July 30, 8:12 AM
Black Velvet Dragon's Lair by Kyle Kulakowski
Kyle Kulakowski is a resident Tucsonan who paints on black velvet. So what is the Video Game Examiner doing interviewing him? Well, he only paints scenes from video games! I was able to ask this artist a few questions about his work and how he got started. Keep reading to find out what he answered!
Black Velvet Senorita by Kyle Kulakowski
Q. What inspired you to paint on black velvet?
A. I was wandering in a desert South of Tucson one day and I saw a stack of 10 black velvet canvasses. Each painting was the face of a crying woman. Right then, one of our patented Tucson monsoon downpours started. I grabbed a velvet painting to use as an umbrella.
When I got home and the painting (and my clothes) dried, I was intrigued by the style of the painting and saw the event as a sign to become a velvet painter.
When the rain let up, I went back to try to retrieve the other paintings. Sadly, they were all gone. Local legend says that someone else stumbled across the paintings and distributed them throughout Tucson. You can see one of the velvet paintings of the crying woman hanging up in the Surly Wench Pub.
Q. When did you decide to do this?
A. Using the monsoon event as a catalyst, I started painting on black velvet late 2006. I completed my first painting, Black Velvet Dragon’s Lair, in January 2007.
Q. Why do you paint video game themes?
A. Most of the old 80’s era video games have black backgrounds, so they lend themselves to be painted on a black surface. Other than that, I am a gamer. Video games are a genre that I saw rise to form throughout my life. Heck, I remember playing games on 5 ¼ inch floppy disks.
Q. What is your favorite piece and why?
A. That would have to be Black velvet Señorita. The painting is based off of a level from the video game Psychonauts. The game has an entire level styled like a velvet painting. To illustrate, here is a video clip from that level:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=UnueGSD_2ZQ
It is my way of paying homage to the one video game that featured black velvet art.
Q. What's the hardest piece you've ever painted?
A. The hardest work was You are Standing. It was a tribute to the old text-based adventure game Zork and every part of it was painted with tiny words (using a sewing needle). It took over two months to complete and has given me a lingering fear of paint covered sewing needles.
Angry Egg by Kyle Kulakowski
Q. Which 3 pieces are hanging in the Solar Culture gallery?
A. Evil Robots, You Are Standing, and Cat’s Paw. Respectively, the paintings are based off of the video games Berzerk, Zork, and Fallout.
Q. Where else have you showcased your work?
A. Dapper Grooming Lounge and Shot in the Dark Café have both shown my paintings. Both places are very supportive of local artists and I recommend purchasing goods or services from them. ;)
Q. I noticed quite a few of your works include the use of blacklight. What inspired you to take such an action?
A. Black velvet painters of the 60’s and 70’s used black light paints to achieve a unique artistic effect. The contrast of the dark velvet and the black light reactant paints cause the colors to become more vivid.
As many of the games I paint have a black background, it just seems a natural fit. When black light reactant paints are used, style is reminiscent of a darkened 80’s arcade - with pixels glowing against a black screen.
Q. What's your favorite video game?
A. Of all time? Now that’s a hard question…I would have to say that the title be shared between a few titles: Grim Fandango, Fallout 3, Silent Hill 2, and Psychonauts.
Q. Do you do commissioned work, and if so, how can people reach you?
A. I do indeed do commissioned works – with one caveat: the works have to relate to video games (although, I can make about any topic relate to a video game). Price depends on size and complexity of the painting. Just drop me an email with what you want painted and we will see what we can work out.
Q. Anything else you would like to tell the public?
A. Painting on black velvet is harder than most artists think. I highly recommend that others in the art community give it a whirl.
For more info: Visit Kyle's deviantart site, email Kyle, or email Tara at tucsongamer@cybergal.com
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