A2A EP 4: SPENCER MCMULLEN
Who are you and where are you from?
S: my name is spencer mcmullen. i am 17 years old i think. and i am currently based out of jacksonville, florida.
E: How long have you been drawing?
S: since forever. i used to add my own characters in to a batman coloring book i had after i had colored it all the way in. thats the first thing i remember.
E: When did you adapt your current style of artwork?
S: i’ve adapted to my current style by working in a sketchbook more than anything.
E: Is it just straight pencil, and color pencils you use in a sketchbook? Or is there more to it, material-wise?
S: material wise I’ve moved away from sketchbooks. i recently have only been using them to put down and plan out ideas. whats made me move away from sketchbooks is that I’ve realized theres more than the internet. theres the physical world and i want my work to be apart of the physical world. I’ve been working bigger and i want to work as big as i can. growth is important.
E: What is so interesting or appealing to you about drawing other people?
S: i try to look at each piece like a movie and the person i choose to model is like an actor. they have to fit the role.
E: Do you feel you could tell a lot about a person through how you draw them?
S: like i said, the models i use are basically actors in the piece so its almost like its not even them. its a character I’ve made.
E: Color-wise, how do you decide which colors are best for a certain drawing?
S: the colors i use are based around the feeling i want the piece to have.
E: You dabble in photography too right? Do you think your artwork and your photography share a similar style or tone to them?
S: i do. photo is my favorite medium. if my ideas were strong enough photo would be the only thing i would do. i do think they share a similar tone.
E: You shoot film or digital?
E: How do you go about getting a certain shoot together?
S: most of my ideas for photos originate in my sketchbook as drawings. the model i want to use usually pops into my head when i first think of the idea. i don’t like using faces so its not too hard. and then its as simple as just doing it. the situation is always different.
E: For me personally, I see a certain image based off an idea or whatever I’m working with and I try to make that happen in the real world. Would you say that’s accurate for you too?
S: think so, yeah. i want to make things that didn’t exist beforehand. making things that happen in my head a real physical thing is one of my favorite things about this shit.
E: What other creative fields do you work in or would like to work in?
S: i really want to work in film. but i don’t have any idea nor do i want to force any ideas. and i want to learn how to play the piano.
E: What is your favorite color?
E: If you had to pick one movie to watch for the rest of your life, what would it be? Mine would probably be Super Bad.
S: either ‘her’ or ‘where the wild things are’ spike jonze is amazing
E: Have you ever thought about making your own cartoon?
S: no i don’t think i ever would.
E: How do you get through times of like creative block I guess you could call it that.
S: just by doing more. i try to turn things that happen in my life into work. expanding on ideas helps. i try to make something everyday i don’t feel like anything if i don’t.
E: What are some artists who have influenced your work?
E: If your artwork were a specific musician, who would it be?
E: Do you think you could really impact someone’s life through your artwork? Like giving them the feeling you might get when listening to a certain song or watching a certain scene in a movie?I’ve always thought it was easier to affect someone emotionally through music or film than visual art like drawing or photography since you’re like engaging the audience in the artwork themselves so that’s always kinda bummed me out.
S: idk i really hope my work hits someone int that way. i want my work to make people feel the way i felt when i first saw ‘her’ or when i first heard ‘nude’ by radiohead. i want my work to feel like a movie. i want my work to feel like music.
E: Was it weird for you when you started posting your artwork online?
E: Do you think you’re ever gunna change your style up?
S: of course. it has to or else ill become comfortable. comfort is not good!
E: Who’s your favorite actor? Mine is kind of a toss up between Leonardo Dicaprio and Bill Murray.
S: michael cera in superbad, jack kilmer in palo alto, joaquin phoenix in her
E: Do you ever read out of actual books? If so what have been your favorites so far?
S: i honestly dont. i need to read.
E: Do you have any cool shit coming up soon?
