Features

Introduce yourself Patrick. Who are you? How would you explain what you do?

My name is Patrick Martinez and I am a visual artist based in Los Angeles. I produce visuals to express my ideas as well as myself. I try to make the everyday and familiar a new experience.

How do you formulate your ideas for your works?

The idea or concept can spark from a thought that pops in my head driving down the freeway or taking a shower. Sometimes they are words and sometimes they are images. I sketch out the idea really loose, I make notes, color comps etc.  I throw rocks at the concept or the image idea and if it makes it through, then I start the final. It sounds very one, two , three but it’s a really loose and organic process.

Sign Of The Times (2005) which depicts a group of young students, with one wearing a bullet proof vest has, for me, the theme of both hope for the future and the reality and violence of our current times, these themes would ring especially true I imagine for the disadvantaged youth in the states. How has the plight for proper education for those looked over by the system changed since the creation of this work in 05? Have things improved? What are your thoughts on how America takes care of its disadvantaged?

I think things are kind of the same as of now. I think the quality of education in most public school in the United States don’t give the youth a fighting chance in the real world. Some end up with a nine to five and can’t pay rent, so they end up scheming, robbing, stealing… just to make their car payment. I think some of the youth feel like there are no real options. That’s why so many kids join the Marines, Army and the Navy. They don’t have the right tools for the job so they get desperate. Especially now, these are very hard times for many people. There are not many jobs to go around and people are struggling.

When do you know a theme needs to be explored in one of your paintings? When do these themes make themselves apparent in your daily life?

I think a single thought that has the slightest impact or truth for me is valid. It could be funny, stupid, serious, sad or whatever… I want people to feel something when they view the work. If they do then I have done my job I believe.

How did the Army Set (2007) come about, how hard was that to execute? What was the reception to this work?

It was for a anti war show in L.A. I created the piece thinking about the little green army men I use to play with when I was a kid. I was thinking how I can use those as a tool for communication in the context of anti war. So I came up and created 50 custom packages with a drawing of an army man on the flap reading: "ARMY SET" below that read: " includes: poor and middle class people." I colored the army mens faces and hands many different shades of flesh. Light to dark and each of the packages had a bonus gold solider. It kind of worked as a print / info graphic. So I signed and numbered each one of them and started putting them up at various department stores, specifically the toy "army" section.

Yes they do have an army section for the toys here in the United States, which is kind of weird. Mother, fathers buying toys for their children would see this piece at second glance and trip out? This is what I called consumer bombing. It created an anti war dialog  while the parents where with their children. They would find me on the net and email me love and hate mail. Even a teacher hit me up... asking for one so he could share it with his class.

You recently finished working as Art Director for Estevan Oriols new book LA Woman, how was that experience? What did you learn from taking on what is essentially a designer role for that project?

It was cool. I've done a book project with Estevan before for his Adidas x Undefeated 1979 project. The LA Woman project was dope because it was pretty much me, him and Drago the publisher. It was smooth and fun. Creating compositions with his sick photos and listening to his stories about how the photo came about. Estevan is most definitely an asset to the Los Angeles street culture and beyond.

Your artistic talent has been applied to a variety of different mediums such as the aforementioned Army Set, the Go Getters series along with graphics for brands like Upper playground and Stussy. What medium have you yet to explore that is on your list and why?

Well I don't have a list of mediums I wanna try out. I think it depends on the idea. If the execution calls for a neon sign or something outside of painting to bring the idea home then I'm game. I think whatever gets the point across in the most effective way is the best route. I don't wanna be limited, the whole city is up for grabs when I think about it.

How do you approach your work for commercial application, such as a tee graphic, how does this differ from your more traditional arts practice, what are the key differences between the two for you?

I think its the state of mind for me. Being conscious of who I'm designing for what the client wants to say and what I wanna say. Someone like Upper Playground is open to my fine artwork being printed on a t-shirt. Not everyone has the money to buy the original piece so this is another way for the viewer or art lover to have the art work. If your designing for clients like Stussy then you might get some art direction and at the end it has to fit in the final line for that season.

I've read some of your earliest drawing inspirations came from comic books, who were your heros both characters and there illustrators? Do you still follow the medium? Ever been interested in doing a comic book? If so what would it be about?

Yea Marvel Comics was a big influence when growing up. That was like early art school. I use to look at comics for many techniques, the way they color and ink to create form. I use to scope out the old Wolverine, Punisher, Spiderman you know all the stuff Todd Mcfarlane drew was dynamic. The way he would exaggerate characters, his gestures and all of that. He definitely stood out to me Stylistically. I would also check out Jim Lee he was fresh at drawing the X-Men. But at the same time I was into graffiti and artists like Basquiat and Keith Haring. I use to try and draw comic books when I was younger with stupid stories about graffiti and other stuff. I didn't enjoy writing, all I wanted to do was to create and draw. I don't think I would do a comic book, they are very hard to do! If I did do one it would have to be funny, but not too sure what it would be about?

Hip-hop definitely plays a part in your works with reference to various martyrs from the genre throughout your works. Who are some of your current new favorites?

In hip-hop? Hmm, I wanna like more of the new stuff but it's rare when I like some new artist thats out. Maybe I'm getting old, right? I just like well done tracks...I like Little brother, Black Milk, Jay Electronica, 9th wonder. I find myself listening more to slow jams and throwback classics like, Tribe Called Quest, old Xzibit, Pink Floyd, Marvin Gaye, old Ice Cube, Rodrigo y Gabriela... stuff like that. I'm patiently waiting on the new Sade album and her concert tour.

What were your thoughts when Nas came out with the album Hip-hop Is Dead?

I like Nas. I wanted to hear the album, he always has something thought provoking to say. I don't always agree with his views but I think he is an artist not an entertainer and that really goes far for me these days. The album was dope, but not as hard as his latest album.

Was the painting titled Nas (2007), which sees Nas with, what looks like, a gold chain noose, a direct reference to this album title? Do you know if he's seen the work and what his reception to it was?

I created the painting based on his album for a music magazine cover before I even heard the album. I think I was pretty accurate. It was reviewed by Def Jam and they didn't appreciate it much. They asked me to remove the long part of the noose so it looks like just a chain. I didn't remove it from my painting but the magazine had to touch it up and remove it. I'm not sure if Nas has seen the piece?...probably the edited magazine version, but I would like to think he would enjoy the unedited piece a lot more.

What projects do you have coming up that we should know about? What do you think the next 10 years hold for Patrick Martinez? What do you think the next t 10 years hold for street culture?

I'm hoping to do more shows. I have been constantly working on my fine art and pushing that so wanting to display the pieces is where my head is at. I want to start showing outside of the US as well as establish my art here in the states. I have some group shows coming up at Fifty24LA in downtown Los Angeles and at Show and Tell Gallery in Toronto, Canada. I also have some collaboration projects in the mix for this year. I want to continue to push myself in the next ten years and not get bored with myself, I love getting up in the morning and asking myself "what do I wanna say today?" shit is pretty great. As for street culture I think there are some great things still to come from it, I'm ready to be amazed as well as add to it.

For more on Patrick check his website, patrickmartinez.com, which features a selection of his works, an online store and a blog which he updates frequently.