Portland, Oregon. 32. Bachelor of Science in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, and a Minor in Graphic Design from Portland State University. www.garrettpriceart.com

Someone once described my work as cockroach art, meaning it looks like it has survived nuclear exposure. I would describe it as my photography and designs acid etched, or rusted, into the surface of steel plates. The framed steel plate hangs on the wall like a painting. My imagery is often desolate landscapes, with visual traces of human existence. The steel backgrounds, with their natural imperfections, add texture and atmosphere, as well as a direct physical and conceptual connection to the imagery.

The up and down cycles of my emotions. Industrial architecture, nature and history.

I'm more of a bean and rice burrito guy, honestly.

My work "routine" fluctuates constantly. I’m generally up before the sun doing Internet biz and brainstorming, then the daily dog walk around the neighborhood. If I'm developing ideas for new work, I like to walk the train tracks a couple of blocks from my house. Music (or talk radio) is on almost all of the time. Some music that hasn't stopped playing since I first heard it; Nadja, Night Owls (anything Barfly/Oldominion), Shining, Slayer, The Cure, Thralldom, Cat Power, Velvet Cacoon, Kid Cudi and Prefuse 73. A friend turned me on to Lifelover the other day, and I’m hooked. I listen to the Funemployment Radio podcast, almost daily.

It's a steady mix of things. Over the last year it's been mostly art sales. Other than that, I do some sign painting, graphic design, screen printing, frame building, odd jobs and a little bit of hustlin'.

I like taking a day or two to wander with my camera. If it's in the city, I usually have my backpack, Ipod(RIP), camera, and skateboard. You will find me in the more dilapidated parts of town, and under bridges. I like the abandoned places, where it’s easy to look around and find remnants of existence, while also feeling isolated. I like exploring empty and desolate places, where often I feel like someone is in the background watching me. I enjoy the feeling that if I keep walking further I might find something either horrific, or spectacular, or both. I know the new work is going to be good if the adventure includes a healthy dose of fear.

Once a few photos have been selected and edited, it's time to cut steel panels and burn screens. The steel gets cut to size and often sanded to remove rust. Sometimes I leave a little rust to add random texture the piece. The steel gets screen printed with acid-resistant paint, and then soaked in nitric acid. When the plate is done etching it's removed, and the acid resistant mask is removed as well. At this point the image has been etched into the surface of the plate. I then finish up by scraping ink into the etched areas and then buffing the un etched areas to reveal the reverse image of the screen-print. This process is the same process for Intaglio printmaking, with the addition of using screen-printing to apply the resist. The final product is the steel plate; I don't often make paper prints from these plates.

Sheet metal, metal cutting circular saw, silkscreen and nitric acid.

Flight 64, the non-profit printmaking studio I help run has added a solid group of new member artists, and we’re now at capacity and stronger than ever. Surviving as a self-employed artist has been pretty exciting too!

I would build a fully equipped extra large studio, and pay off my house. Some 100 level Trail Blazers season tickets would be dope. Also, I need a new Mac so bad, you wouldn't believe how slow this thing is.

I like trips to the coast with my wife and dog. There's nothing like the gloomy, stormy Oregon beaches.

The contrast of a decaying city amongst mighty forests. My friends and family.

Ranting, raving and talking shit is not really my strong suite. Politics aren’t really my thing either, but…is it just me, or is the whole idea of having massive corporations lobbying our lawmakers a blatant rip off? The whole lobbying system will always put the citizens at a disadvantage to the corporations, with their endless funds. They don’t even hide it either.

I'm working on a new etching for a group show in March at the Art Institute of Portland, on the theme of architecture. I just finished recording bass tracks for the first release of a metal band I'm in, Winter in the Blood. The elementary school drawing club that I run just started up again. I've talked to a gallery in Portland about a new solo show for this summer, but not yet confirmed it. Details will be announced on my website.

www.garrettpriceart.com

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