C.C Askew 96 Tears

I met Chris in the middle of the 90s through a mutual friend who had just gotten a gorgeous tattoo from him. Over the next few year through many tattoo appointments we became friends as well.

I have watched his transition from brilliant tattoo artist to a very uniquely diverse illustrator and painter. Each new piece he releases in my opinion is more beautiful than the last . I always look forward to seeing future work.

Most paintings are done in primarily on paper with watercolor, ink, graphite, and gouache.

Chris has his first Solo show coming up November 12th at well known Los Angeles Gallery Merry Karnowsky and very graciously did this interview in the midst of finishing up for Saturday.

Anything you want to mention about your upcoming show?

I am both incredibly excited and terrified. i am very honored to be having my first solo show at such a wonderful gallery as Merry Karnowski’s, and alongside the likes of Travis Louie, as well! Merry’s been a real joy to work with, and i think we’ve put together a nice little show together. this year’s been a year of many changes for me, which will be reflected in the show; some new directions and mutations which i am very excited about, but I’m frankly terrified of the opening; it’s like a year’s worth of your brain is splattered all over the walls of a big, brightly lit room, with random people examining and dissecting (or ignoring) the results. I wish I could just send a robot substitute, and stay home. perhaps I’ll say i couldn’t make it and show up in disguise, with a fake accent! I don’t usually worry much about what people think of myself or my work, but somehow, in the gallery opening environment, it feels a bit like offering yourself up for vivisection.

How has your transition in career and focus changed your life?

leaving tattooing to draw and paint full-time was one of the best choices I’ve ever made. it’s just as difficult and time consuming, but much less stressful, most of the time, and frankly, far more rewarding in many ways.

A large part of my leaving had to do with my not being comfortable with many of the changes that occurred in the trade in the years since I first began, in 1990. things were already changing then, and some of it was exciting at the time, but honestly, I think that if I had known what it was all going to become, I never would have started in the first place. mostly, though, I was just constantly exhausted from dealing with so many people on a daily basis, and on such an intense, intimate level. now I work at home, and can control my environment completely, listen to whatever music I like (I will never have to listen to rap music again!), and spend lots of quality time with my son and my cats, and lots of time ALONE, which I love. so much less distraction. there’s so much more freedom, drawing from my own head and heart, instead of constantly trying to decipher and translate someone else’s ideas. I am much more relaxed now, in general, and I am no longer compelled to wash away the stresses of the day with vodka every night. of course, I will always be to some extent tied to the business, even if only through friends in it, and the stamp of sixteen years in that trade will not go away easily in my work, and may never, but that’s okay with me. for a long time I really tried to distance myself from the tattoo world, cos I was scared I might get somehow sucked back in, but I’ve been out of the game long enough now that I can look back with some fondness to those days, and to cherish so many of the experiences I had, and friends I made, though I’ll never go down that path again.

Your subject matter is very unique, where do you draw inspiration from?

Well, there are internal and external influences, which often overlap, of course.

Internally, I draw a lot from dreams, daydreams, drug-induced states, meditation, and sudden bursts of random whimsy.

Externally, there are many artists whose work has influenced me deeply, mostly dead ones, but I also read a huge amount of books, mostly fiction (from many eras), which affect my mood and ideas, and therefore my work, to a great extent. Music is probably the largest external influence on my work, actually. I am working on a 3 hour soundtrack for my upcoming show.

Do you have any personal projects you work on just for your own happiness?

(Art or Non Art related)

I have been writing a lot lately, when I have the time, just short stories, mostly stuff that would fall somewhere around the ‘horror’ or ‘weird fiction’ genres. We’ll see if these remain just a personal project, or if perhaps they may be published someday. I haven’t shown what I’ve done so far to anyone yet. they may be utter crap, I really don’t know, but I love doing it anyways, so I don’t care.

Is there a routine you have before you sit down and start working on a new piece of work?

I usually read or meditate for a bit, then put on some appropriate music very loud, smoke some skanga, pour myself a glass of green tea, and get plenty of cigarettes ready…

What makes you counter productive?

Stress. dealing with all of the business end of this whole thing. having to talk about money, promotional stuff, answering emails, etc…I have to slip into a totally different gear, a wholly different, and rather uncomfortable facet of my self to do these things, and when I switch back and forth between creative mode and business mode my gears grind. it’s like shifting roughly between reverse and third gear, back and forth. I find business in general to be somewhat distasteful, though I certainly play the game as much as anyone else. we all have to, unless you want to go ‘off the grid’, which is sometimes a temptation. I also randomly fall into spells of deep depression, which make me pretty near incapable of anything when they’re at their worst, but i just ride out the storm and wait for the brain-weather to change. there’s not really much choice.

Any favorite muses?

My son, who is one of two people I ever show work in progress to for advice and opinions; his insights are always accurate, authentic and original, and he’s not a mess like me, he’s not all fucked-up and lost in darkland like I am so often, so he brings thousands of little rays of shiny into my life, and I love him dearly. he’s about to leave for college next year, and my life without his daily presence will be very tough getting used to.

Poli and Spooky, my cats. are a never-ending source of inspiration and very grounding. spending quiet time with them on a regular basis helps keep me stable.

What is coming up for you in the future?

I am very excited, as I just booked another solo show for next year, this time at Mondo Bizarro Gallery in Rome, sometime in mid-October.

I am toying with the idea of focussing largely, or even primarily, on erotica, which might be fun. we’ll see. Rome is the city of ancient orgies and the Vatican, what better place to do a show of erotica? we’ll see how the year goes, though. I am giving myself complete freedom to explore, and, if next year is anything like this one, I, and my work, will go through many changes. I don’t want to give a name yet, but I have a special musical guest who has kindly agreed to open the show for me with an acoustic set…one of my favorite current musicians! the gallery will also be publishing a catalogue…yum

“Infa” Part of MKG Current Show

“Carmelia” Past Work

“Eqvvs Novissimvs” Past Work

“Fox” Past Work

“M96” Past Work

“Queen Of Diamonds” Past Work

“Babalon” Prints Available

“Memento Mori” Past Work

“Pull The Blinds” Past Work
Christopher Conn Askew 96 Tears Opening reception This Saturday November 12th at: