Living In A La-La Land of Our Own Dizzy Design
I have a secret soft spot in my heart for nutty people. Nutty in an awesomely good and highly creative way. Terri and I live in a world apart, a world of Dizzy Design...a world of our own making.
Name: Terri Lloyd
The area in which you live: LA-LA-Land, aka, Los Angeles, California
Are you currently represented by a gallery: Nope. I suspect I'm a tad risky for the conventional markets.
How long have you been making art? Most of my life. Since I could take my diapers off... there are stories about my using the contents for painting the walls.
Other interests: Politics, especially the duality or should I say unreasonable polarity of U.S. consciousness. Philosophy --I'm a fan of Zizek, and thus have garnered an interest in Lacan recently. I'm interested in Buddhism. Religion perplexes me, but I like reading of it. That is in a more objective sense. Maybe I should not say religion but mythology. Perhaps that's the better word, it includes so much more than Ghostie in the Sky. (Yes, the question of deity remains open for me.)
History is fascinating.
I like wine, beer, cats, large birds, smart and creative people.
Feminism, women's issues.
A good pun, language.
Advertising.
Belly Button lint.
B-Movies, anything with a monster.
Your main artistic medium: Digital. However, most of my work is static with print being the final tangible product. Motion is coming at some point. Not that this is a logical step in the evolution, it's more like brand extension.
Artist statement: My work is an attempt to reason with an unreasonably absurd world. A place where, as a matter of fact, it's not "all good." A culture in which we blame the victims, then act in the name of charity to absolve our guilt. Where hope is a brand-washing advertising campaign and change is accepting things as they ever were. Even under the guise of of helping you live your best life (and get excited about it too!) lays an agenda for something else all together. These conditions are landscapes connected by a thinly drawn line, the crossing of which takes us into territories perhaps we'd rather ignore.
Describe your present work: Much of my work combines text with a graphic imagery. I like to describe my work being akin to advertising. It's all about the message. Layers of it. Pun and insinuation. Although, I find that sometimes the image does better on its own without text. These are my more illustrative works.
How do you feel about your present work? I love it. I find that as I get older, I become more honest, more fearless, more of a blaspheming heretic who has nothing to lose and therefore is under more of an obligation to say the things I say, exactly as I do. Wow, what an ego!
Describe your process: Well, there's the technical side of things and there's the mental side of things. First I listen for hints and cues from the external reality. If it hits my mental funny bone, or sense of ironic, I take note. Sometimes, I have an idea but I have to let it percolate in the old gray matter before it becomes cohesive or ready to execute.
Then there is hours and hours of research into the concept or supporting concepts. Discovery, I suppose.
Google is a great tool for this.
And then there's the execution of the idea. This includes lots of trial and error. Building digital components from sketches and or bits and pieces collected digitally from photos and scans.
Finally, composing and editing.
Then a period of walk away and let it sit for a while. Which I have found to be a tremendous tool. This is the hard part though. At this point I want to share the work with the world, like a little puppy or kitten. But the eyes aren't open yet, so it's really not ready for human interaction.
After a few days, weeks, or even months, it's time to revisit and finish up. Which could be editing, or revising all together.
All of which can add up to hundreds of hours.
How did you start doing art? Why? Well, art is something they couldn't take from me. They being the parental units, institutional authority like school or the oppression of a day job. I guess I have to use that awful cliche answer of art being something that always resonated with me. Whether I was looking at it, or creating myself, I always connected with art.
The question of why is interesting. I think I use art to cope, with my own issues as well as the external world. Maybe it's because I don't have any other legacy, such as children. Whether or not that is makes the work important, I don't know.
How important is art to you? Very. It's what I respire. It's necessary for the good mental health of a society. It's historic and cultural documentation for future generations, and the reverse of that. It is my life's work. Without art, I think I'd melt into a heap of fleshy gelatin.
What is your educational background? I didn't go to art school, if that's the question. But I'm not uneducated. My education continues on a daily basis.
What was the first piece of art you did? What do you think about it now?
Diaper paintings on my bedroom walls. Oh, they laugh about it now, but I'm certain they didn't then. It is an interesting statement. Painting with shit. I've got a shit series I'm working on now. Shit seems to be everywhere, especially in the food chain. Funny stuff.
Who/what inspires you? Current events mostly. Philosophical pursuits. My bird. Lots of wine. The medications. Just kidding.
How has your work changed recently? Why? I tend to work more in series than in individually succinct statements. The work has become more biting. Irreverent. Honest.
Do you plan out your art? Yes, but then planning is simply a framework, not a rule.
Are you currently working on a commission and, if so, what is it and how did you get it? Nope. Would like the right commission. I did an individual commission a while back. THAT sucked. Only because the client came to me wanting the art in my style but then though he had the right to creative direct me. Um, if that's what you want, get a job at an advertising agency.
Do you sell much work? Do you care? I've sold some work to individuals. I'm not interested in having my work in private collections never to be seen again or in a very limited context.
How do you network with other artists? I'm a social network maniac. I also get out there, in the community and interact with real human beings. Humans are such an interesting species. Much better in their natural environment than, say, at the zoo.
What about your art makes you feel passionate? Why? Booze and drugs mostly. It worked for Hunter S. Thompson...Seriously? It's a connection to my sense of self or source. It's my sense of purpose.
Do you follow politics? Does it inform your work? *laughing* Um, yes. To both.
Are you an American or have you come from another country? Depending on who you ask, I'm a heretic, blasphemer, infidel, unAmarkin, commie, pinko, and highly misunderstood alien life form.
How does your citizenship inform your work? It asks me to embrace the dark side.
What arts groups do you belong to? Various online ventures. In my home community, The Arroyo Arts Collective (www.arroyoartscollective.org).
Name an artist who has inspired you. Magritte
Name a book that has inspired you. Violence by Slavoj Zizek, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche
Name anyone else outside of art who has inspired you. Jeff Smith
How do you network? Having lots of cash available helps.
How do you think people would describe your work? I hear a range of things from comparisons to respected pop art icons to "that's fucked up."
Do you view art conceptually or formally? Conceptually.
Do you win a lot of prizes? Only when eating sugary breakfast cereal that is part of a balanced meal.
What do you think is the role of technology in art today? Good question. I find technology opens us up to new ways to create as well as more innovative ways to communicate about and provide access to art.
Did you always want to be an artist? That and a Roller Derby Queen.
If you had one piece of advice to give someone just starting out as an artist, what would it be? Don't take it personal.
What special projects are you presently involved with? Got my name in the new phone book. Sorry, just a little Navin R. Johnson. Currently I write for SLAM magazine, interviewing artists and such. Other than that, I'm working hard to stay out of jail, psyche wards and A.A.
Web address: www.terrilloyd.net
