Sans Mike Majewski, pas de Devourment. C'est lui, l'ancien bassiste, qui porte désormais le groupe culte texan sur ses larges épaules et qui tient le micro en lieu et place du légendaire Ruben Rosas. Mais Majewski, c'est aussi un dessinateur talentueux, adepte du gore et de l'horreur. Un talent dont il ne parle malheureusement pas souvent. Thrashocore vous donne ainsi l'occasion d'en savoir un peu plus sur l'art tout en finesse de Majewski.Hi Mike, what's up since the last time I interviewed you (Aug. 06)?
Quite a bit since then. We had a great tour of Europe, I've been quite busy with doing band art and currently we are working on our next album.
This interview is part of a special event on Thrashocore webzine about metal illustrators. So we're only going to focus on your art and put Devourment aside for once. How long have you been into drawing? When did you start to acknowledge you were skilled and you could earn money with your art? So basically, what's your story?
Ever since I can remember really. When I was a kid I would draw dinosaurs and robots and shit. Even back then I would make them violent, like people getting killed and shit. My parents thought I was nuts ha ha. In school I was always the person teachers would go to when they needed art and shit, I was quite popular as an artist in school, even drew covers for yearbooks and shit.
How would you define and describe your style?
I would say very comic book influenced. I love the style of comics like Spawn. To me, a single image in comics portrays so much, and I love the look and flow of the anatomy, so I incorporate that kind of idea, along with principles of figure drawing and realistic anatomy.
What are your sources of inspiration?
I guess horror movies. I loved horror since a very early age so monsters and violence is the basis for much of my art.
How do you usually work (techniques, etc)? What softwares do you work with? (Photoshop?)
I sketch it out in blue pencil and get the rough design down. Once Im happy with it, I go over it with a rapidograph ink pen for the outline, shading and detail. If it's a color piece, I go through the same process, then scan it into photoshop and paint it there. I used to do traditional painting and airbrush but when you can use photoshop to get a better result, it seems pointless to go back to it. Its extremely messy, expensive and vastly more time consuming.
Your art is mainly black and white. Why?
I think it is what I am more known for and I enjoy doing it. I love the look of black and white.
You've been quite busy lately doing arts for Human Rejection, Gorgasm, Torsofuck and Incinerate among others. I guess it was a pretty good year for you? More and more bands are hiring you, you must be proud! What are the next bands you're going to work for?
Very proud. A lot of these bands I am a big fan of so for them to approach me to art for them is an honor. I love being a part of this scene, not only with my band, but art as well. It's a huge part of my life as well as a passion. At the moment I am doing designs for Cropment and Putrid Pile.
How does it go when bands contact you? Do they say exactly what they want or do they give you carte blanche?
Its kind of 50/50. Sometimes a band will be very specific in what they want. Other times they will give me a title or something and let me come up with the concept. I prefer that because I feel I do my best work when the idea comes from me.
I don't know if you want to make it public but how much do you charge for an album cover? For a shirt design?
I charge $300 for full color, $150 for black and white. I think those rates are very fair.
Which piece of art you've made is your fave and why?
Its really hard to answer that because I consider every piece I do like a child. I put the same time and effort into everything I do. I'm proud of all my work really and its very gratifying that some people enjoy what I do.
What are your favourite artists, those who have the biggest influence on your work? Who is the best up-and-coming metal illustrator for you?
All time favourite artists are HR Giger and Norman Rockwell. I can stair at their work for hours and both are big inspirations for me. Metal artists I love are Par Olafsson, Tony Keohl, Studio Sho, Mark Riddick, Dan Seagrave. To me, each one of these guys has their own unique style which I have a great deal of respect for. A great up and comer is Arif Suhaimi from the band Flesh Disgorged. He has a very twisted and dark style, very unique as well, I love his work.
Does your daily work have something to do with your talent as a drawer?Do you plan on collecting all your drawings in a book to sell it? That would be sick if you ask me!
Well I work at a computer graphics/special effects company so I make a living off of art as well. Doing art for bands is kind of second job for me. Perhaps someday I would make a book of all my work, if I have the money and means to do so.
Do you like other artists outside the extreme metal world? Do you like painters from the Renaissance for example?
Of course. Norman Rockwell of course, Leonardo da Vinci was just mind boggling. I'm more into artists that have a realistic style, rather than say impressionist of anstract styles.
Considering how your art is, I guess you like horror/gore flicks. Can you give me your top 5?
Huge fan. Its hard to come up with 5 but I'll give you 5 off the top of my head.
1. Evil Dead 2
2. Dead Alive
3. The Thing
4. Halloween
5. The Shining
I'm sorry but I can't resist to ask you a few questions about Devourment haha! What's up with the new album? Do you have some hot news for us such as the album title or at least new song titles? I think Dan Seagrave is doing the cover, isn't he?
We are in full swing with writing and as of now we have a ton of artwork for it. The cover is being worked on as we speak, I won't say who is doing it though. Dan Seagrave did a new maggot design which is just amazing, its not the cover however. We have a bunch of song titles already and I'll just say we are trying to outdo ourselves as far as sickness. We are going to sicker and more offensive than ever.
You toured Europe for the first time last spring. How was it despite the UK nightmare? Do you remember meeting me at the Paris gig, the first Devourment European show ever?
Yes, other than that incident, it was the time of our lives. The first show in paris was very memorable indeed. After getting sent home from the UK and flying back a day later, we had a 6 hour drive from Frankfurt to Paris, got to the gig and had to get on stage literally 20 minutes later. We were exhausted but so happy to finally play.
Ok Mike that was the last question, thank you for answering this interview. So if you want to add something, pass on a message or anything else, this is your last chance! Can't wait for the new Devourment album, cheers!
Thanks a lot for the interview man, was a lot of fun. Keep an eye out for our next album later this year. Stay Sick!
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