Max Kauffman interview up-dater

It's no secret that wallfarmers thinks Max Kauffman is pretty freaking rad. This guy does everything he can to do what he loves with a pen and a brush.
While giving it all to his first show of the year, coming up at the Illiterate Gallery this weekend, Max made time for us to string together a couple conversations about the craziness of 2010, some talk on his trusty methods and some new inspirations of the year.

Wlfmrs: Alright......are you ready? Do you have beer?

Max: YES, YES, and wine….boosh!

Wlfmrs: sweet! You've been crazy busy over the past year, tell me how your 2010 started.

Max: For whatever reason I always start the new year back home in Chicago and I always end up making a piece while visiting. That usually sets the tone for the year. 2010 I had a job and was painting, so I sorta took a break and then I started getting a few commissions, then a few more, and then I was booked out all of a sudden. As far as shows, I took a big break but work wise I kept producing and then I just had one show in September or one solo type show and then had some stuff in L.A. and for the first time in NYC.

(The Places We Live)

So it was an interesting year...

I realized I could probably go back to painting but I haven’t yet...being a wuss I suppose. So that’s 2010...I worked way too much.

(Old Ways)

Wlfmrs: You went down to Florida in 2009 for Art Basel (and wrote a very kind article for us...thanks!), we haven’t really talked about that, was that your first time there? Did it blow your mind?

Max: I’d never seen such solidarity within a community. I met people that weren’t showing, but were down there to support pals. I thought it was amazing fun and it reminded me of going to shows/concerts...you sorta gave the bouncer/front guy a look that you knew what was ‘going on’ and you could get in.

So much art just staggering. I’ll definitely be back this year

Wlfmrs: Will you be showing there this year?

Max: Not yet but we shall see. The place I showed with last year, Pawn Works had an interesting presence down there so I might do something with them. I’ll go regardless and try to paint a wall or two. So far I only have one show again this year but I sorta like that route. I’ve found that I put more into it vs. spreading myself all over the f'ing place but until June, its just that and then, we shall see; One show plus many commissions/illustration work.

Wlfmrs: Awesome! What was your favorite show that you were in last year?

Max: The Unicorns show was fun. It was at WWA Gallery.

  (You're Just a Piece of Archeology In My Mind)

Wlfmrs: Did you buy a lot of art over the year?

Max: heh…yeah. I moved into a new place in December and started collecting a lot more, some trades too but I picked up a few prints from Souther Salazar, Andrew Schoultz, Herbert Baglione, Jason Jagel, Justin Lovato (swap!) and just recently got a Ferris Plock print from my pal Gabe. A few originals from Denver people too.

Wlfmrs: Do your new purchases/swaps inspire any need or want to get involved with some collabs?

Max: Not yet. I’d like to do some, but just haven’t had a moment to. I’m hoping that after June I can get back into some collabs, maybe start doing some murals.

   (shit I love this piece!... Down A Few Pegs)

Wlfmrs: What's up with your studio space? Where are you painting these days?

Max: My studio is a backroom at the new place, its cozy and it’s been great these last few weekends. I’ve been locked in there for a few days at a click and I love it

Wlfmrs: What shows do you have coming up this year?

Max: Just one in June here (Denver) with my pal and uber talented painter, Brian Robertson at Illiterate Magazine/Gallery, super pumped! They’ve been in town since Sept ’09, it’s gonna be a bigg'un.

(Away We Go)

Wlfmrs: What artists have you been stoked on this year?

Max: This guy, Andres Guzman, Andy Kehoe’s new stuff. Jaime Molina aka Gumby, Collin van der Sluijs, Betsy Walton

Wlfmrs: I freaking love Andy's work!

Max: Definitely finding myself drawn to folkier stuff as of late.

Wlfmrs: Jamie's work is tight too.

Max: It has such volume to it. Mahfood’s stuff has been really on point lately too, kinda always is. How’d that doodle come about?

Wlfmrs: I was at the convention looking at his books thinking that his work looked familiar than I saw his name on the table then was like…oh shit! It's Jim Mahfood! No wonder I knew his work! I kind of felt like an ass but I never said anything.

Max: ha…that’s cool. What convention?

Wlfmrs: The Emerald City Comic Convention in Seattle. It was super rad. I’m still trying to catch up from that weekend and post that show.

Max: Nice. I’ve never met that dude (Mahfood) but he seems like he'd be fun to hang with. You ever see the little comics he makes about his day-to-day life. He was some of the first pop artwork I saw, going to school in Arizona

Wlfmrs: Yeah, he was kind. He was also in the art show I was covering later that night but everyone was gooned so we didn’t get to talk really. It was pretty awesome though. I haven't seen those day to day comics but I'd like to!

Max: Rad! So back to this show in June, little more explanation- originally we'd talked about doing a mutual theme and both of our stuff changed a bit, so we're kind of doing dual solos. My original theme was traveling/migration, but it sorta took on a bit more. It kinda focuses on ones urge, or that animal urge to move, go somewhere else, get out of dodge go wander and also will focus on moving on, in the sense of forgiveness, sorta but coping, starting over, being aware of failings. Human stuff I guess.

Wlfmrs: How many days a week do you get to just art?

Max: Right now about 4, counting weekends

Wlfmrs: Nice to have some dedicated time just to spend on your work. Are you working on anything specific? Commissions?

Max: Just working on this stuff for my June show. I have a pretty decent backlogged list of commissions but now I have just one I’m trying to finish before the show and the rest I’m worrying about after. The one is kinda crazy...its like 6 pieces of arches (paper) that total ~ 2x3 feet easily one of the more elaborate things I’ve gotten myself into.

(A Slump and War Then Peel Back to Square One And Back For More)

Wlfmrs: I saw a photo you posted of a progress shot… looks awesome! Are you framing it? Did you know what you were going to do with it when you started?

Max: I had really vague sketches, which is good for me then I can experiment some, but within a framework.  Certain parts of that I had NO idea. The guy wanted something more atmospheric/landscapey than what I usually do so it was a really good challenge and it’s also crept into these new paintings I’ve been working on…a good catalyst if you will.

Wlfmrs: How has it changed your work? Are you using new a technique or focusing on different subjects? Are you feeling the urge to work in a different medium when given challenging commissions?

Max: Just new approach continually going more sparse, more white space or with this work, more negative space but having much more concentrated areas of detail. I guess bigger peaks and longer valleys? Still the same work/basic message/mediums here’s one new one as an example (image below), it's a greater focus on one subject I’d say.

(Blue Flower )

Wlfmrs: Can I ask you about your dedication to the medium you use?

Max: I wonder sometimes if I started trying to tackle oils or the like but I feel that the resin bumps the work on paper to that level. I think there is sort of a dedication to me...watercolor I still have such a lock on compared to other mediums. Last year I started presenting really intricate drawings on paper, which people seemed to enjoy

Wlfmrs: I know I am bias but I love the resin work, what's the biggest piece you've done with the resin?

Max: To date, just 16x20 only 2, but with this show, probably 6 that size and this 4x5er if I finish it.

Wlfmrs: Is it freaking you out a little?

Maximus: With only a month to go...definitely stressing about finishing stuff. Further hermit mode for this guy. It helps me though; when I don’t have shows I start slowing down a lot. It’s nice to have something to push me

As far as acrylic and resin- this guy, Brian Roberston, taught me the process. Acrylic w resin is CRAZY looking. There’s actually a lot of people in town who have started using resin...its sorta funny…flattering I suppose

(Untitled-Blossom )

Wlfmrs: Why is it that you don't art people in your works?

Max: I feel like or I felt like for a long time that in the little world I created people were long gone I’ve been slowly starting to incorporate them. Initially I couldn’t draw them for shit and I still cant, but in some weird stylized way I am able to.

I feel the buildings and junk are a reference to people and their creations, commentary on what people leave behind but I do pseudo people sometimes and I probably will be incorporating more somehow or another

Friday June 3rd, Max will be showing along side Brian Roberston for an exhibition of his new series, Migrations at Illiterate Gallery in Denver, CO.

Max also has some brilliant prints available at The Freakin Coffeeshop in Tintown and a small collection of original works up for viewing at the wallfarmers office at 234 6th St., Downtown Courtenay. This is a new location for the the biz and will have some regular hours coming soon. Feel free to email [email protected] for a private viewing. In the mean time, you should be stalking Max at these various locations:

http://www.kauffmanartistry.com