Interview with Thomas Fluharty
 Photo by Ryan Stadler | |
| Author | Jon Casey |
|---|---|
| Genre | Article |
| Published | EF Issue 2015.3 |
Publication date | Summer 2015 |
| Media type | Digital |
| Pages | 12-17 |
| Website |
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An interview with Thomas Fluharty, released digitally in EF Issue 2015.3 on pages 12-17.
Article Transcript
Jon Casey: Tom Fluharty is an artist whose career spans decades in caricature. From magazine covers to advertising storyboards to children’s books, landscape paining and fine art, he has evolved into one of America’s treasures. His fan base has grown to include even those whom he paints, such as Paul McCartney. As an instructor on Schoolism.com and an active member of Facebook and Instagram art communities, he is open and happy to share his thoughts with the caricature community of ISCA. Over Skype, Tom and I met up for a discussion on his recent project of Pop Art painting, and much more.
Q: How has Instagram and Facebook changed your process?
A: Social media is huge. I love to draw and just be free, but it’s hard to be creative from pure motives and free from social media. It’s kind of ridiculous actually, it’s removed “creating from a pure motive” to think “I’m going to show this thing in 10 minutes.” But I get it — you also want people following you. You never know what’s going to happen. I’m building a fan base and
Q: The pop culture thing seems relatively new to you. Why are you pursuing this as opposed to other opportunities?
A: I want to combine my loves. I love oil painting and caricature. I really love caricature. Sadly, it’s a decreasing paying industry. Editorial is dying. Seeking to be an editorial “illustrator” is foolish. Illustrator is a big term; fundamental drawing and
Q: Why do you love caricature?
A: I’m able to create something different, that stands out. It doesn’t look like Krűger’s work though I love Krűger. It doesn’t look like someone else, thankfully. I steal from people. Professionals steal and amateurs imitate. Phillip Burke is a great caricaturist and I’ve stolen from him. I’m heavily inspired by Michael Ramirez. I could show you, on a painting of mine, this is stolen from that artist, over here is stolen from another. When I’m drawing a hand, an ear, a piece of hair, a tooth – I’m caricaturing THAT thing. I’m never taking time off as a caricaturist. Even if I’m drawing from someone else, I make it my own. Peter de Sève, he’s standing on the back of Heinrich Kley. I’m not unique, I’m standing on the backs of great artists. Shut the books and keep working. I want to sell these paintings because I really get caricature. I love it.
Q: What technique did you use for these?
A: I’ve done the Dutch Flemish technique. Starting with an underpainting, I use some raw umber, white, maybe some black, and nail down the under painting. I did that for the Paul McCartney and BB King. When I got to the Prince painting, I painted it Alla Prima, direct. I painted off of a 50% value stain of raw umber. You start from the middle and move outward, judging the hue and tone together. When I saw a purple shadow mass on his face, I mix the value and dab it on to check if it’s too dark or too light. It took 12 to 15 paintings to get to finally feel like I was getting somewhere in the Pop Culture series. I’m always thinking about if really good painters would like it? Would Jeremy Lipking think it’s average, who knows? I haven’t painted every day for 30 years, so I’m not too sure how it will be received from a painter’s point of view, but I’m really confident in the fundamental drawing strength of it.
Q: Do you have any morning rituals you would like to share?
A: The first thing I do when I wake up is have some quiet time. I meet with God to pray and read the Bible. I’m not a religious person; I have a relationship with God through Jesus. I talk to my wife for a little bit. Then I come to the studio. I try to ignore email, Facebook, Instagram. There are so many great artists on FB posting out there, and their ability can suck the life out of you if I compare myself to them. Comparing ourselves to those better than us is very destructive. So not going to social media first— it helps me to create something with momentum, plus I’m fresh in the morning. If I have to work on other jobs less fun, I’ll take the time to dream while I’m working on them. Inspiration comes while you are working on something else. If I was wealthy, and didn’t have to fight, I’m not sure I would have the inspiration. When you have to fight for something, it’s a good thing. I like the struggle. No one is ever calling me handing me a new career direction.
Q: Is there any book you like to reread or give out as a gift?
A: The number one book I give to anybody, especially any artist, is the Purple Cow by Seth Godin. It is the book for critical thinking on being a successful creative person. He helps you understand how to separate yourself, how to think, and create something remarkable. It’s crucial to know the principles of being unique. Everyone is screaming “Look at me, look at me”, and no one is standing out. The book explains how the author’s family goes to the French countryside for the first time, and for a while they are pointing at all the beautiful cows. After a while, it all looks the same. Had there been a purple cow, it would have stood out and grabbed attention. You can get it in any bookstore and read it in two hours.
Q: How has this thinking influenced your work?
A: I approach my paintings with a goal of creating something that’s never been seen before. I have a 3-point creed above my easel. I’m not just going to do pop culture that’s been done before. It needs to be remarkable. Number one, Do I love it? And I show it to a small group of trusted artists. Do they love it? Number 2, Is it heroic? I have a reputation for being mean, so is this a favorable image? Does the image lean into a fan possibly purchasing it? A buyer has to think “I have to have this, I LOVE IT.” Number 3, Has it been seen before? I’m not just going to take a picture that exists and paint it. I push and squeeze on it. I might combine 3 different photos. I have to communicate an idea. It has to have draftsmanship and beautiful painting technique. Great art reveals a new view. With the painting of Paul McCartney, there’s “Beatlemania” encapsulated into one painting.
Q: Would you ever paint the Rolling Stones?
A: No, because Krűger owns it. He broke the images. There are a lot of caricature artists that imitate Krűger. I don’t have to be better than Krűger—he’s the best. We don’t have to beat him because you can’t. You don’t have to be better than Michael Jordan in basketball. But you can be great, you can be remarkable. I love that people are fired up about caricature, but what are you doing? Are you a Krűger wannabe? If Krűger is already doing Krűger, why are you doing it? Shut the books. Try to bring all of your inspirations into one place.
Jon Casey: Following this article, Paul McCartney tweeted Tom’s painting of him. With over 2.4 million twitter followers, it was retweeted hundreds of times and brought new eyes to the world of caricature and pop art. Tom graciously thanked the ISCA community and sent a message that he was honored to be in our magazine.
See Also
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