: I could ask, "Why a
sexy pin-up show?," but, looking at your work it's easy to tell. I mean
if you and Shane Glines teamed up for a show I don't think many people
would want to be going to the opening reception in a tight space. It
probably be uncomfortable. On that, what made you push for a pin-up
show?
Glen Brogan: It was actually
Adam of Hero Complex that approached me with the show theme. I think I
had drawn sexy women in enough of my pieces that he figured why not roll
with it, haha.
Is
there no sexy pin-up calendar this year? Or, can you only get it at the
show? You never posted about it via social media. My wall is barren, it
misses sexy ladies each month.
I'm
hoping to do a calendar this year, but it has certainly been delayed.
The show came first, so hopefully I can get something out before the end
of January. I really hate to be late on it, but I find that people
still ask for them all year round.
Can
you tell what people can expect in this show? Will fans of every genre
be impressed? Gamer, otaku, cinephile and animation enthusiast.
I
wanted to do original characters for all of the pieces, because that's
something I've never really done for a large show before. I really hope
everyone will be pleased! The subject matter of each piece is very
different, but they don't represent different genres as much as
different scenes. Aside from the ladies, this kind of thing gives me a
chance to draw other things I like as well.
How do you choose which ladies make it in? Is it personal preference or do you see what's been popular/trending?
Mostly
they just come out of my head right as I'm drawing them. They aren't
based on anything in particular, aside from a handful of pieces that a
couple friends modeled for.
How
do you come up with the positions they're in? Your pin-ups do look like
the girls in them are really modelling or you captured them at the right
moment.
I did use live
references for a couple of these pieces, which is something I've never
really done outside of figure drawing classes, but for the most part I
make up the poses. Sometimes I even act out part of the pose myself to
make sure I'm getting the anatomical details right. So enjoy that mental
image.
Can
you tell us of any general advertising work or graphic design work your
not proud of? Like, maybe you had to draw a voluptuous looking stapler
with gams or some hot looking hot dogs with big buns.
Any
of the graphic design stuff I had to do for previous office jobs was
all stuff I felt like didn't really represent me. Sometimes you just
have to work for someone who lacks design sensibilities but still
dictates how your work should look. And I've had some regular
illustration jobs that could be a bit of a grind.
While, creating your art, do you have anything on in the background. Perhaps a TV show or a genre of music?
In
the moments where I'm really feeling what I'm working on, I like to
listen to upbeat or fast music on headphones. It gets me geared up when I
feel like I've had a good idea for how to create a line or two in the
piece. When I'm not in that mode I usually just put on YouTube channels
or movies.
In
you social media, I see you dressing like a Ghostbuster and giving toys
to children? Is this Sony trying to make the Ghostbusters PR a little
bit better?
Sony
doesn't have any direct involvement aside from officially recognizing us
as a Ghostbusters group. We're the Ghostbusters: West Virginia
Division, and we're a charity that raises money all year long via
donations and merchandise that we create. Then during Christmas time we
go out and buy tons of toys and essential items for foster kids. I help
when I can and I am honored to be a part of it, but it's really the other
folks in the group that are the heroes who get out there almost every
weekend to raise money.
Has
your work been fabricated against your will/knowledge? Is there any
place we should know not trust or any stories about finding your work
and you saying, " I never made a deal with this shirt company."
Yeah,
that happens quite often, unfortunately. Basically, if it's an online
store that sells products featuring original illustrations but never
credits any artist by name, avoid it, because it's probably full of
stolen designs.
Any projects you'd like to be working on after your solo show?
Once the show is done I hope to start working with HCG on a portfolio art book that will collect a lot of my previous work!
Anything else special about this show you can reveal?
Opening Reception: Friday, January 11th, 7-9pm
Hero Complex Gallery
2020 South Robertson Blvd.
Studio D, LA, CA 90034
FREE Admission - Artist in Attendance
FREE Glen Brogan Enamel Pin for the first 30 Customers!
No RSVP Required - All Ages Welcome
Complimentary Refreshments