At this year’s Eternal Warfare Records Fest you will have the chance to talk to two of the most prolific illustrator/musician/tattooists out there right now. To celebrate their participation at the Salem, OR, fest from March 29th to 31st (aka this weekend), Bryan Proteau of Natvres Mortes Illvstration and Rueben Sawyer of Rainbath Visual agreed to interview each other.
This is Part II of the interview: Natvres Mortes Illvstration Interviews Rainbath Visual
I know you’ve read a lot of works by Aleister Crowley and Austin Osman Spare. What impact has this had on your artwork and your process? What role does the Occult play in the modern world?
Crowley stands as more of a teacher figure for me, while Spare is a inspiration visually. The biggest impact for me was re-evaluating why I create and how it plays a role in accordance to my will. Every act is indeed a magickal one. The role the occult plays in modern society is the awakening of the true human spirit in this dying age. This awakening is a glance towards the infinite and the flame in every man’s heart. The world is dramatically changing, and we cannot progress with strictly the means of staying horizontal.
The more time I spent with you, the more I realized you are a musician foremost and a visual artist second. How long have you been playing music and can you take us through your current active projects?
I definitely am more passionate about music than I am my own art, but I try to keep a solid balance with the two. It can get pretty tough when I’m burning inside to record and I have a lot of client work on my hands. I have been involved with recording music since I was about 15. At that time I was doing alot of headache-inducing laptop IDM electronic music. From that stage it progressed to learning drums and guitar while having a solid background in electronic music and home production progressed to the music projects im involved in currently.
For me, I need to have a home base. I like having a place to call my own with all my materials handy. You’ve moved around a lot over the last year, bouncing around socal. Has this affected your ability to work on art or is it not really a problem for you?
It’s not a problem at all when I have my “on the go” illustration supplies. I have gotten extremely used to working in all sorts of changing environments and I believe that it’s important for the artist to experience that. Too many reclusive illustrators get caught up in their own neurosis.
Who has been your favorite client in your career thus far? Is there a band/publication of some kind out there that you feel like you could create a really fitting visual for?
That is a tough question because I am so grateful and honored to have worked with such incredible bands and record labels throughout my career. I’m going to simplify things by saying that my favorite two bands I worked for last year to present date are Destruction Unit and Moss. As far as favorite illustrations I have done: Ash Borer/Fell Voices LP, Rescuer tour shirt, anything Utech related, Robotic Empire shirt and poster bundle, the new Moss LP…too many to list really, I enjoy them all! As I have said before, it would be refreshing to start working outside of the music scene more. I feel that the current music scene is incredibly over-saturated, which can be good for us illustrators, but bad for our creative drive.
You’ve told me before that you don’t actually enjoy drawing, but your work conveys such passion and frenzy. What is the driving force of creation for you? I refuse to believe you’re motivated solely by money, because there really isn’t any money in this.
When it comes to client work my driving force is the finished illustration. It’s not a issue of money at all and deep down I just want my clients to have a solid illustration to fall in love with. Laziness is poisonous to the illustrator. I put my all into my work, regardless of it being a LP or a demo cassette. I believe if you are going to create something, that you have no right but to put the core of your being into it. Doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it! I’m sure no surgeon truly enjoys open heart surgery or stillborn labor (ridiculous comparison haha).
You have intimated to me that you might put drawing on hold in the near future and pursue painting more. What does the brush inspire that the pen cannot? Are there ideas in your head that can only be manifested through the act of painting?
Since drawing is my main source of income I would be shooting myself in the foot if I put it on hold. My involvement with painting is currently just personal growth. As far as the brush and the pen: pen is more permanent simply enough and painting is stylistically the polar opposite of my pen-based work. The act of painting is definitely more subconscious and less defined in my opinion. It’s good to be well rounded. Think of it as painting for me is like tattooing for you.
We’re going to be sharing a table at Eternal Warfare Fest in Salem. What are you most looking forward to about the weekend?
I think I’m really excited about giving you a really hard time and annoying you with my drunkenness.
If you could curate your own music festival, who would you invite and where would it be held?
I wish I was passionate enough about music festivals! I think Stella Natura last year was my music festival climax. Maybe Adam can outdo himself this year, who knows! I’m not going to steer around the question. If I had the reigns it would be a festival that revolved around this current shift in the scene. To name a few: Aluk Todolo, Circle of Ouroborus, Horseback, Book of Sand, Bosse-de-Nage. Genre-bending and changing the face of metal music.
What has been your most rewarding discovery over the past year?
Myself! The past year has been such a intense and rewarding learning experience. I am incredibly thankful for everything: friends, family, clients, kittens….cheeseburgers…..
Why are we friends?
We aren’t.
Just kidding! Good times will be shared this weekend at Eternal Warfare Fest seeing great bands and meeting great people! I think it is the clash in our character that makes our friendship so fun. We would be good roommates.
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