YBMW Interview: The Ceramic Taxidermy Of Snew

It was during one of my recent online searches for two headed animals and other Oddities when I discovered the artwork of Snew. After purchasing some of Snew’s art, I felt compelled to do an interview.

Mike Drake (MD): What is your favorite medium to work in?
Snew (SN): My favorite medium right now is clay. I like working with my hands and really like materials that are forgiving.

MD: Did you attend art school, and if so which one?
SN: Yes, a really expensive one that took all of my money

MD: When did you become interested in art?

I have been wanting to be an artist since I was 2. I don’t think I have ever wanted to be anything else, well I guess I have always wanted to be a mermaid also.

MD: When did you sell your first creation?
SN: I used to make paper purses and paper machine guns at school in the 2nd grade and sell them for quarters at recess does that count? I participated in my first art show when i was a senior in high school and sold some things but nothing huge. My first real profit was in 2001 when i participated in my college’s annual student art sale.

MD: From where do you draw inspiration?
SN: This has always been a hard question to answer without sounding cheesy. I really do find inspiration in almost everything I love everything vintage,sparkly, dark, garish and obnoxious it makes my brain smile and start working out the plans to make things

MD: What inspires you to paint (much of) your art a single solid color?
SN: I think it is easier to decorate with sold color, you can group more items together when they are solid color and it just looks cool and modern to me

MD: When did you first get the idea to take an existing molded item (like your 2 headed bird) and alter it?
SN: When I was younger I made a 2 headed snake in home economics I guess I just continued my love for the bizarre and just switched mediums for now.

MD: You have done some great “mutant” animals with baby heads, what was the inspiration behind this?
SN: I have a huge fascination for sideshow freaks and I applied that to that to my work which I call ceramic taxidermy.

MD: What is your favorite piece?
SN: My favorite piece is called “ferocious phallus” and it is a foot tall and made of solid bronze. It was one of my college creations and the most fun thing I have ever made.

MD: Some of your work is very realistic and natural while others are clearly fantasy, is there a different sensibility behind each one?
SN: I really like making things that I like to make. I REALLY like making things that make me giggle like a mad scientist while I am creating them. I don’t know if there is a reason I guess I like a wide variety and like to have a variety in my shop

MD: What advice do you have for a young person thinking of becoming an artist?
SN: My first instinct is to scream “DON’T GO TO ART SCHOOL!!!” but then again, those were some of the best times I have ever had. I would just say to try to not take yourself too seriously and do what makes you happy

MD: How often do you create a new piece?
SN: I try to make something every single day.

MD: How do you balance the creation of art with the commerce of selling art?
SN: It is crazy and it gets all intertwined and stressful sometimes and that’s when I try to remember to not take myself so seriously and to just create and have fun creating it. But if I didn’t sell the things I make I would not have a space to live.

You can see, and purchase, the art of Snew HERE