Studio visit and interview with

Jeff Denomme

I met Jeff Denomme at this years TELUS Ski and Snowboard Festival in Whistler and instantly revered his dreadfully cheery illustrations.

(image courtesy of Jeff Denomme)

A few months back, Jeff welcomed me into his studio for a look around. The following is a combination of images from both Jeff & myself and an email interview by my assistant, Sydney Fisher.

1. Who inspired you to start painting?

No one really inspired me to paint: I had already established myself as a clothing and graphic designer, and painting was a natural progression as another creative outlet. If I had to pick though, it was an artist by the name of "Shag" - his work looks like vector graphics but it is all painting. That inspired me to see if I could also create such perfect lines with paint.

 

 

(image courtesy of Jeff Denomme)

2. Which of your characters were your first? Which one's your favorite?

I've had many charters before Haunted Zoo but the first character of the Haunted Zoo crew was Chirps (the bird). I designed him and a naked sasquatch for a Skateboard show in Detroit Michigan. He didn't have a name or bio yet and I didn't even know that the Haunted Zoo crew would be created at that point. The first character that made me realize that the Haunted Zoo Crew needed to be conceived was Maverick (the bee). I used him on a Snowboard design that I did for the Telus Ski & Snowboard Festival. People would tell me how much they loved him, and after thousands of strangers voted for him I won the Silver medal for the contest. It was no gold but I'm allergic to gold anyway, so it worked out in the end…

 

It’s hard to say who my favorite is - you’re not allowed to say who your favourite child is (out loud anyway). Let’s just say I am recognized most as the “Bee Guy” and have him tattooed on me. So I guess if one of your children pays your bills, you might lean toward that one as your fave.

 

(image courtesy of Jeff Denomme)

3. Which of your pieces are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my two 4’x4’ pieces because they are huge and I did them for my first “real” art show. I didn’t know I could paint so big. I personally really like my 1955 Hoover vacuum that I painted into a face.  I’m always proud of the cutouts I do because it’s a lot of work with the skill saw. I don’t have a wood shop with all the fancy tools so when they’re finished I’m pretty happy that I made it out with all my fingers.

 (image courtesy of Jeff Denomme)

4. What usually inspires you for your art?

As for thinking of ideas it is usually before I go to bed. When I am half asleep my brain goes wild and thinks of weird things and sometimes I can even hear people having conversations, with different voices, even though I am all alone.

My inspiration to continue to create and have shows is from all the fans that I have been lucky enough to touch with my art. Nothing feels better than someone that loves your art so much that when they do meet you they can barely tell you because they are so excited. That tells me that I have to continue on or I will be pulling a little piece of someone else’s reality away from them as well. That’s what keeps me driving forward on those rainy days.

 

 

(image courtesy of Jeff Denomme)

5. In the beginning, was Fathom Clothing your first enterprising endeavor?

and how long did that go for?

My first enterprising endeavor was when I was about 8yrs old. My friends and I had a Kool-Aid stand in our new subdivision. I saw all the thirsty construction workers and wondered how I could convert thirsty construction workers into a large pizza from Domino’s and a couple packs of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle trading cards. After a few weeks, we were eating pizza and trading cards.

 

At 19 I knew I had to return to my business roots of yester year and started Fathom Clothing in 2002. I had some of the biggest bands in the post-punk movement wearing my designs on MTV and on stage.  It was great to be on tours and selling clothes to people around the world. Once that scene blew up everybody and their mother started similar clothing companies. Since I have a serious desire to stand out and lead I got bored and wanted to start something new. That is when Haunted Zoo was born and Fathom was put on hiatus. I will release new Fathom designs at some point because I get asked all the time. I probably shouldn’t put off their requests for too long, since they are the reason I am able to follow my dreams in the first place.

 

(image courtesy of Jeff Denomme)

6. Do you still see your images from your earlier works around?

Oh ya! It’s awesome to see people still representing the old gear. I was just home and saw someone wearing one of the first shirts that came out 7 years ago. Some people don’t even wear them they just collect them which I just found out recently too. It’s  also cool to go to parties at people’s houses and see that they have kept and framed old concert posters I have designed.

7. Coolest concept for a show you've been in?

I haven’t really been asked to be in any shows that the concepts were that out of the ordinary yet, just the usual, pirates, robots, skateboarding etc. Although it was very cool when a good friend of mine, Darren Camplin, and I agreed to share a big wall at State of the Art in Whistler and we free-styled real logs onto a wall to create a tree. We then hung a swinging girl off the branch on our wall - we definitely had the best wall design going.

 

8.How are you so happy all the time? It's awesome!

How am I so happy all the time? Look what I get to do! I get to be in advanced kindergarten all day, everyday. I project myself as a fun, positive, friendly person that is just as excited to meet you, as you might be to meet me. If you are not excited at first, ill get you sooner or later. I find it funny that this isn’t the first time I have been asked this question. Are artists taught to be sad or are they just born that way? I never went to fine art school so I don’t know all the “rules and regulations” that people learn to put on them selves socially as an “artist”. I don’t pay attention to art rules or care to find out about them. I have met some very snobby artists out there that need a smack back into reality. Why are you so sad and negative? You are living the dream life and have people that adore you. Smile or quit. Get a job at McDonald’s so you can start practicing your “Free Smiles”.

9. Was HauntedZoo of your own creation or did you have collaborative help?

Haunted Zoo is 100% me at this point. I would love to get some help to take care of the business side more. I hate that part. I just want to make stuff and promote. I hate numbers; they’re like monsters under your bed.

 

10. Do you ever look back at your older work and compare it to your

present work?

I don’t really compare old to new. You must crawl before you walk and walk before you run. It is all part of the journey. I just bought some running shoes so watch out…

 

(image courtesy of Jeff Denomme)

11. If you could, would you move back to your hometown in Ontario, and try to transform it into a more artsy community?

That is definitely a possibility. Maybe, in the future when I’m like the Jay-z of art or something but I have to get there first before I can transform a whole city. Windsor is getting more art support from the artists and community as the years go by but maybe I can just be a guest speaker? If I moved back now for that reason I think it would be a step backwards in my career. I believe that people in my hometown look up to me more for moving around and tapping into bigger cities and projects. I will never forget the support I got from Windsor but I need to swim in other ponds with bigger fish right now. I’m always excited to go back home and rock out with all my friends, its great. But California or Australia are looking like more of an option than back home at this point. When I get that Jay-Z bankroll, I will also have a house in Windsor. Until then Ill keep renting in my lil’ studio in Vancouver.

 

(image courtesy of Jeff Denomme)

(image courtesy of Jeff Denomme)

Thank you for your time and awesome art!

Thanks for you time, this opportunity and thinking my art is awesome!

 

Stay positive, believe in yourself and respect each other. We all win that way.

 

Jeff Denomme

www.hauntedzoo.com

 

 

- Sydney Fisher

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