Choplogik!

I don't recall the first time I saw the work of Choplogik but I'm sure it was at the Ayden Gallery in Vancouver...purveyor of radical shows. Chops work, his progression of talent and his super friendly demeanor has made him one of my most favorite of west coast artists. His collaborations with his girlfriend, Mandy Tsung, are ridiculously stunning and perfectly cohesive. 

Ever present in the Vancouver art scene and a fine friend of the wallfarmers, Choplogik, (AKA Russell Alton) took some time to chat with me while I was at jam night at The Freakin' Coffeeshop. This was my attempt to multi-task and for that reason, a couple of friends had some questions for the Chopper as well....

Wlfmrs: ok.. let's start this out simple like... Where did you get the name Choplogik?

Choplogik: I needed a handle for a Digital Media project.. I first heard it in 'Romeo & Juliet', reading it aloud in Grade 10 English class. There's a part where Juliet's father is slinging all these Shakespearean insults at her, and one of them is 'chop-logic'. It means one who is illogical, or bandies words. It resonated, and somehow it crept into my everyday life.. most people know me as Chop, now.

Wlfmrs: Tell me about the beginnings of your art interest...are you one of those 'born with a crayon in your hand' type of artists? And when did you first consider yourself and 'artist'?

Choplogik: All credit goes to my parents, who encouraged all sorts of creative expression. When I reached the 'drawing on walls' stage, they didn't freak out. They saved old medical dictionaries where I scribbled in all the pages. So yes, I was born with a crayon in my hand, thanks to them. I just have too much fun with 'em to put them down. I first considered myself an artist in Grade 5, when I sold a cartoon to a girl I liked for a quarter. I was so painfully awkward + shy, it was the only way to get her to pay any attention to me. That's when I realized being an artist is just truckloads of cash and armloads of babes. I can't wait to become one.

Wlfmrs: What was the drawing of that you sold for a quarter?

Choplogik: It was a picture of Sam Kieth's "The Maxx", a comic book anti-hero that I was obsessed with at the time. His style was really eye-opening to me, mainly because the only other comics I had access to were Archie, Tintin, or Asterix & Obelix.

Wlfmrs: So speaking of influences,you do these characters...like super old school dapper dudes then funny weirdo stick-men..what influences these characters?

Choplogik: Where the characters themselves arise from, I can't really trace their genealogy that clearly. Elements of all of them been evolving since I was a little kid. They are a hodge-podge of half-remembered dreams, stuff I see when I'm just falling asleep, or waking up. Generally, I don't picture them complete & ready in my brain before drawing them. I put pen to paper, and they come out. A story creates itself as I add lines to the page, like 'stream of consciousness' writing. What influences them the most are the styles in which I depict them, I suppose. The method + particular style I'm using in a piece usually dictates what the character will 'grow' into.

The sort of styles that made the largest impression on me as a child come from Robert Crumb and all the underground Zap-style comics, & Ralph Steadman's work. My father's record collection seemed like a massive wall when I was little, and I would just pull out album covers and stare at them. That's probably where all my characters come from, actually.

Wlfmrs: Was there a specific album cover that stoked you more than others? And... how much of your work is a product of your environment.. like music, urban surroundings, people, etc..

Choplogik: The only one that jumps to my mind is Robert Crumb's 'Cheap Thrills' cover. That kind of stuff will short-circuit the impressionable mind. As for environmental influences, it's a big aspect of it. Lots text that shows up in my art is out-of-context overheard snippets of conversation. I'll see goofy faces in mailboxes, old buildings, clouds.. and draw them when I get home. Music influences my energy level, but it can be any tempo or style. Just has to hit my heart in that certain way and I feel all jazzed up and ready to unleash all the energy I've been receiving from the universe. And that will manifest in a weird little gremlin. Go figure.

Wlfmrs: Do you have a favorite character that has stuck with you over the years?

Choplogik: It's gotta be Gleepglop, who is more of an attitude than a certain look. He's simplicity, hope and innocence personified, a zen buddha amazed to be on this planet (the first time I drew him he was an alien crashing a swank dinner party.) He's most often the size of many mountain ranges, these days.

Wlfmrs: Did you do any official schooling in the arts or are you mostly self-taught?

Choplogik: Schooling? I took art classes in high school, where my grade was entirely dependent on how I got along with my current teacher. Either A's, or C-'s. I didn't have the best attitude towards it, and just wanted to do my own thing. When I was a kid I wanted to be either a cartoonist or a scientist; the first because I loved to draw, and the second because I loved to experiment & discover. I've happily found that I can be both, on my own terms. In my studio, I just play with new ways of achieving that elusive state of pure being that one finds by creating art. If people want to support my endeavors by buying the products of these experiments, then I'm living my dream.

Wlfmrs: What is the most challenging part of being an artist for you?

I have a guest question up next..

Choplogik: The most challenging part is not relying on creativity alone. To sit down & create when I really don't feel the urge, and to make sure I don't end up just making a bunch of half-assed crap. It's demanding, but first world problems, you know? I think it's one of the things that separates professional artists from hobby artists, and I certainly have a long way to go on that. Hunger is good motivation, though- and I don't just mean for food.

Wlfmrs: Guest question: Krystal wants to know what the best moment of your day was.

Choplogik: Today? I got to meet with an old friend and catch up over coffee, and sell some art at the same time. Hard to top that, in a family-friendly interview.

Wlfmrs: So, how is it having a super talented artistic girlfriend?

Choplogik: It's sort of ridiculously perfect. She's inspirational in countless ways; I only have to turn 90 degrees and see that I need to step up my game in a big way. We bounce ideas of each other and come away refreshed and excited to make our own art, and scheme our collaborations. I'm going to leave at that so I don't use up all the space gushing about my girlfriend. Maybe you should interview her next!

Wlfmrs: I definitely need to interview her next!

You do a lot of collaboration with Mandy, are there any other artists that you'd like to collab with?

Choplogik: I'm open to seeing how my work mixes with lots of artists, but it's not something I actively seek out. I have a feeling I'm going to have to do a big piece with Kristian Adam someday, I have almost too much respect for that man and the work he does. I resonate with Chris Brett's work a lot too, I think we could come up with some pretty cool stuff. We're getting more involved with a scheduled art jam with our friends, and that's just picking up steam. Collaborative energy can be very powerful, if everyone can check their egos at the door.

Wlfmrs: I can definitely see you working with both Kristian and Chris.. their styles are cohesive next to yours for sure.

What do you see as the primary progressive difference between your work 10 years ago and today?

Choplogik: My intention behind the work, I suppose. I would never work on a piece for more than one sitting 10 years ago, and wouldn't think about creating it in any sort of archival or sell-able way. I also hated drawing the same thing twice, so there was never any pencil-than-ink process, and that can be limiting when creating intricate linework. Now I value having a period of days or weeks to put the proper amount of energy + intention into each line, while still maintaining the free-flowing organic methods I've developed.

Wlfmrs: I notice you go back and forth with your medium, one piece will be ink, then paint then pencil.. do you have a preferred medium?

Choplogik: ink on paper is where I like to live, because it's my most practiced. But I just like to create, when it comes down to it. I have lots of art filed away that's done on cardboard, random bits of memo paper. I love ripping apart antique books for their stained pages. If all I have is an electric razor and a yeti, I can shave lightning bolts in it. Bam. Art. It's happening all the time, you just have to engage with the world around you with joy + mischievousness. It will reward your efforts.

Wlfmrs: Well said! It's hard for some artists to take a chance with their work and cause a bit of destruction to make it live again.

Do you have a goal in mind with your work? A gallery you want to be in or particular international artists you'd like to show with?

Choplogik: It's a struggle. you love something you create too much to risk ruining it. It's all in your head, though.. trying to hold on to things can lead to suffering. That Picasso dude said something about "every act of creation is first an act of destruction. " That can happen multiple times within one piece. I tell myself that the energy and inspiration is retained even if something is covered, and that makes it ok.

Certain galleries, to show along certain artists.. those aren't really milestones I use to measure my success. If they happen to coincide with my path, then great. There's no 'I've made it" moment waiting for me; I've achieved those kinds of goals, and they're ultimately ephemeral. I want to focus on continuing my craft, progressing my understanding of the world around me through my art, bringing joy and maybe a little laughter to it through my work. To be able to do that full-time until I die, is my goal.

Wlfmrs: I love that you've stepped out of the idealistic artists goal. Creating your own unique milestones is reflective in your work. Now that you've said that, A certain freedom is very apparent.

Choplogik: Haha, thanks! Who knows, it's my outlook at this point. It could just be a fancy-sounding way of copping out. I'll tell you how I feel in 10 years when I'll doubtlessly be buried under a pile of cash & babes & the like.

Wlfmrs: Ha perfect!  Favorite beer?

choplogik: Crooked Tooth Pumpkin Ale by Philips is damn delicious. Perfect for swigging & sharing & gazing out on a beautiful fall day. I have not been endorsed in any way by the Philips Brewing Company for this message.

me: That's too bad.. you should be. Have you done any commissions yet?

Choplogik: For beer? No. Most of my commissions come with the instructions of "something in that funky Choplogik style", so it's really just like spinning a record backwards- they pay money before it's created. Maybe they sense + enjoy the freedom + randomness of my work, too. I sell a lot of work to people I never meet, and that haven't seen my art anywhere except my website. It's pretty surreal, but I definitely like the idea of strangers resonating with my art completely separate from knowing me. To me that's another one of those 'artist' milestones.

Wlfmrs: Do you have a job other than making the art?

Choplogik: I do minor graphic design / web design projects, but no. The art is my full-time job, believe it or not. Why do think I have so much time to come up with all these awesome answers?

Wlfmrs: Awesome! I do believe it...I've been digging your art for a long time and would be surprised if you had any other job.

I have another guest question for you...

 Choplogik: Shoot.

Wlfmrs: Jeff..a friend who owns a local bike shop, wants to know if you ride bikes.

Choplogik: Yeah I do. My main mode of transportation... but my primary bike ('08 Specialized Rockhopper) got stolen a couple weeks ago. Now I ride my Raleigh 'Twenty' fold-up around.. it's from the early 1970's and is a solid machine, with absolutely no braking power. It's perfect for downtown Vancouver though, the gear system lets me switch when I'm stopped at intersections.

Wlfmrs: Crazy! That's like my dad's old bike that Jeff helped me restore... We've got to take those for a ride some day! If I brought my bike over to Van, where would we ride?

Choplogik: We'd cruise the seawall for sure, in an off-peak time when there's less pedestrians. Start in Kits, wind all the way up False Creek and around to Stanley Park, end up at Momo's Sushi on Bidwell in the West End, huge portions for dirt cheap. I have not been endorsed in any way by Momo's Sushi House for this message.

Wlfmrs: Oh yeah, I can dig that for sure. Jeff wants to know if you would ever make the art on your bike?

Choplogik: That's a pretty sweet idea! If there's a good way to make it weather resistant, I'd totally customize. When I think art on bikes, I think Dzine; there's a masterful marriage of 'art' + 'bike'.. inspiring. Google it, yo.

Wlfmrs: Jeff thinks we should get you over for an art show and schedule it around a monthly cruiser ride he organizes here. I think it'd be sweet but the last one is this month so we'd have to do it next year.

Choplogik: I'm down for these future plans. I'll be moving into a new studio and then I'm out of town for Christmas, so next year would be better anyhow. Gives me time to visualize and conceptualize! I'm in.

Wlfmrs: sweet.. Upcoming shows or something rad you are working on?

Choplogik: Hmm, there's a show opening at The Fall  that runs for 2 months, and then I'll have collabs with Mandy in her solo show at Ayden in May, but all my other secret projects are too secret right now! The people with just have to stay tuned.

Oh, except my cards. I started hand making screen-printed cards and I sell them for $5. I want everyone to know about them. You can check 'em out on my website.

 Wlfmrs: Guest question real quick: Jason wants to know 1) if any of your work is rendered on a computer 2) if you prefer Mac or PC and 3) favorite Scotch or wine?

Choplogik: 1) Everything is traditionally hand-drawn, any color / level adjusting I do is to try and match how the piece looks in real life (I have a tablet that is covered in dust, though) 2) PC all the way (I'm a geek and I like to build computers.. I feel like I lose a lot of freedom with Macs because I can't customize them as easily, from a software + hardware standpoint.) 3) Laphroaig holds a special place in my liver, for purely sentimental reasons. Probably need to experience some better scotch.

Wlfmrs: Jason says you have perfect taste in the booze.

 Choplogik: Good to know. I will stay the course, then.

Wlfmrs: ok.. I think that's all for the moment.. thanks for being so awesome to interview! I love, love your work and you're a super rad character so I'm exceptionally stoked to have a chance to 'sit' with you and chat!

Choplogik: I can only say that it takes true awesomeness to recognize it in others. So thank you very much!

You can fall in love with Choplogik's work on his website, on facebook , or abuse him on twitter. Don't be lazy, keep up with this guy!