Interview with Jim Mahfood

Who are your main influences as an artist?

So many to name, so many different sources of inspiration. At the top Jamie Hewlett, Jack Kirby, Basquiat, Ralph Steadman, Bill Sienkiewicz, Miles Davis, Frank Zappa, Prince, Parliament/Funkadelic, Vaughn Bode, Frank Miller, James Brown, Robert Crumb, Mike Mignola, Paul Pope, Keith Haring, Dave McKean, Kent Williams, and Moebius just to name a few.

What is 'visual funk'?

Visual Funk is the name, or brand, of my art style. It's funk music but without the sound. A visual amalgamation of American comic book art, Japanese animation, graffiti, 60's psychedelic acid rock poster art, the neo-expressionist late 70's early 80's New York scene, and my own secret hobo herbs and spices all thrown into a blender together, and what comes out is pure magic, baby.

What is the most difficult aspect of painting murals?

Just the size of it, the physicality of it all. Spacing it and sizing it appropriately and making it all fit in the space, climbing ladders and getting into awkward positions and making sure you don't fall and break your next. That sorta deal.

What is the best aspect of being an artist?

The best part is not having a boss. Waking up whenever I want. And basically doing whatever I want, whenever I want. On the flipside of that freedom, is you have to have the self-discipline to sit alone in a room for ten hours a day and draw and get the actual work done. No one is going to do it for you. And no one is going to hold your hand through that process. It's just you and a blank piece of paper. But I embrace that. I have the right personality for that. I just crank up the music as loud as I can and get to work. At the end of each day it feels like a great exorcism has ben achieved.

What contemporary artists should get more attention?

Man, there's too many to name, so much talent out there. If I start naming names and then leave out people that I know and love it will be embarrassing. Just go to www.jimmahfood.com and all will be right in the universe!

Echt iets heel anders staat hier