Interview with Artist Vikram Madan
We just released Night of the Mystic Moons, painted by Seattle painter Vikram Madan. Here's an interview with the artist: AP: Could you give us a brief personal history? When did...
We just released Night of the Mystic Moons, painted by Seattle painter Vikram Madan.
Here's an interview with the artist:
AP: Could you give us a brief personal history? When did you begin your artistic journey?
Madan: I was born and grew up in India. Was always creating something or the other as a kid, and did a lot of self-taught cartooning in my college years, but ended up studying engineering and worked in tech for most of my life. A few years ago, an epiphany in a Paris museum led me to take part-time art classes, and then 4 years ago I quit my tech career to attend art school-full time. Have been working as a professional artist for the last 2 years.
AP: What inspires your works?
Madan: It helps to be a little crazy. :) Actually, inspiration comes from everywhere. I study the classical masters, and follow contemporary artists, while being steeped in sci-fi and pop-culture. My work tends to blend elements from various things I like – colors from my childhood, influences from animated movies, robots from my engineering background, humor from my cartooning background, ideas from real life...
For example, If you look carefully at the Moons painting, you’ll see references to Groucho Marx, Frankenstein, George Melies, 1950’s golden age sci-fi...
AP: You have a such a variety of styles and mediums with which you work with. Is there any one in particular that is your favorite to work in?
Madan: I rotate frequently through oils, acrylics, watercolors, and pen & ink. I like pen & ink because of my cartooning roots, watercolors for their unpredictability, acrylics for speed-painting, and oils for their lustrous textures.Often the nature of the project, and the looming deadline, will define which medium I use.
AP: Is there any particular topic/character that is your favorite to draw?
Madan: Robots. There’s lots of robots in my work – in fact I have an entire book of robot drawings ‘A Rupture of Robots’. And octopuses. Octopuses are cool.
AP: What have you been up to lately?
Madan: I just published my second art book – ‘A Rumpus of Reapers’ which is slightly darker humor featuring a character I call Lil’ Grim reaper.
When not painting, I also write funny poems. My debut poetry book ‘The Bubble Collector’ was nominated for the WA State Book Awards in 2014.
Welcome you who enter here
Come step right up and lend an ear
And in return, for just a while
I promise you shall laugh and smile...
AP: You can check out all our Vikram Madan puzzles here. Thanks Vikram for sharing!