I met Ape, as she likes to be called, during my 3rd year at CSU, Long Beach. We had Computer Graphics with Tim Musso (a total badass designer) and became quick friends. She is absorbed with the smallest details and is relentless in the pursuit of perfection. She is a fantastic designer, the only student I personally knew that made it into the rigorous design program at CSULB. Take a look at her explorations of different materials and textures and you will see why.
Name: ape-bo-peep
Location: LBC
Medium(s): experimental but alas, largely design.
What do you consider yourself (artist/designer/other)? A designer with the self-indulgent, rebellious spirit of an artist.
Where can we see your work (place/publications/url)? Through clairvoyance only, better have a crystal ball handy.
When did you start gaining interest in artistic forms of expression? As a youngster.
Who/What inspired your interest? Mom, awww.
Where do you first remember being exposed to art? Supervised: melting crayons and marble art. Unsupervised: playing with mud and coloring in the pictures printed on paper towels and watching them bleed underwater drops.
What is your day job? I design for West Coast Choppers, school, and freelance with Mr. Tang Bang.
Why do you create? It seems to be a necessary human activity.
Is there any recurring theme in your work? Concept: I like to challenge what people are comfortable with. Execution: Nature in some form.
What do you want from your work? Fame and glory.
What do you want viewers to take from your work? In my own work do not care if people completely understand. I do, however, want people to feel challenged by the concept or execution. Working for clients is another story. That is, of course, where your own ideas are often compromised and the clients objective is priority.
How often do you work on personal projects? Mostly I turn my school projects into concepts that I am interested in so they become personal. They are sometimes not what the instructor had intended but in the end I am helping paying his/her salary.
How often do you work on commissions or commercial work? 3-5 days a week.
Does your art support you financially? Yes
Do you feel preoccupied with your art, do you think about it often during the day and night and do you anticipate your next session? Depends on the project but yes quite often.
What do you do in your spare time besides your art? Travel, read, concerts, experimenting with art mediums. If I am back home I ride my horse and work in the woods.
Which musicians are you currently interested in? Ani Difranco, Emily Wells, PJ Harvey, Bright eyes, Johnny Cash, Flat Mountain Girls…
Are there any events you are looking forward to attending? A trip to China, Burning man, oh so far away… South America…
How long do you generally take on a piece? Varies significantly. A day to a few weeks, sometimes months.
Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of your art? Yes, I have refused to work on projects because of conflicting ideologies ( i.e. nestle skinny cow, lingerie ). Most of my friends and family have become distanced as I lack the time necessary to sustain close relationships.
Do you work on multiple projects at once? Constantly.
Do you have trouble parting with your finished work? Because most of my design work is disposable, no. Everything else that has more artistic value I give to friends and family.
