interview with Yanick Blanchet!  

Wlfmrs: Favorite beer?

Yanick: Guiness

Wlfmrs: Hah.. yeah, funny how that happens. Good beer!

Yanick: Mixed with apple cider is also very good... damn now I want to drink a black velvet!

Wlfmrs: Sorry, GREAT beer! Living in Montreal, there are a ton of art shows happening all over the place… do you try and hit up as many as possible or are you pretty passive about the barrage going on there?

Yanick: I've spent so much time into show that now I'm kind of, or indifferent, or felling so out of it, that I can't figure out what to go see and what's not worth it... but I honestly spent years sleeping one night a week 'cause I would be in shows the 6 other nights. Wednesday would usually be the night off, the rest of the week was one show after the other.

Wlfmrs: If you could do a collaboration with any artist on any project...what would it be and who would you want to collab with?

Yanick: Good question! so many names pop into mind...Erik Otto from SF would be one... Mike Giant, always been a fan of Jeff Soto. Turf One is one of my favorite artists too.  On the local scene there's Meka Zombie Corp. Johnny Crap... also a big fan of Chris Ryniak and Craig "Craola" Simkins... If I could be in a show with all theses guys, I'd be the happiest man on earth!

I also love Frank Kozik, just a fan of the character! such a cool "I don't give a f**k about anything" dude! :)

Wlfmrs: If you would ever consider moving any where outside of Montreal and if so, where?

Yanick: SF...I spent some time there in the last year and I just fell in love with the city, such a nice town, nice people and the art scene is just incredible. I'd say Vancouver but to be honest, I've only passed by twice on my way to Terrace on my way back from there... I'd love to go spend more than 2 days in Vancouver some time, thought it was a nice city! :)

Wlfmrs: I would have to agree with you about SF. Love that place!

You were talking about tattoos before...and you've recently gotten a new one, can you tell me about them?

Yanick: Got "STAY TRUE" tattooed on my knuckles... to be honest, I was probably more nervous getting my knuckles tattooed that I was when I got my first one 20 years ago... I know my mom doesn't like tattoos and even if half of my body is covered, hands are still a big step and I'm stressed about her reaction! But yes, I have more than my share of tattoos, the joys of having friend who own tattoo shops is that you're always tempted of getting new ones!

Wlfmrs: Is 'STAY TRUE' obvious or are you reaching for a deeper meaning? It's not like a quote from your favorite childhood book or something?

Yanick: I've never thought of getting any typo tattooed until 2 years ago when things happened that made me want to get more meaning full and straight forward stuff tattooed. Most of my tattoo represent something, like family, friendship, work, "battles" I've fought to fight to get where I am, but if I don't tell you the story you'll never know, but my knuckles are basically a reminder to myself and kind of a message to people I have to deal with in my life...

Wlfmrs: Have you ever drawn a tattoo for someone?

Yanick: Nope. Most of the tattoo artists I know don't really like tattooing other people stuff, first 'cause they have their own style and second of all there's a technical part to tattooing that make some drawing untattooable or if you tattoo it, it won't stay nice for a very long time...

Wlfmrs: How would you feel if someone had one of your pieces of art tattooed on them?

Yanick: probably a bit weird but mostly very honored.

Wlfmrs: Ok, going back to your graphic designer/artist side... do you have any advice to the younger generation looking to get into this field?

Yanick: Be curious and never stop digging, never settle... and don't be afraid to contact and to ask question to those you think are references, most of them are super nice! Internet is a wonderful tool for that and the younger generations are lucky to have it, makes everything so much easier... but at the same time, if something interest you research it and find out where it's from... nothing was invented in the last year, it all comes from somewhere!

Wlfmrs: Nice… any last words?

Yanick: ... Last word... I just think that there's something awesome going on in the art scene theses days, with guys like Shepard Fairey and Banksy opening the mainstream doors so that a whole new generation of artists can make their way on to the scene and actually consider making a living out of art, with projects like Safewalls backed up by le Cirque du Soleil that give lowbrow artist a chance to be seen all over the place, I just think that nice thing are going to happen and hopefully I'll be a part of it so will Wallfarmers!

Wlfmrs: Awesome! Those are kind words indeed. And thank for that!

Yanick: My pleasure! 

You people definitely need to keep up on this guy because he is not only a rad dude, but very talented. Get creepy about it, he doesn't mind. Twitter / Facebook / Tumblr. He also posts all his goods on instagram but there is no link to get to that, you just have to have that silly app.