Ryan Beavers is a San Francisco based artist who says, that he makes art and skateboards for fun. Isn’t his art too professional to be described as fun?!

CHICKEN OR BEEF? Describe yourself/your work/your studio in a few words.
RYAN I live in San Francisco, California. I enjoy days off from being paid to wash dishes, take out garbage, and sweep the floor. Part time I also work as an art assistant. On days of luck, I skateboard with the homies or make conceptual illustrations with graphite, spray paint, and gouache on paper. My illustrations deal with working class values within subcultures.  Right now our apartment is my studio since rent is so out of control.  I also like to write my name on things that don’t belong to me and hang out with my wife and our dog.

COB? What has been your latest travel location?
RYAN My wife and I recently got married in Las Vegas by Elvis. We partied at the Golden Nugget Vegas for a few days and then split to Hawaii for our honeymoon. It was sick. We snorkeled with dolphins and I almost drown cause I am not a very good swimmer… I don’t surf.  I had never snorkeled before and was hung over, it was like 6am. Those dudes just kick you off the boat in deep ass water and say go swim with dolphins. It was gnarly. 
Mostly we just chilled and had sexy time. I did skate the park and catch some tags too.

COB? For business or for holiday?
RYAN Its always better on holiday, but I always take care of business.

COB? What will be your next destination?
RYAN Going to visit family in my hometown, Toledo, Ohio. Haven’t been there for a while, need some family time.

COB? Do you draw inspiration out of traveling?
RYAN Of course, during all the waiting around while traveling I like to sketch. I am also greatly inspired by being out of my everyday routine. Lately I have been into observing the differences in cities’ use of certain street objects, like trash/ recycling receptacles, orange barrels/ cones, barriers, parking meters, skate stoppers, port-a-johns,etc. Since skaters and graffiti writers naturally are drawn to these objects while the general population seems to ignore them.

COB? Chicken or beef, when the stewardess asks you?
RYAN Neither, I am vegetarian because of my concern for the treatment of animals during “food” production. I usually get some beers and snacks.

COB? Five things you take with you on a solitary island?
MARTIN 1.) Wife 2.) My Dog 3.) Skateboard 4.) beers 5.) a city full of modernist architecture with no people except the homies.

COB? Who should be asked next these questions?
RYAN Paul Solis.

COB? Thanks a lot Ryan!

Martin Machado was born in San Jose/California. He lives and works in San Francisco and on the sea as a merchant marine, commercial fisherman and sailor. The material he paints upon varies from traditional canvas, paper or panels, to found items such as discarded nautical charts on a containership, boxes from an abandoned Alaska fish cannery, or drift-wood. Get his prints on his society6-page.

CHICKEN OR BEEF? Describe yourself/your work/your studio in a few words.
MARTIN I’m a seagoing artist guy based in San Francisco. I make paintings about my work and adventures at sea as a merchant marine, sailor, and commercial fisherman. My studio is all over my apartment, which is usually scattered with paintings, books, and random side-projects. I’m currently obsessed with 18th Century etchings that were a result of artists that sailed with Captain Cook and other European’s as the South Pacific was being “discovered” by the western world. Recently I’ve started to create a narrative with ink on paper using the visual language of those etchings in which a shipping container is the main character, traveling through time, revealing truth’s, etc.

COB? What has been your latest travel location?
MARTIN I got down to Sayulita Mexico in January to catch a few waves and celebrate my papa turning 60.

COB? For business or for holiday?
MARTIN Mostly for holiday, but I always get inspired by Mexico, such a beautiful place with the nicest people in the world.

COB? What will be your next destination?
MARTIN I’m trying to ship out these days, for a short-ish 42 day job before fishing season. So there is a good possibility I will soon be on a ship bound either for Asia (China/Japan/Korea) or Hawaii.

COB? Do you draw inspiration out of traveling?
MARTIN Definitely. The shipping work is especially inspiring, it is almost like a live/work residency. I get to see a side of globalization that few people really see these days.

COB? Chicken or beef, when the stewardess asks you?
MARTIN There are no stewardess’ on ships, I eat whatever those guys serve me with a smile on my face.

COB? Five things you take with you on a solitary island?
MARTIN Shred-stick, fishing gear, my special-lady friend, hella whiskey, the most elaborate swiss-army knife I can find.

COB? Who should be asked next these questions?
MARTIN Ryan Beavers because he rips both on a skateboard and in the studio, and was patient enough to collaborate with me on a zine recently.

COB? Thanks a lot Martin!

Container Story by Martin Machado

Patricia Colli’s aka Pacolli’s art can be found in her worldwide exhibitions. Her colorful work is characterized by humorous creatures which are featured in her zines, stickers, collages and her very own line of shirts. Her stuff can be found at High in the Bay, Needles & Pens in San Francisco and Pictures on Walls.

CHICKEN OR BEEF? Describe yourself/your work/your studio in a few words.
PACOLLI I’m a brazilian artist based in San Francisco, my work is related to teenage angst and psychedelic dreams. I recreate sketchbook/diary pages on wood panels, draw on tiny round stickers and make collages with hundreds of them, i like carving drawings on linoleum and on glitter boards, too. I work and live at the same place, music is always blasting and there’s a lot of paint everywhere and stuff in the walls.

COB? What has been your latest travel location?
PACOLLI São Paulo, Brazil. I went back with my husband to visit family and friends, paint and make music.

COB? For business or for holiday?
PACOLLI I couldn’t help my will to work, so it was both.

COB? What will be your next destination?
PACOLLI Los Angeles in the summer for a group show at New Image Art Gallery.

COB? Do you draw inspiration out of traveling?
PACOLLI I always keep a small sketchbook with me, I love how ideas flow when you’re traveling. I made zines out of my traveling skechbooks, but when it comes to artwork i would rather be at my studio painting than on the road.

COB? Chicken or beef, when the stewardess asks you?
PACOLLI I’m an ex-vegetarian, still not comfortable with eating meat on a plane for some strange reason. I always order the vegan option and it sucks so i bring a cheese sandwich with me.

COB? Five things you take with you on a solitary island?
PACOLLI I’d bring all my favorite music, books, my husband, some friends and a guide how to grow your own weed in a desert island.

COB? Who should be asked next these questions?
PACOLLI Mats!? ’cause he paints amazing stories about his trips to Burma and his art just blows my mind!

COB? Thanks a lot Pacolli!

Mike Hsiung is awarded for his beard as well as majorly for his art and illustrations and lives in Los Angeles, CA. His work is characterized by highly imaginative black-and-white ink drawings which evoke vivid visions from the world of fairytales and myths with a cautious use of color. Mike has exhibited all over the United States as well as in Belgium, Finland, Japan and Korea.

CHICKEN OR BEEF? Describe yourself/your work/your studio in a few words.
MIKE I look like a homeless Chinese guy with a mustache, draw pictures of obese, hairy men usually interacting with animals and/or other obese hairy men. My work is humorous, simple, narrative and a bit homoerotic. I share a studio/bedroom with Rachel, my wife, so its really easy for me to take a nap after sketching.

COB? What has been your latest travel location?
MIKE I last went to Brooklyn, NY last year before Hurricane Sandy rolled through.

COB? For business or for holiday?
MIKE It was for business. Vans sent me there to snap some photos of a group show called Supply and Demand. It featured artists Neil Blender, Nathaniel Russell, Chris Yormick, Jay Howell, Jamahl Williams, Russ Pope, Rich Jacobs, Dennis McNett, and Jai Tanju. It was so much fun and inspiring!

COB? What will be your next destination?
MIKE I believe I’ll be traveling to San Jose, CA later on in March for a group show I’ll be in called Out of Towners at Seeing Things gallery, and then to Seattle later on in the year for my friend Brian and Kate’s wedding.

COB? Do you draw inspiration out of traveling?
MIKE I think unconsciously I do find inspiration out of traveling – seeing new things, talking to new folks, and imbibing the local brews always seem to generate new ideas for art.

COB? Chicken or beef, when the stewardess asks you?
MIKE Chicken, I guess, but the stewardess never asks me that question in coach. haha.

COB? Five things you take with you on a solitary island?
MIKE 1. My wife Rachel.
2. Brushes
3. Talisman, the role playing board game
4. A ton of Wacky Tobacky
5. A 10,000 pack of beer

COB? Who should be asked next these questions?
MIKE Pacolli – because I’m a huge fan of her art and she’s awesome . . I also bet she’ll have some better and more exciting answers than I gave. ha!

COB? Thanks a lot Mike!

Max Berry is an Australian Artist born in 1987. Max holds holds a bachelor’s degree of Design and lives and works in Sydney, Australia. His work is characterized by a very special and dreamy atmosphere as well as of the use of an iconographic symbolism.

Max Berry at work in his studio

CHICKEN OR BEEF? Describe yourself/your work/your studio in a few words.
MAX Simple- Slow- Uncluttered.

COB? What has been your latest travel location?
MAX Benesse Art Site Naoshima.

COB? For business or for holiday?
MAX Inseparable, you cannot have one without the other.

COB? What will be your next destination?
MAX Benesse Art Site Naoshima.

COB? Do you draw inspiration out of traveling?
MAX Sure, I embarked on an extensive trip earlier this year and that experience has been incredibly beneficial for me. The world is a wonderous place.

COB? Chicken or beef, when the stewardess asks you?
MAX Beef.

COB? Five things you take with you on a solitary island?
MAX Dick Proenneke.

COB? Who should be asked next these questions?
MAX Mark Alswieler

COB? Thanks a lot Max!

MORE INFORMATION
www.maxberry.com.au
www.idlepassage.blogspot.com.au
www.flickr.com/photos/maxberry

Above: Insight into Max Berry's inspiring studio. Right: Bottletree Gateway by Max Berry

Sean has been titled to be “an Australian Hero. His works define an alternative narrative of Australian and Low-Culture. The worlds he creates are a saturated reality that I find repulsive and beautiful because it’s all too familiar” (Kid Zoom). He shares his studio with Kyle-Hughes Odgers, who is featured in the preceding Q&A. Sean has exhibited internationally and captivates with his strong and unique style.

Bazooka Beach & Apsuperlycra

CHICKEN OR BEEF? Describe yourselves/your work/your studio in a few words.
SEAN I am a young man with poor eyesight and a fragile grasp on reality. I draw pictures of people who i think are gross and awe-inspiring. I share a studio space in an old hospital with Kyle. It’s definitely haunted and my favourite place in the world.

COB? What has been your latest travel location?
SEAN I’m in LA at the moment! It’s really awesome. Pizza and beer and tattoos are way cheaper than in Australia.

Planet Of Bad Girls

COB? For business or for holiday?
SEAN It feels like a holiday, but i get to say that it’s for business because i’m in a group show at Think Tank Gallery called “Dude, Monsters!” which opens on July 12, then i’m going to New York where i’m exhibiting at the launch of the new King Brown Magazine – that opens on July 26 at Klughaus Gallery.

COB? What will be your next destination?
SEAN Thailand for a friend’s wedding. I’m going to get villa-drunk with my high school buddies, experience some questionable nightlife and just generally be an obnoxious tourist. It’s the Australian way.

COB? Do you draw inspiration out of traveling?
SEAN Definitely… my stuff is all about people, so the more of them that i can meet, the better. I’ve already drawn all the weirdos in my home town.

COB? Chicken or beef, when the stewardess asks you?
SEAN Chicken… no, beef! NO WAIT CHICKEN. I am terrible at at on-the-spot decision making.

COB? Five things you take with you on a solitary island?
SEAN 5 x Hawaiin shirt options, i take tropical vacationing seriously.

COB? Who should be asked next these questions?
SEAN Michael Hsiung ’cause he’s letting me sleep on his couch in LA and drink all his beer.

COB? Thanks a lot Sean!

Gratuitous Catfight & Girls Gone Wild Alien Abduction Painting by Sean Morris

Kyle Hughes-Odgers is an Australian painter, illustrator and installation artist. He has exhibited artwork and created large-scale street art extensively throughout Australia and internationally: Los Angeles, New York City, Singapore and Europe. His work is held in numerous private and public art collections. Kyle’s vibrant work has been featured in art- and design-related books, magazines and websites such as Insite Magazine, Juxtapoz online, The Wire Magazine, Sunday Times, Empty magazine, Ekosystem, Kingbrown magazine and Woodentoy magazine.

Above the Earth and The Vacuum by Kyle Hughes-Odgers

CHICKEN OR BEEF? Describe yourself/your work/your studio in a few words.
KYLE I share a studio with Sean Morris. It’s a large space in an old maternity hospital in Perth, Australia. The studio has a great vibe, the hallways have a ghost vibe.
My work is based on my interest in narrative, pattern, decay, texture and anything old and handmade. I paint a lot of my work on wood and old walls outside.

COB? What has been your latest travel location?
KYLE I had solo exhibition in Berlin at Okazi gallery in February and then headed over to Turkey for some adventures, slept in a cave. It was an amazing trip.

COB? What will be your next destination?
KYLE I’m heading up to Port Hedland in the North West of Australia to paint some big walls in the desert.

COB? Do you draw inspiration out of traveling?
KYLE Yep, I find traveling to be one of the most important things for me. A majority of my work is narrative based so meeting new people and experiencing new things is great.

COB? Chicken or beef, when the stewardess asks you?
KYLE Vegetables. but double cheese and crackers.

COB? Five things you take with you on a solitary island?
KYLE I already live on a solitary island.

COB? Who should be asked next these questions?
KYLE Max Berry

COB? Thanks a lot Kyle!

Kyle's studio in an old maternity hospital in Perth, Australia

Daek William is a fascinating artist with an unique and terrific style and is currently based in New York. He has exhibited in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth among many other cities. His tricky paintings captivate with mechanic and moving parts. Also have a look on his facebook here.

CHICKEN OR BEEF? Describe yourself/your work/your studio in a few words.
DAEK My studio currently resides in an empty violin case found on the street. plush purple inside and portable. My work is a representation of influence, admiration and fun colour ways and if possible add a perverted splash of breast. Lastly myself, the internet since 1995, awkward socialising, out going, adventurous, Great s.o.h looking for couples and groups for friends and benefits. whats up the Hun!

COB? What has been your latest travel location?
DAEK Currently i am residing in New York, Brooklyn, East Williamsburg, Corner of Grand and union, sitting on a black crate staring at a white car which has ‘no hard feelings’ sticker on it the path is a tone of grey and everything feels dirty.

COB? For business or for holiday?
DAEK I came to williamsburg to find the hip hops. unfortunately i think they have been misplaced. In my spare time i dance in a strange land of the art with poets of mischief, animals barking with strange visions that some how make you their servant and puppet shows that go into the night. How ever i think i need to buy a nice suit, start drinking wine that doesn’t come in a 4 litre bag and work on my hand job skills.

Daek William at work

COB? Do you draw inspiration out of traveling?
DAEK Only when i travel to different pastures of my mind, pretty much the world looks the same when your face is inches from a wall, canvas or paper, the atmosphere feel different and the soda is sweetened corn syrup or real can sugar, basically take a hold of your other senses because your pretty much blind.

COB? Chicken or beef, when the stewardess asks you?
DAEK Depending on the side order vegetables or rice, rice over vegetables but usually chicken, i think processed chicken is more inviting.

COB? Five things you take with you on a solitary island?
DAEK The internet (entertainment) , the bio dome (resources), a real doll (companionship) tool case (construction) & port authority hand book (i just created my own town and you want in).

COB? Who should be asked next these questions?
DAEK I Recommend the last chance world art collective, Sean Morris or Creepy, there witty comments and light hearted lifestyle will make you feel good somewhere in-between your pants and your heart which will make you immediately turn to your friend and demand a soothing hug.

COB? Thanks a lot Daek!

Trailer Park Diner&Gunshop Sean Morris by Daek William

Broken Toothbrushes Building Dreams Creepy by Daek William

Henry Ford by Daek William

Drawing by German illustrator and graphic novelist Daniel Lieske, which he dedicated to me a few months ago! Daniel is best known for his fantastic Wormland Saga, lectures, talks and workshops about graphic novel creation, independent publishing and digital art on the side. – Thanks again!!!

Sheryo is a Brooklyn based artist from Singapore who paints imperfect gnarly characters that are calming to disoriented souls, and might cause skitter skatter explosions in the brain… Selected clients include Adidas Originals, MTV Asia, Intel, Converse and Nike among many others. She has exhibited and painted in LA, Seoul, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and is a part of the Army of Snipers Crew. If you like her work in B&W don’t miss to have a look at her work in color.

CHICKEN OR BEEF? Describe yourself/your work/your studio in a few words.
SHERYO gnarly, imperfect, wonky, leprosy, have fun (as a rule)

COB? What has been your latest travel location?
SHERYO ghent, belgium

COB? For business or for holiday?
SHERYO some holiday painting

COB? What will be your next destination?
SHERYO feels like cambodia

COB? Do you draw inspiration out of traveling?
SHERYO always. south east asian folklores and quirky wonky people

COB? Chicken or beef, when the stewardess asks you?
SHERYO beef

COB? Five things you take with you on a solitary island?
SHERYO rum, ipod, speakers, sketchbook, pens

COB? Who should be asked next these questions?
SHERYO daek one

COB? Thanks a lot Sheryo!

Sheryo at work

Special equipment every artist needs to leave a massive impression

Couldn’t get in contact with Nightwave. How lucky to stumple upon the great illustration work by Brooklyn based, Australian born Illustrator The Yok via one of our favourite design blogs DesignIsKinky from down under. The Yok has exhibited in Berlin, New York, Tokyo, Sydney, Taipei, Beijing, Singapore Bangkok and Hong Kong, as well as unofficial displays of street art in weird parts of the world that usually involve surf.

CHICKEN OR BEEF? Describe yourself/your work/your studio in a few words.
THE YOK loopy, wobbly, bananas, plants.

COB? What has been your latest travel location?
THE YOK Cambodia/Thailand/Burma

COB? For business or for holiday?
THE YOK Holiday

COB? Do you draw inspiration out of traveling?
THE YOK Yes, look up Ramayana.

COB? Chicken or beef, when the stewardess asks you?
THE YOK Chicken

COB? Five things you take with you on a solitary island?
THE YOK pen, paper, fishing rod, surfboard, rum

COB? Who should be asked next these questions?
THE YOK Sheryo

COB? Thanks a lot!

The Yok at work

Just stumbled upon the beautiful work by London based illustrator Paul Thurlby. Paul is best known for his illustrations for the Guardian newspaper since he started full time illustration work in 2006.

Today we asked Jim Coles aka Om Unit:

Jim Coles aka Om Unit

COB? What has been your latest travel location?
JIM I went to Madrid to play last weekend, at a great little club called Sirocco, for a promotion called “Post Club” with Throwing Snow who is also from London. Great show! packed basement action.

COB? For business or for holiday?
JIM Bit of both surely!

COB? What will be your next destination?
JIM Tomorrow night I play in Prague, I’ve never been before and i’m looking forward to it a lot.

COB? Do you draw inspiration out of traveling?
JIM Always, when you are not surrounded by the day-to-day things, it challenges you and you can express yourself with less of the known limitations I think.

COB? Chicken or beef, when the stewardess asks you?
JIM I fly cheap airlines so i go for the cheese melt standard

COB? Five things you take with you on a solitary island?
JIM drum kit
solar powered recording device.
sugar cane for making my own rum
some kind of reading device with an internet connection
a boat load of acoustic instruments

COB? Who should be asked next these questions?
JIM Nightwave

COB? Thanks a lot Jim!

Today we asked Laurent Fintoni from OriginalCultures.org – a non-profit project that connects cultures through modern performing arts, focusing on the fields of music and the visual arts. OriginalCultures is based in Bologna, Italy as well as in London, England.

Laurent Fintoni, OriginalCultures

COB? What has been your latest travel location?
LAURENT Technically Berlin, though I’m about to go to Galway and Limerick tomorrow.

COB? For business or for holiday?
LAURENT Bit of both, I tend to always travel to places where I know people and so try to mix it up.

COB? What will be your next destination?
LAURENT After Ireland it’ll be Holland. Then Spain. Then Japan if all goes to plan.

COB? Do you draw inspiration out of traveling?
LAURENT Yes very much so. London’s great but it grinds you down, getting out of it for any length is essential to staying sane and realising when you come back that it’s not such a bad place to live in.

COB? Chicken or beef, when the stewardess asks you?
LAURENT Beef all the way. Airline chicken always tastes of nothing.

COB? Five things you take with you on a solitary island?
LAURENT My laptop, a dongle for internet connecting, the latest book i’m reading, note pad and a pen.

COB? Who should be asked next these questions?
LAURENT Jim Coles aka Om Unit.

COB? Thanks a lot Laurent!

Just rediscovered the website by Canadian-born photographer and director Joey Lawrence. It’s not really hard to recognize that this guy is not only deep into traveling but also fantastic in seeing the world through the camera lense and orchestrating his impressions around the planet. Also have look at the camera equipment and lenses he uses.

As big sticker-aficionados we were happy to play the Question&Answer-game together with Ryo Sanada from the London/Jakarta-based creative studio The SRK. Having launched books as Stickerbomb 1 and 2, the studio is going to release a Stickerbomb Letters book which is scheduled to be on 28th March 2012. In addition to that the SRK has gone on to work with and for clients such as Polydor Records, ARTE TV, the BBC, Laurence King Publishing MTV among many others and a whole host of international non-governmental organisations. Also check out their Stickerbomb Facebook site here.

Ryo Sanada, The SRK

COB? What has been your latest travel location?
RYO Jakarta, Indonesia.

COB? For business or for holiday?
RYO I always like to mix it up. I like the satisfaction of when you get to do a bit of both.

COB? What will be your next destination?
RYO Somewhere else in Asia probably.

Stickerbomb Letters: scheduled to come out 28th March 2012!

COB? Chicken or beef, when the stewardess asks you?
RYO Chicken for me! Airline beef is too chewy.

COB? Five things you take with you on a solitary island?
RYO Food.
Bottle of rum.
Generator.
Amp.
Big speakers!

COB? Who should be asked next these questions?
RYO Laurent FIntoni from Original Cultures.org

COB? Thanks a lot Ryo!

Johnny Bastard is made of real flesh and blood! But he isn’t a member of the famous Wu Tang Clan. He even doesn’t have entered the first of 36 Chambers but he heard of this funny Wu Tang name generator via the pretty cool and relaunched Interview-Magazine and tried it out. This magazine was originally founded by Pop Artist Andy Warhol in 1969 and is art-directed by Mike Meiré in the german version. The current one features the King of (Art-)Pop Andy Warhol himself, Lana Del Rey and Chloë Sevigny. Very nice to read, but a bit too large in format for the backpack.

Another birthday present by my friends Christian, Jan & Melanie: Habibi by the awesome graphic novelist, Eisner-Award-winner and Grammy nominee Craig Thompson. A massive and impressive drawing- and illustration-overkill with a frenetic and obesessed love for details!

Got this nice calendar by illustrator and artist Heiko Windisch as a birthdaypresent by my friend and colleague Le Reptile. Heiko Windisch (originally from Germany) lives and works with his wife and illustrator Lilly Piri on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. His work on paper and canvas has appeared in shows in Los Angeles, New York, Sydney and Zürich.