Rodd Quinn is an Art of Austin artist! Get to know more about him and his work!
Rodd Quinn
AoA – How long have you been in Austin and how did you find your way here?
Rodd – After a series of rather unfortunate events occurred to me while living nearly 7 years in Houston TX, I decided to take that faithful leap and move to the live music capital of the world October of 2016. The recently closed, graffiti park (my second home) was also a huge factor in me deciding to relocate here. I had always wanted to add spray paint as part of my arsenal of mediums to work with. So learning to spray at the wall seemed logical.
AoA – When did you realize that you were an artist?
Rodd – My father and older brother would always create art. Dad preferred painting classic cars, while my brother leaned more towards drawing bubble letters,hip hop/break dancing-esque art in the early 80s then shifting his style to digital/3D renderings in the mid 90s. I always looked up to both of them and foolishly dreamed of the day were I could actually say I was a “better” artist than both of them. I’m still trying to figure out Whatever that (being a better artist) actually means. I saw art more as a hobby or an escape in my youth, little did I know it would become more than just how well one can replicate something simply by looking at that thing and making it appear on paper or canvas for the viewers to enjoy.
AoA – Can you speak to your art training?
Rodd – Trial and error have always been the hardest but best teachers, surrounding myself around talented, like minded, goal oriented, egoless artists and passing along whatever knowledge I too have accumulated has also become part of the training/learning curve. My best lesson ever learned from any teacher, Mr. Salazar (my first real high school art teacher) was when he told me to draw from the heart and soul. My left brain tried telling my right brain that Salazar didn’t know what he was talking about, realism was the true king of it all. But as I tried to prove him wrong, like a typical teen who thinks they know better, my heart kept wondering what would happened if we did express ourselves to the fullest and not care how precise or identical a piece could get, in fact why even copy from anything?
AoA – Where do you derive inspiration from?
Rodd – I started painting from inspiration coming from my dreams, all my life I have been able to recall the good majority of my crazy other worldly dreams, And they have turned out to be a great source of never ending inspiration. The environment I’m surrounded by also can affect the feeling and mood of my pieces using sometimes colors or objects around me and incorporate them into my art work. I have also learned how to use emotions felt, whether they are good or bad ones and convert all that energy into the ultimate form of therapy by art, by pouring out all of that energy into something visually beautiful and expressive g yourself without words. I also always have to remind myself that Not all art should be created because it will match the couch, heck some art should be meant just for the artist. Stop trying to impress everyone and do it for yourself. Do it for your own sanity and happiness. Who cares what others may think as long as you love the art. That should be all that matters.
AoA – Can you tell us about what your work is concerned with?
Rodd – The main concern that does primarily come to mind is always pushing the art to its limits. Give the viewer something they have never seen before. Have them questioning reality..”how’d he do that? Why did he do that? I can’t believe he did that…how is that even possible? What am I seeing? Who am I? What is the meaning of life?” I use to be more concerned in creating quick pieces so I could just move on to the next project. Now I feel like “what’s the rush”? I take my time because good art requires you to pour a bit of your soul into every project. We (the artists) are standing in front of the canvas for an “x” amount of time per piece, might as well treat it like your child, or your favorite garden plant. Water it, feed it, talk to it , nurture it, love it.
AoA – Can you talk a little about your creative processes in creating?
Rodd – I have developed a flow state style that barely requires me to over think the direction of my strokes by using what I consider, feel good, funky music, to quiet the nosy, know it all, left brain and it works as a great guide for the flow of my paint strokes. Been told it is a very unique, entertaining creation process whenever I perform my paintings for a live audience. I see myself like a human, art printer by way of brush and paint, smoothly gliding through a canvas to the rhythm of music. This style of painting usually ends up leading me into different, better directions to the original conceived concept for every creation and it also helps for me to have a great time while painting. It flies by at times making me able to push myself to paint for 10-14hrs with minimal breaks.
AoA – Big question. What do you feel the role of art is in the world?
Rodd – Art is something that is embedded in every single one of us around the world. As children we always are doodling and coloring. For some odd reason the good majority of us give up on that. I really would love to understand why? Art to me isn’t a hobby at all anymore. It is as important to my health as breathing, food and water, mentally, spiritually, heck even physically because it also has me pushing my mind, body and soul to their greatest potential. If more people learned that it has all these therapeutic qualities maybe this world would be a better place. Until we get to that mind set, arts purpose should always be to stimulate the senses, good art is always up to the viewer, but always make sure to get art because it moved you, not because it’s the same color of ur living room walls.
AoA – Who are some artists that you look to?
Rodd – Rene Magritte’s (one of the grandfathers of surrealism) style always spoke to me more than Dali’s even though I consider Dali one of my all time favorite painters, I identified more with Magritte’s clean banality, in unexplainable surrealistic surroundings. Van Gogh’s tragic life also moved me. As I was growing up I didn’t really appreciate the true beauty behind his pieces, but now as an educated, adult artist, I see how uniquely intricate everyone of his colorful creations truly were
AoA – If you could own 1 piece from a living artist, who would it be?
Rodd – I would love getting my hands on Anything original made by Alex Grey, sketch, painting, sculpture
AoA – What else do you enjoy besides making art?
Rodd – Dancing is just as much of a passion as creating art. That’s why I enjoy live painting so much, it combines both of my passions and converts them into one. Street Photography and searching for musical gems also Intrigues me. Rock climbing, paddle boarding, cycling and hiking are my favorite things to do when I’m not creating, especially in this city that lends itself out to properly practice these activities with ease.
AoA – Where can we find your work? Do you have any shows planned for the future?
Rodd – You can find my work on my Instagram or on Facebook as well as my other Facebook pages roddquinnartt and roddquinnfotoo. My next project involves editing together all my favorite pictures taken at the graffiti wall and making them into a coffee table book with some compelling photographical mementos and stories behind everyone of the pictures. I’m also trying to create mini YouTube episodes from all my travels across the east coast as well as the west coast tour which will start this summer. Stay tuned for more of “the artt of travel.”
AoA – Any final advice for all the artists reading out there?
Rodd – Never get too comfortable with any medium or style. Always push yourself to learn a new medium every so often. Stay hungry but always remember to stay humble. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and comfort friend ships. Meet new people, stay active learn and talk with one another.
Connect with Rodd!