Dean Fleming interview - 2011

Name: Dean Fleming
Place of birth: Aberdeen, WA USA

Black Cat: How would you best describe yourself?
Dean Fleming: I’m kind of a weird combination of explorer and perfectionist. I love the work of artists like Karl Bodmer and sometimes approach my surrealistic art as if I’m visiting some strange and amazing place and trying to describe it in a beautiful way. I actually do paint on location quite a bit and have traveled to Europe, Asia, Central America and even Cuba to paint outdoors. I’ve been able to spend most of my life indulging my interests in art, music and travel. I’m just a very lucky guy.

B.C.: What does being an artist mean to you?
D.F.: As an illustrator I’d always cringe when someone referred to me as an artist. My work was VERY commercially oriented. I had some talent and some skill but I think art happens when you express something personal.

B.C.: I know that you like to experiment with materials, so over the years you have worked in oils, acrylics, watercolors and digitally, both 2D and 3D, but your portfolio is mostly made up of paintings. What exactly draws you to that specific style instead of say photo-manipulation, or abstract design?
D.F.: A lot of people, including me, appreciate a painting that has a high level of finish. It seems to suggest skill and patience and dedication. I learned to paint with an airbrush and just developed a very clean style. I do a lot of personal paintings in a much looser style, but the galleries and many people seem to respond best to the more refined look of my surrealist paintings, so that’s what I usually show as “my work.”

B.C.: Which techniques do you use?
D.F.: I paint in oils on a gessoed panel. It’s a time consuming process because getting the thin layers of paint to become opaque requires 3 or 4 or 5 coats and a day or two of drying time between each one. Of course everything has to be blended carefully… it’s tedious!

B.C.: Your painting “Revelations” shows something that looks like a totem and has some elements in the graphic style of N.W. Indian art. Are you really influenced by this culture?
D.F.: I am! I grew up in the time when schools taught that Columbus discovered America and art history meant “European” art history. I was fortunate to have a Native American friend as a child, and that gave me a glimpse into an ancient American culture that was disregarded by many people. I’ve also traveled to a lot of Mayan sites in Central America and I’m always inspired by the amazing art they created.

B.C.: The frames of your paintings are very particular, especially in your work “Doll House”. How do you choose them? And why are the frames are important?
D.F.: “The Doll’s House” was my first surrealist painting and I designed and built the frame myself. I enjoy making my own frames… and I’m always looking for interesting frames to buy. An unusual frame is just one more way to make a piece unique.

B.C.: Do you have preferred working hours? Do you pay attention to the time of the day or maybe specific lighting?
D.F.: I don’t have any particular routine and often don’t know what day it is. I work sporadically and most of my paintings take way too long to paint.

B.C.: Do you do commissioned works?
D.F.: I don’t do commissioned pieces. I was a freelance illustrator for many years and now I only paint for myself.

B.C.: Which pieces would you like to be remembered for?
D.F.: It seems like the “Iron Eagle” I created for the band Slayer is one of my best-known pieces. I also did the movie poster for “The Naked Gun” and that is (or was) very well known. Every person in North America has probably seen my product illustrations but I think my surrealist work is more interesting and wouldn’t mind being remembered for that.

B.C.: How do you define success in terms of what you are working towards? (What is the ideal scenario for you in 10 years time?)
D.F.: I honestly do these paintings for myself. Being asked to exhibit them alongside the work of some really talented artists is very gratifying and is more recognition than I ever expected. The next ten years should be good ones. I hope to try all kinds of new directions in art and music and travel.

B.C.: Thank Dean for your time and for sharing with us your original ideas!

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