Garrett Scales
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Raleigh based artist Garrett Scales. Garrett utilizes intricate hand cut stencils and spray paint to create stunning visual works that are brimming with vibrant colors and rich detail. I became an instant fan the first time I saw one of his pieces, and I hope that by the end of this interview you will be too!
How did you first become interested in stenciling?
I helped a couple of friends move across country to California. While I was there soaking up some culture we picked up a street art zine. I can’t remember the name of it, but I remember the article featured a stencil artist by the name of Chris Francis. His work blew me away. I hadn’t done much up to that point art wise, I’d do some drawing from time to time but definitely no painting and especially no spray painting. In his interview he gave a basic run down of how he got started and his reasons for continuing. The part that stuck out the most for me was what he used to create his work. He gathered everything he needed from hardware stores rather than art supply stores. Everything to get started clocked in under 10 bucks. When I returned home I jumped in head first and have been hooked ever since.
Where do you find the inspiration for your work?
These days it comes from a variety of places. I’m trying to get deeper into anything I can get my hands on. Nature has and will always be a major force behind what I do. I’m also finding music is playing an interesting role. Whether it’s through the lyrics or the overall feel of the song. I am also finding inspiration from works by artists in different fields.
Your designs are so detailed and complex. For people who are not familiar with stenciling, can you describe what your creative process is like?
In the beginning it was a bit simpler than it is today. It usually started with a picture I found online and from there I would throw it through some photoshop filters and set it up to cut. These days it’s a little more hands on. I start with an image, print it out and then begin to illustrate over the model. After that I’ll rescan it, enlarge it or reduce it, clean it up where I need to, then print and cut. Once it’s cut then I get to have fun.
On average, how long does it take you to finish a piece?
Time is always dependent on the size of the overall piece. Usually a 24″ x 48″ piece can take anywhere from 16 to 20 hours to complete. Smaller pieces can take anywhere from 4 to 12 hours. Also more layers usually means more time. The most consuming part is the cutting and the planning. Fortunately the painting goes by much faster. The plus side, though, is that when you finish you have something that can be repeated in different environments and give you a variety of feedback.
What projects do you have coming up?
Right now I’m starting an installation at Artspace. The first piece will be up for the April First Friday, and the second piece will be installed for the First Friday for May, fingers crossed. This one is a first for me. The two pieces will be tied together thematically. I wanted to draw a lot form Art Nouveau and am hoping it shows. They’re going to represent times of day. The first one will represent midnight, and the second is going to represent midday. So far it’s been an interesting process mainly because of the size. The wall is the largest I’ve painted on and the pieces themselves are quite big, roughly measuring 48″ x 90″. After this I’m going to focus on a show I have with Georges LeChevallier and Brian Gonzales at the Miriam Preston Block Art Gallery. And hopefully in between and after that I will find time to sit back and reflect on what and where I’m going with my work.
Where can people find your work?
I have a small online shop set up, and plan to add more to it very soon after my schedule clams down a little bit. You can find it at http://www.ilovecottonwood.bigcartel.com
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