Influences 1.1

I am a Junior at Ohio University, using my creativity to paint pictures with light for film, video, and photography. I am a visually and aurally creative person and I am influenced by many other creative people. One of my favorite artists is Ralph Steadman. He is British artist that focuses on Gonzo art. His style is very unique because he uses paint splatters to create a contrast with his thin scratchy pen line drawings.  His art work has a very addicting and menacing tension based from his subject, or content, as well as his contrast from his style.  Another reason he is a big influence on me is because his art work goes hand in hand with the works of Hunter S. Thompson. Hunter S. Thomspon  has influenced the way I think, create, and percieve the world since I picked up a paperback cope of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Ever since then he has enlightened my artistic subconscious. Hunter's work is subjective, as is Steadman's, because their work is looked at through a "Gonzo filter". it is almost like they use creativity to tell the truth while streatching it to a point to the brink of untruth. His work Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas influenced me very much so because his personality and views contrast so much with the average boring American. If I may quote him, Hunter once said, "I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity, but they have always worked for me." I find that they work for me and my creativity also. I, like Hunter, try to represent an altered reality with my writing and art. I try to represent the outcast, the black sheep, and the artist. I don't agree with dirty politics and neither does Hunter or my biggest musical influence The Frankl Project of Cincinnati, Ohio. The Frankl Project is a power trio of some of Cincinnati's most talented musicians. They play music that is a very unique blend of ska, punk, and blues. They have very bluesy grooves in "Greyhound Bus" and very fast punk songs with ska/reggae up strokes during the verse such as the song "Black and Blue". Each member of the band is a friend of mine and they share my political and spiritual beliefs. They are amazing musicians that have very socially aware lyrics. I have actually adapted my drumming style and preference from their drummer Joseph Frankl. He uses a unique style of syncopation to combing with the crunchy guitar and the grooving bass. Finally my most influential film is Fight Club. If fits my style just fine. I instantly too the the rebellious messageof the film. Along with the beautiful Neo-Noir cinematography it captured my attention from the first scene. I felt like i was the "Narrator" in the film. It strung me through every minute of it. I went into cinematography because of the beautiful imagery in the movie. It gave me the cut the shit do what you love belief, and I've kept it ever since.

Fear and Loathing Trailer

Fight Club

The Frankl Project (Bluesy)

The Frankl Project (Ska/Punk)