| It's been a few years since Furie's last interview on Fecal Face. We thought it would be a good idea to see what he's up to as he prepares for his show "Monster Family" at Beams in Japan.
We know he hails from Ohio, lives in San Francisco, creates the comic book "Boy's Club", has shown around the globe, but didn't know he preforms magic, has pet rats, loves Hooters, and knows the best places to swim in SF.
Age? Location? Artistic education?
29. s.f. b.f.a. 2001 Ohio Wesleyan University.
You were last interviewed here on Fecal Face way back in 2006... What
you been up for the last 3 years?
I'm an adult now. I've been practicing various forms of magic, eating unhealthy foods, and raising my new
children- "Wat" and Foxy". They are sisters.
Click image for larger view
Wat and Foxy are your pet rats. You were telling me how intelligent they
are and what good pets they make... Still feel good about being a rat
father? What the best and worst parts of having them?
They are doing very well-feels good. It's cool living with animals and I imagine
sometimes that they are bats or monkeys. The best part about them is that they are
kind of like tiny dogs. They get excited when you come home and they love running
around and playing. The worst part is they keep me up all night running on their
wheel (nocturnal).
That shirt you gave me a few months back is my favorite tee shirt like
ever. Where can people buy it?
http://shop.rvca.com/Owl_Eye_BMX/pd/np/108/p/1935.html
Describe your process of creating a new piece.
I think about stuff, do some sketches, then draw it! (no photoshop or illustrator required!) Often I work in
a series. At the moment I'm working on a show called "Monster Family". Staying true to the title of the show,
I'm drawing pictures of monsters with their families. For references I use library books and google image
search. sometimes i just draw out of my head. It's usually a combination.
What materials do you normally work in?
India ink, liquid acrylic, prismacolor colored pencils, markers, micron fine tip pens- always applied to mat
board.
Where do you like to get your art supplies in SF?
Dick Blick.
If you had to explain your work to a stranger, how would you do it?
I would say "It's like colored pencil drawings of like monsters and animals and shit" and they would be like
"Oh, cool man. You should do a drawing of _________!" and I would say "That would be cool" (not). Then I
never draw what the stranger tells me because I have enough crap to draw! Gimme a fuckin break!
How long have you lived in San Francisco and what brought you here?
Been out here from Ohio since 2001. My college roommate and best pal Joe "Nasty" Neff suggested we move here
after college because he had a girl out here and he was ready to leave Indiana. It's a great town but I truly
miss those hot summer nights. Don't miss the cold winter days though.
How did Joe "Nasty" get the nasty part added to his name?
Most people know Joe as "nice" and "chill". People don't always realize that he's nice but nasty.
Nice Neff doesn't sound as cool as Nasty Neff. Nasty Neff enjoys giving and receiving massages.
What do love most about living in SF? Favorite haunts- bars, food, parks, etc...?
I just moved back into the Mission and live right around the corner from tons of my friends so it's great to
go for a walk and run into people and get food/drinks and stuff. I like typical stuff: Dolores Park,
shopping the Haight, Hard Rock Cafe at Fisherman's Wharf, The Casanova Lounge, The Knockout, Golden Gate
Park, the Golden Girls, my computer, the television, and swimming in Hotel Pools (Holiday Inn on Pine and
Van Ness, Sheraton Inn Fisherman's Wharf). I live right by The Community Thrift Store- I go there
everyday to buy stuff and say hi to my friends that work there.
Man, don't give away the hotel swimming pool secret locations... Oh
wait, are they really secret anyway?
I don't think its a big secret. Usually most of the people there are locals (tattoos a giveaway)
If we spent the day man-dating what would we do?
Most of the stuff above, also we would definitely hit up Hooters. If you had a car we would drive to Grey
Whale Cove beach south of the city- its my favorite beach!
You go to the Hooters in Fisherman's wharf? I heard the girls are all
flat chested there. I bet you love those huge white tennis shoes they where!
Let's just say I'm not there for the wings if you catch my drift.
What are you really excited about right now?
"You Otter Know" or maybe "Don't Call Me Otter" new drawing book by Aiyana Udesen.
When are you the most productive?
When it's foggy and rainy.
Favorite trip taken?
I went on a great trip to Italy with my brother Jason and my Dad awhile back- it was really fun.
Music?
Fever Ray, Skinny Puppy Too Dark Park, Robyn Hitchcock Black Snake Diamond Role, Mountains, Legendary Pink
Dots, Eno, AFX.
What were you like in high school?
Goofy/grudge/Gothic
Upcoming projects and/ or upcoming shows, etc...?
"Monster Family" Oct 9-25th at Beams T Harajuku, "Future Colors of America" at Giant Robot San Francisco in
August, "Boy's Club" #3 at San Diego Comicon in late jury, "Neighborhoods"group show at 111 Minna in Sept.
2009.
In a previous interview you said "It'd be cool to fly, and be
invisible, and breathe underwater, and to shoot lasers out of my
eyes."... If you could choose one, which would it be and why?
Invisibility is the best for obvious boners.
videos
Links
mattfurie.com
blog.mtviggy.com/2009/06/16/los-list-matt-furie/
www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17477
www.juxtapoz.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=593&Itemid=121
www.bookslut.com/blog/archives/2008_12.php
www.grahamkolbeins.com/writing/furie.html
|
/////////
"When are you the most productive?
When it's foggy and rainy."
I totally hear ya' Matt!
Written by Ryan De La Hoz on 2009-07-30 13:48:08
| /////////
nice!
Written by pesya on 2009-07-31 21:40:51
| /////////
good shit as always. hey matt.... you should draw a bmxing hippo with 3 cigs in his mouth. then after yer done with that draw some extreme people getting extreme on their skateboards and drinking mountain dew, that'd be extreme
Written by MILDRED on 2009-08-01 11:33:17
| /////////
fabulous stuff!
Written by tomdunon on 2009-08-01 23:59:36
| /////////
i remember the original interview and i've been salivating over his work ever since. rats are indeed excellent pets. i thought his voice would be lower.
Written by jeshaka on 2009-08-03 10:12:05
| /////////
fresh for sure... ups to Matt Furie!!
Written by TheBasics on 2009-08-03 21:28:15
| /////////
This is bad art. It looks like a poorly rendered bad drawing. I think he should work in collage or something less challenging until he gets his skills up.
Written by MiniMolly ESP on 2009-08-06 12:45:46
| /////////
@minimolly; are you being serious?
This is genius! some of the best stuff I've seen for a long while.
Written by likeatrainwreck on 2009-08-08 05:30:04
| /////////
@likeatrainwreck
You need to get out more dude.
Please explain why you consider this "some of the best stuff" you've seen.
Written by MiniMolly ESP on 2009-08-09 19:09:17
| /////////
Because it's original, fun and interesting. It's reminiscent of kids book illustration but with a darker twist. His work, especially the comic strip at the top and the group compositions lower down, shows a good use of narrative devices and it's also a breath of fresh air from a lot of the very fashionable street/graffiti/graphics orientated work you see on here.
As for it been badly rendered I completely disagree; Matt obviously has a good understanding of the properties, and skills in the application of his chosen medium and there is clearly a good use of colour, form and line and the images are well composed. People often misinterpret an artists choice to draw in a simple, almost childish way (the use of simple materials such as coloured pencils doesn't help) as being a lack of skill.
I'm sure the artist is capable of producing glossy, polished, stylish paintings but I'm pretty sure that isn't his intention, not down to a lack of 'skills'.
As for suggesting he work in collage till he became a better artist; that's what made me think you being ironic. Come on. Really?
Written by likeatrainwreck on 2009-08-12 11:23:27
| /////////
That's a really good explanation/insight.
Thanks 'like
Written by MiniMolly ESP on 2009-08-13 10:15:40
| /////////
the color schemes are just wonderful
Written by HungryBearBear on 2009-08-17 00:17:03
| /////////
Maybe you shouldn't use your imovie effects while interviewing someone on video, it takes away from the person being interviewed.
Written by kickair on 2009-08-18 13:19:22
| /////////
wow...that creature is gettin it doggie style.... thats nice...
Written by Dahveed All Green on 2009-08-26 11:59:09
| /////////
I think some are cool, some are whack.
Written by Platypusboy on 2009-09-07 01:31:28
| /////////
Good stuff.
Goofy and a little dark, it's my favourite dish.
Written by DieterVDO on 2009-10-23 03:59:02
|
Only registered users can write comments.
Please LOGIN or REGISTER.
|
"#22 :D:D love it!" //
