“When I was really young, I gravitated towards the visual arts first. I feel that's what comes most naturally to me. I've always had an immediate proclivity towards making visual art and I was a really tactile kid.” FeelsFirstsArtKidsYoungVisualsVisual ArtTactile Author:John Dyer Baizley
“Art came fluidly, so I was able to teach myself many of the things I thought were important by copying and mimicking my artistic idols.” ArtImportantAbleTeachArtisticIdolsCopyingMimicking Author:John Dyer Baizley
“It's hard for me to say what would happen if I didn't go to art school. It wasn't that I learned any specific painting or drafting skills at school that I felt I couldn't have taught myself. However there is something quintessentially unique and important that you gain by immersing yourself in ascholastic and creative universe, and being held to certain academic standards while being surrounded by artists of varying disciplines.” IfsArtImportantHardHappensSchoolArtistCertainUniverseFeltCreativeTaughtPaintingDisciplineSkillsUniqueStandardsGainsAcademicArt SchoolDraftingImmersing YourselfAcademic Standards Author:John Dyer Baizley
“If you want to create something that's worth doing you have to self-edit from the get-go. You really must be careful and selective with whom you work, you must constantly ask yourself the hard questions about your art, and you must set a nearly unattainable standard for yourself.” IfsWantArtSelfHardAsksStandardsCarefulBe CarefulEditsDoing YouSelectiveUnattainableHard Questions Author:John Dyer Baizley
“If I'm in the business of making artwork that is designed on some level to sell a product, then I have to be very comfortable with the people I'm working with and I'd like to be proud of the end result regardless of its sale-ability.” PeopleIfsEndsAbilityLevelsResultsProductsProudComfortableSellsBe ProudArtworkEnd Results Author:John Dyer Baizley
“Punk rock and metal has always been a home to me, it's where I cut my teeth; and those are the friends that I have, and the bands that I love.” HomeCuttingRocksBandTeethMetalsPunkPunk Rock Author:John Dyer Baizley
“I really try towork with an artist who is trying to create a long legacy of quality rather than trying to jump aboard a trend.” TryingLongArtistQualityLegacyTrendsLong Legs Author:John Dyer Baizley
“I feel like I've gotten to the point where when I get tired of making art I can make a smooth transition into making music and vice versa. There is always something to do.” FeelsArtI CanTiredVicesTransitionSmoothVice Versa Author:John Dyer Baizley
“I tend to over extend myself without really thinking throughthe realities of completing so many projects in a year, which generally means I'm going to be a little bit behind. I suppose that's the nature of the beast.” ThinkingYearsMeanLittlesRealityBitsBehindsProjectsLittle BitBeastCompleting Author:John Dyer Baizley
“It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it. It's tricky and definitely a requires striking a delicate balance.” FeelsArtBalanceComfortableIntentionAlbumsRealmsDelicateStanding OutTricky Author:John Dyer Baizley
“I take myself seriously and want my image to me more than just something aesthetically suited towards selling records.” WantRecordsSelling Author:John Dyer Baizley
“In fact, many musicians are the happiest when the artist and audience re-interpret or re-imagine the content of the songs.” FactsArtistSongAudienceImagineMusician Author:John Dyer Baizley
“Drawing from art history and mythology allows me to connect with viewers in a familiar, yet loose visual framework. Blending disparate histories and themes can give the overall presentation a recognizable, yet unique flavor.” GivingArtUniqueDrawingMythologyFamiliarThemeVisualsViewersFlavorFrameworkPresentationArt History Author:John Dyer Baizley
“It can be difficult to mediate a compromise between what I have in my head and what the musician has in mind, which is often 180° different when it comes to the finished product, so it requires that element of trust from somewhere. The point I make to them is "You've seen what I do, so just trust me and we will come up with something exciting."” MindDifferentDifficultProductsElementsMusicianExcitingCome UpFinishedCompromiseTrust Me Author:John Dyer Baizley
“It's important for me to have different tiers of value for the art. Some of the silk-screens are really affordable, but I do have some high-end silk-screens that are several color layers and a little more expensive, and then I have the paintings that can get way up there.” WayLittlesArtImportantDifferentEndsValuesColorPaintingScreensExpensiveLayersAffordableSilk Author:John Dyer Baizley
“I recognize that no matter how old I get, how many records I've done, or what the public perception of me is, there are still exciting things that I haven't done.” StillsMatterDoneRecordsHavensPerceptionExcitingExciting Things Author:John Dyer Baizley
“If what you want to do is make artwork for bands, you have to love doing it because there is almost no money in it. In order to start doing it, you just have to put yourself out there, work for bands you love and for as little as possible to start, if not free, that's what I did for years.” IfsWantYearsLittlesOrderBandWhat You WantNo MoneyArtworkPutting Yourself Out There Author:John Dyer Baizley
“Give your stuff away and if it's good, people will come to you.” PeopleIfsGivingStuffGood People Author:John Dyer Baizley
“The important thing isn't that your technically great, I think it's the power of your expression.” ThinkingImportantExpressionImportant Things Author:John Dyer Baizley
“Speak with your own voice and be as unique as you possibly can.” SpeakVoiceUnique Author:John Dyer Baizley
“Not everybody is going to love what you do, but you have to be yourself, that's what's most important. Bring it as hard as you can.” ImportantHardBeing Yourself Author:John Dyer Baizley
