Artist of the Month January 2009

Byron O’Neal

Tulsa, Oklahoma

How and when did you start creating art?

I’ve been interested in photography since I was really old enough to understand what it was. I love the arts in general, and spent almost a decade and a half working with live art in various formats. More recently, I got serious about photography while living in Colorado and working long, grueling hours as the technical director of a theatre. Photography became an escape into the outdoors after being stuck inside for long periods of time. Knowing that I wanted to transition from supporting artists to becoming one myself was a gradual process. I’ve been working as a full-time professional photographer for almost two years now.

What media and genres do you work in?

I work exclusively with photography at this point. Genre is a little more difficult to pinpoint. Sometimes my work is abstract, sometimes fantasy, sometimes figural. I occasionally do florals or landscapes, but only when I can put my own unusual spin on them.

Who or what are your influences?

Jackson Pollock, Diego Rivera, Picasso, Frederic Rezine, Shepard Fairey, and a few other modern graffiti artists. I also am inspired by haiku. My friends and family lament how overly wordy I can be, so seeking to capture the essence of a thing, succinctly and completely is both challenging and fulfilling. And I realize it’s a little trite, but my family inspires me every day to keep producing art, be happy, and be the best artist I can be.

My inspiration was kind of spontaneous in this case. I go out looking for shapes, patterns, or color combinations that seems appealing. I saw a ridge of rust covered by white paint with a blue background and saw coral mounts not knowing exactly yet where I was going to go with the rest of it. As it took shape later on, I fell in love with how a figure appears to be encapsulated by expanding coral columns. I was thinking about a friend, recently returned from Iraq, while working on the piece that has a thing for Norse mythology and did a little research. Aegir is the Norse God of the Sea.

Describe your creative process?

I usually start out with a concept in mind, looking for something like: the interplay of colors, how a line overlays a shape, or perhaps an interesting pattern. Sometimes I’ll go out with a drawing on a piece of paper that I’ll use as a guideline. I give myself a few minutes to absorb the environment and shut down the rest of the world. It’s a hunt to find something unique. As a photographer, it’s capture and then create. It’s not exactly the method of a studio artist or the normal process of a photographer either but somewhere in between the two.

What are you working on currently?

I’m working on rounding out my Spheres portfolio, adding to the Reflections series, developing a clothing line (and some really cute kids’ stuff), and aggressively seeking gallery representation.

What are your near/long term goals as an artist?

I’d like to bring awareness to the positive aspects of graffiti as an art form and continue to challenge traditional notions about what photography is. Long term, I would ultimately like to own and manage my own gallery and help to nurture and mentor emerging artists.

Where can people view/purchase your work (gallery, website, etc)?

My website, www.byrononeal.com is currently the best way to view and purchase my work. I’m always happy to respond to emails to sfmako@mac.com as well.

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