Today I had the opportunity to meet up with one of my favorite local artists, Josh Kirby. He prefers to go by the moniker Kirby. I have always appreciated his style; as his paintings break away from any mainstream imagery. His work tends to be based on “cult classic” cinema, and for the Halloween season, he did several pieces based on “B” horror movies, my favorite horror films. As Kirby puts it, “I don’t always want to paint landscapes, fruit and Marilyn Monroe; but my art is for the people, so, if I get a request for Marilyn, I’m happy to paint her.

Kirby is the epitome of artists: eccentric, exciting, always creating and as you will see from this interview, his brain-waves fire at a completely unique rate and level than most people; and that’s a good thing.

So without further ado Heeeeeere’s Kirby

AZC: First, the statistical stuff:

Name?

Kirby: Josh Kirby, aka KIRBY

Web address/Social media

Kirby: You can find me on facebook: Josh Kirby Artwork

e-mail

Kirby: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

AZC: What motivated you to get started as an artist?

Kirby: I grew up on the poor side of life, and I couldn’t afford the average stuff you would see.  After a while I just got sick of seeing the same "B.S." that everyone copies from each other. Besides I could never find anything for "to kill a mockingbird", or even "re-animator", I mean there are many others but it’s sad that you don’t see much of the classics. No company or artist that I knew of was making these cult classics easily available, so I decided to do it myself. I don’t like to imitate, I don’t even like to do prints of my work.  In a perfect world everyone would have an Original Kirby.

AZC: What type of material do you use in the development of your works?

Kirby: That’s quite the question, on an average day it starts with 16 grape fruit, absinthe or wine, some smoke and some smoke. Sooner or later I am in delirium, where I am half awake. Then it hits me, unknowingly like a deer in the head light. "Frankenstein" I am going to paint frank. I search for my acrylic paint after staring at a blank canvas, picturing visions of psychedelic Frankenstein. From there I see everything as a blur. Flashes of purple and red, 1000 dots later I finish. No longer am I cross-eyed. I step back and stare for who knows how long?

AZC: How would you categorize your art?

Kirby: Psychedelic pop/ Psychotherapeutic

AZC: What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you while being observed developing or performing a piece?

Kirby: Never paper-Mache anything with 8 legs and that is 12ft big. I’ll leave it at that.

AZC: Will you share a secret about your art that identifies and brands your work?

Kirby: Colors! It’s all about color choice and what you have to say. Don’t paint anything you wouldn’t want to own yourself.

AZC: What advice would you give someone just starting up in your profession?

Kirby: There is no such thing as bad art; it’s just a matter of who's judging it. What’s the worst that can happen? Someone says no. besides you should feel art, not just make it.

AZC: What’s the most difficult aspect of trying to make it in your profession?

Kirby: Scam-artists, there are a lot of wolves out there who are ready to take a bite. Before you know it, you’re in a hole before you even had a chance. There are a lot of ways to show your art without having to be schooled by someone’s greed.

AZC: What is your proudest achievement?

Kirby: Creating artwork and being alive. If you think about it, there are more people dead on this earth than those who are living.

AZC: Where and when can we see your work?

Kirby: You can see my artwork at "Solo Cafe" on baseline and mill, it’s right next to "Altered Ego Salon". You can also see my art on my facebook page.

AZC: Anything that you would like to tell the world?

Kirby: Be yourself

To see more of Kirby's work, visit his profile here.