Interview with Steve Baier [stevebaier] on Whohub

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What do you do? How do you define yourself as an artist?

I'm a painter. I create pin-up, glamour, and fantasy-themed paintings in a mixture of media: airbrush, paintbrush, metallic pen, watercolor pencil, colored pencil, and more. The short answer is "pin-up artist" though.

What is your message?

I always strive to project not only beauty, but also optimism, confidence, and individual greatness in my paintings. It's a philosophical message; I'm usually not going for social commentary or some holier-than-thou political message. I usually leave this open to the viewer's interpretation.

Your biography in four lines.

Well, I studied art (and my many other interests) in junior high and high school. Spent a year working, went to college for commercial art, and got smacked in the face by reality. Then I worked and freelanced for a few years before my art got noticed. Now I'm 100% dedicated to my painting.

Do you upload your work to the web? If so, where could we see it?

Hell yes! The 2 best places are my website: www.scbartworks.com and my myspace page: www.myspace.com/steveartist.

How is an idea born? For you, what is inspiration?

I'm inspired by the models I choose to paint. They are not selected at random; each has her own uniquenesses, personality, and character. That's a major source of inspiration, but I am also inspired by books and music, and sometimes I'll think of a theme I want to explore -just out of the blue- and I'll have that "itch" to create.

Gosh, that's like asking, "what is the meaning of life?". It's easier to say what isn't art.

When do you get your best ideas?

There's no particular time. Sometimes when I'm in the middle of something else, an idea will just come to me. Some people are "morning people", some are "night owls". Me, I'm a bit of both.

How do you evaluate whether an idea is good or not?

Through trial-and-error usually. Sometimes, and idea that seems good mentally just doesn't turn out the way I want it to on paper. That doesn't always mean it was a bad idea though; in some cases, it just needs more thought.

When and how did you begin to see yourself as an artist?

In 8th grade. That was the first year art was an elective class, and I was excelling. Coupled with the fact that around that time I came to realize I probably wasn't going to be a professional baseball player, that was when I discovered I could be good at this.

Why do so many artists and creators have such volatile personalities?

Well, I can only speak for myself, and I'm not the least bit volatile. I think it has more to do with attitude, environment, and basic sense of life than the fact that one is an artist.

Do you consider yourself postmodern?

I don't know. I don't care for such labels.

How should a work of art be evaluated?

This is where I tend to ruffle feathers. My work (and other artists' work who I admire) is created with skills that took lots of dedication to develop and master. That's why I feel art should be evaluated on the workmanship involved. This is why I don't get most abstract painting. Now don't get me wrong, I like some abstract work. I do see some that has a psycology or a movement to the composition. But much of it is just plain juvenile work with some bogus backstory or "deep meaning".

Must an artist reinvent him/herself everyday?

That depends on your definition of "reinvent". I do strive to get better everyday though.

Which artists do you admire and how do they influence your work?

First and foremost, Jennifer Janesko. Her work is what inspired me to get into this genre, and knowing her and seeing her independent success continues to inspire me.
I'm also a big fan of Olivia, Erik Drudwyn, and many others.

What do you think about public funding for the arts?

It surprises people when they learn I'm against it. I have never, and will never, take any public money for my work. Art should be funded privately.

Does it pain you to let go of a piece you have sold?

Sometimes. But there are select pieces which I am not willing to part with.

In art, there is no guide. How do you know what the next step is?

If you have enough self-respect to strive for perfection in your work, you always know what to do next.

How do you feel about the fact that the pieces exhibited in contemporary art museums are often of artists already deceased?

That's kind of a broad question; I guess it really depends on the art. If it wasn't any good when the artist was alive, why is it good now?

Which of your jobs or tasks do you most enjoy?

I enjoy the whole process, but one part I especially enjoy is drawing. Doing the graphite drawing gets me thinking about all the details in the subject and also gets me to visualizing the finished painting.

Do you personally collect any items?

I like to get items from artists I like - prints, commissioned work, etc. It's a slow but building collection.

What advice would you give to those just beginning?

1. Never stop learning.
2. Always strive to improve.
3. Don't panic when one or two things don't go right.

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