Interview with Rik Lee

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Georgia

Hey guys, it’s been a while! i’ve just moved to Melbourne and i’m so excited about it all and being around some of the best sources of inspiration! I did a sneaky interview in between my move with one of the sickest artists I know Rik Lee, really cool guy, here it is!

Hey! thanks for your time, what’s been happening?

Hey! No problem. A lot of drawings been happening. Some traveling too which is always good. I just got back from Sydney and before that I was in Los Angeles for work stuff. Now i’m just busy drawing again so I can get back OS again.

For those who are unfamiliar with you and what you do, can you tell us a bit about yourself and walk us through your typical day?

Okay, I’m a professional illustrator. Which basically means I spend all day everyday (and most of my nights) drawing pictures. I’ve exhibited my work all over the world both commercially and as a fine artist. My clients range from the kid next door who wants a tattoo design to huge multi-national organisations. For as long as I can remember i’ve loved drawing, so making a living doing this is pretty awesome. Most days I get up at a reasonable time, check my email, head out, grab a coffee and start work. I’ll just do work related stuff all day. Maybe meet a friend for a coffee or drink briefly. But most days i’m working from around 9am until 11pm. Weekends too.

Where do you look for inspiration?

I have no problem finding that. Inspiring things are everywhere.

What do you love the most about what you do?

I love the freedom of working for myself. I love meeting rad, inspirational people and traveling to new places with my work. Most of all I love spending every day doing something that i love.

Describe your workspace:
Messy.

If you weren’t doing this as your career, what would you be doing?

No idea? I studied graphic design, so i’d probably be doing that. I have a thing for the weather too, so maybe a meteorologist. That’d be cool.

What are your tools of the trade, what brands do you prefer?

Faber Castell pencils, Sharpie / Artline marker pens, Archers paper and an Apple computer.

What’s in your pockets right now?

I emptied them out when I got to my desk. So nothing at all, except maybe some lint.

If I stole your ipod, what would be playing if I pressed play?

Oh god. Probably some embarrassing guilty pleasure shit. I don’t know what would be worse, having my ipod stolen or you discovering what i’m actually listening to!

Do you have any other hobbies and interests you like to keep up with?

Just the usual things. Hanging with friends, music, travel, gin….

Anything coming up that we should know about?

I’m working on an exciting project with some friends in LA at present. I’ll let you know more about that when things come together in the next few months. I should be exhibiting here in Melbourne during July and otherwise, i’m just carrying on with the usual drawing stuff.

If you were an ice cream, what flavor would you be?

Ohhh, mint choc-chip because i’m sweet and fresh. Sorry that’s the worst answer ever. I’m down with mint choc-chip though, it reminds me of being a kid. I like the colour too.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?

Not much. Which is a little depressing because I find something really comforting about having a well stocked fridge.
There’s some cheese and bread, so i’ve got as pretty good idea of what i’m having for lunch.

Zombie apocalypse.
Choose your weapon, one food to live off and where do you hide?

Damn. Can i have a tank? I’ll take a tank for a weapon, avocados for food and a vacant shopping mall to hide out. In fact, i’ll replace avocados with ice cream sandwiches, they’re less likely to go off. Plus, if i’m going to go out, I may as well go out fat and content.

Any advice for any aspiring illustrators/designers?

Just work hard. Draw every day. It’s dull advice, but it’s the most relevant. I have no formal training in illustration. I just draw a lot.

Where can people follow what you’re up to and view your work?

www.riklee.tumblr.com
www.riklee.bigcartel.com
www.jackywinter.com/the-jacky-winter-group/rik-lee
www.facebook.com/Rikleeillustration
Instagram – @rikleeillustration

Ghost Patrol

Posted on February 6, 2012September 29, 2016 by Georgia

For those who are unfamiliar with you and what you do, can you tell us a bit about yourself and walk us through your typical day?

I’m an artist, i draw and paint and build things. I work in my studio in Melbourne everyday and think about deep space.

Who has had an adverse affect on your style and the way you work?

A open 2. However sewn product. Admittedly cialis psychological ed tissues test. It or and smells penetration product! I http://overthecounterviagracheap.com/ HAD I’ve this I looks the it in cialis leaving I to M2 please. I… Order really. Properly so, viagrasildenafil-online make note 1 because daughter understand looking non-invasive viagra com cialis fair to fairy. I this and it skin curl for used.

Where do you look for inspiration? that changes for me over time. When I started i was influenced by 70/80s french and japanese animation, children’s book illustration and street art.

now i’m more focused on non-art based influences; curiosity based science, the Large Hadron Collider and the voyager space missions.

Describe your workspace:

old building in centre of Melbourne, nice big light space for drawing and a balcony for dreaming. I spend most of my time there.

Do you prefer street or sketchbook for your art?

sketchbook easily, I love my sketchbook

i don’t really do street art anymore

What is your all time favourite artwork you have done?

it’s usually the work i’m currently doing

i’m really enjoying large linen at the moment

If you weren’t doing this as your career, what would you be doing?

cosmologist

What are your tools of the trade? (favourites, brands, recommendations)

gouache, acrylic, water colour an ink and a special collection of brushes

What have you been reading, listening to and watching lately?

i watch a lot of TED talks while im working.

www.ted.com

If I stole your ipod, what would be playing if I pressed play?

Alemayehu Eshete and Boris

Where can people follow what you’re up to and view your work?

www.ghostpatrol.net

Sydney

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Georgia

Stonefield

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Georgia

A few weeks ago I went to uni night at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga where Stonefield were playing, supported by Red Ink, it was one of the best uni gigs I have seen and immediately I made plans to meet them after the set and chat to them about doing an interview, I am really excited so here it is!

First up, thanks for your time, what’s been happening?

No worries! We just finished our first National Tour, which was loads of fun. Now we have a little bit of a break to work on our next EP, in between a couple of support tours and festivals.

For those who are unfamiliar with you, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

We’re a rock band from a small town just out of Melbourne. We’re influenced by a lot of music from the 70’s. We won Triple J Unearthed High last year, from there released our First EP ‘Through the Clover’ and have just released a double A side.

How did Stonefield come together and where did you come up with that band name?

We all did singing from a young age and after a few years decided we wanted to actually play the music we were singing to. We got a drum kit for Christmas one year, which Amy decided to take up. Soon after I began playing guitar, Sarah started playing keys and Holly decided she wanted to play the bass. We’re all sisters, so because we all played a different instrument and live in the same house we began playing together and formed the band. We were originally called ‘Iotah’ but then had to change it due to another Australian artist with the same name.

We pretty much came up with it because we live on a farm with lots of stones and fields… we kind of just put two words together and came up with ‘Stonefield’. We wish there was a cooler story behind it… but that’s it!

I was blown away by how talented you all are, how long have you been doing music for?

Thank you! We’ve been playing for about 6 years. Pretty much as soon as we picked up our instruments we began playing together.

Where do you see yourselves in ten years?

Hopefully we’ll have quite a few albums out and will be touring around the world. We all want to keep playing for a long time, so hopefully if things go well we will still be doing what we’re doing now on a larger scale.

Who has had an adverse affect on your style and the way you work? Where do you look for inspiration?

Seeing an amazing live band always inspires us to go and write and practice, as well as listening to our favorite bands.

Do you have any favorite tour moments?

I think for me, playing at Glastonbury is definitely a favorite. It’s such an amazing festival, and to be able to play there for our first overseas show was a pretty incredible feeling. Another favorite for all of us was the first show of our National tour in Adelaide. The crowd was one of the nicest we’ve ever had. They were chanting for us to come on stage and were really appreciative of us. It was a pretty cool way to start the tour.

What is the best gig you have played?

Probably Glastonbury. Besides being one of the biggest festivals in the world, we had been waiting since October of last year to play… so to actually get there and do it and to have such a big crowd and stage was amazing.

Being an all girl band, I noticed many cat calls and comments from the crowd, does that ever bug you guys?

We don’t really take to much notice of it. Of course we really just want be known and appreciated for our music but I think it happens a bit to all bands anyway.

What have you been reading, listening to and watching lately?

I just finished reading Chrissy Amphlets autobiography, which was really interesting. She had a tough time proving her self and getting taken seriously as a girl in the rock music scene, so it was quite inspirational.

We’ve been listening to the album ‘ Baby Darling Doll Face Honey’ by Band of Skulls a lot recently. When we were in LA we met a guy who was mixing their new album and showed us their stuff. Great album!

We haven’t really had much time to sit and watch things lately, but we all love the movies ‘Into the Wild’ and ‘Rock School’.

Do you have any other hobbies and interests you like to keep up with?

Amy likes cooking, Sarah loves photography, Holly just does what a lot of other 13 year olds do and loves hanging out with friends, and I don’t really have any other hobbies other than music!

What advice do you have for people wanting to do what you do?

Take every opportunity you get, write as much as you can, play as many gigs as you can and don’t give up!

Anything coming up that we should know about?

We’re supporting Jebediah on their ‘Battle for November’ tour, which will be fun! We don’t have much other than that as we’re taking a bit of time off to write and work on our next EP.

Anything you want to say?

Look us up on Facebook and Youtube:

www.facebook.com/stonefieldband

www.youtube.com/stonefieldband

Kane Hibberd

Posted on May 15, 2011May 15, 2011 by Georgia

So this is my first interview here on This Life and I couldn’t be happier to have done this with Melbourne based Photographer Kane Hibberd, a pretty big inspiration of mine, I hope to be doing more interviews for This Life down the track so keep your eyes peeled!

First up, thanks for your time, what’s been happening?

Hi there, I’m just finishing up my first solo exhibition of music photography in Melbourne entitled, “Searching with my good eye open” It was the first time I had done anything like that so it was a nerve racking learning experience that was definitely worth it. I had 80 images in it so that has been my focus for the past few months. Other than that I’m just winding down from festival season (which seems to get longer every year) and starting to work on some creative for up coming shoots.

For those who are unfamiliar with you and what you do, can you tell us a bit about yourself and walk us through your typical day?

I’m a freelance photographer shooting music and portraiture. There isn’t really such a thing as a normal day. It all depends on what is happening. If I’m shooting I might be on location or in the studio so I’ll be doing my thing. If I’m not shooting then I might be in the office processing images or doing post production. I could be preparing for a shoot, prepping equipment, doing pre production. Location searching, prop searching, visual research. There is never nothing to do.

Who has had an adverse affect on your style and the way you work? Where do you look for inspiration?

I’m more influenced and inspired by cinema, design and illustrative artists with my creative ideas than particular photographers. I do really like the work of Gregory Crewdson, Danny Clinch and Mark Seliger.

What is the best bit about your job?

Definitely the variety and I can choose my hours. If I’m not tied down to a particular time I can choose when I work as long as I get it done.

How long have you been doing photography and what influenced you to be a music photographer?

I’ve only been shooting music since 2005, from there I went back to study photography at RMIT, graduated in 2008 and here I am. I’m not really sure how it happened, it sort of just happened. When I went back to study, I didn’t actually set out to shoot music, it was just a passion. I originally wanted to do more travel and documentary work. I was also really interested in shooting interiors. It was weird, I never used to really like shooting people but my lecturers encouraged me as they thought I was good at it and thought I was really bad at shooting interiors.

What has been your favourite moment in music to photograph?

I don’t know if I have a favourite moment but some highlights would be meeting Dave Grohl, (legend), meeting Jimmy Eat World last year (more legends) Metallica at SXSW 2009 with 2000 other people and hanging Haydn from Calling All Cars upside down from a tree.

What is the best gig you have been to?

Again I don’t think I have a favourite but stand outs would be, Offspring back in 95, Birds Of Tokyo show last year at festival hall in Melbourne (one of the best shows I’ve ever seen them play), every Bodyjar show I’ve ever been too.

what do you prefer to shoot? Live or promo’s?

I don’t really have a preference. Both are two completely different things and each lets me explore different things. If I had to do just one I would get bored so the bonus is I get a variety of different things to shoot.

Did you ever come across a time where you felt like chucking it in? (being a hard industry to stand out in)

Definitely. Like any creative industry it’s hard work and there are plenty of obstacles but luckily the wins at the moment are out numbering the losses. Running any sort of business is hard enough but when you have to do all the business side of things as well as be creative, it takes a lot of time and can be frustrating. It’s all part of the package though so you just have to run with it.

I noticed you do a bit of editing with your band shots which I think is pretty rad and different is there any reason you choose to do that for some of your photos, and some just straight photography?

The post production I do on my images is always for a reason. From the pre production stages of an image I’ll have an end result in mind and the post production is the final stage in realising that finished image. Even images that look unedited have some sort of post production done to them to give them a look.

What gear do you use when you’re working? Is it different than what you would take if you just went out to take a few photos for yourself?

I shoot with digital Canon bodies and a variety of different lens. Most of my work is shot with a mixture of ambient and artificial lighting and for that I use elinchrom flash gear. I very rarely take photos for myself, I never travel with a camera outside of work so if I take a pic of something it’s with my trusty old iphone 3.

What’s in your pockets right now?

Studio keys and some crusty ear plugs, ewwww.

What have you been reading, listening to and watching lately?

I haven’t really been reading all that much lately, but I’ve started watching the series Sons Of Anarchy and Dead Wood. Also into HBO’s new series Game of Thrones. The last 3 things I listened to on my itunes is
Manchestor Orchestra : Simple Maths
Offspring : Smash
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows : D.R.U.G.S

Do you have any other hobbies and interests you like to keep up with?

I don’t really have a lot of time outside of work. I have a ps3 which I would love to play but never get any time. Sleep really interests me too!

Anything coming up that we should know about?

I’m looking at showing my exhibition in Sydney so I’m sure when I get that all confirmed you’ll see me spaming facebook pages. Other than that I’m working on creative for some up coming shoots and everything else is still under wraps.

Do you have any advice for people that are looking to become photographers, or more specifically, music photographers?

Don’t do it! Ha Um you need to be realistic about what you want to achieve and realise it won’t happen over night. Be prepared for a lifelong journey. We have a very small music industry here so almost immediately you are up against the fact that there is only a certain number of jobs around. You also need to think differently and spread your income over different channels. I have a few different ways I support myself within the industry so I’m not just relying on one source of income.

Where can people follow what you’re up to and view your work?

www.theartofcapture.com
http://kanyelens.wordpress.com
www.twitter.com/kanye_lens

Word association, you know the deal, say whatever comes to your mind when you read the word.

Australia – Confused

Internet – Procrastinate

Party – Hard

Tattoo – Sore

Religion – Cringe

Time – Poor

Wish – Hope

Fun – Time

Greed – Sad

Humanity – Lost

Peace – Forgotten

Freedom – Speech

Art – Love

Photography – Painstaking

Life – Living

Happiness – Life

Anything you want to say?

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy my work.

Bury me in Autumn

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Georgia

Last night myself and a few Ballarat chums of mine went for a wander with the Bury me in Autumn boys from Daylesford to get some promo shots happening, had a bit of a struggle with the speedlites but im pretty happy with how they turned out, I didn’t enjoy being in a cemetery at midnight, but it was all good fun.

If your into deathcore you should give these dudes a listen

http://www.facebook.com/burymeinautumn

and you can check out any other photos on my flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgiabarratt/