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ARTIST & SURFER: TODD HALE
By: Paul Di Marco |
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Atlantic Surf Life would like to introduce Artist, Photographer and Surfer
Todd Hale from Richmond, VA. Todd also spends his summers in Nags
Head, NC running his Photography Company, Sun Portraits and surfing. During the winter, Todd returns to Richmond to work on his
painting and planning his shows at Studio 6 that he hosts once a month. I first met Todd back in 2004 in Nags Head. We spent some
time surfing and sharing stories from past Grateful Dead shows and photography geek talk.
When I decided to add an Artist category to Atlantic Surf Life, I knew Todd's
work had to be shared.
Atlantic Surf Life interviewed Todd for our Atlantic Artist & Surfer Profile.
Check it out and check out his work below. |
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Artist & SURFER: Todd Hale
Location: Richmond VA & Nags Heads NC
Studio: Studio/Gallery 6 Richmond Virginia
Website: http://www.toddshale.com/
Blog: about75days.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/todd.hale1
Email: toddshale@hotmail.com |
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Company or Studio Info?
I have art shows once a month Sept-May at my studio in Richmond,VA: Studio/Gallery 6. I spend June-Sept on the Outer Banks where I am a photographer.
What College did you study at?
VCU
Home town and town you live in?
I was born in Richmond where I live part of the year. I spend the rest of the year in Nags Head, NC.
Do you have a Website, Blog or Facebook?
toddshale.com for art
about75days.blogspot.com for travel photos
sunportraits.com for my photography business.
Why do you do what you do?
I am lucky enough to work at things that I love. Its the only way to be able to do something this much. I don't really think of work as a separate activity.
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How do you work?
Traditionally I have been a super late night studio person. I have recently been enjoying the morning in the same way, its all about long periods of solitude. In the summer I take a break from heavy production and do a lot of planning in the sketchbook. Lately I have been doing a lot of drawing on the iphone and ipad.
What’s your background?
I was a painting and printmaking major at VCU.
What’s integral to the work of an artist?
I am a believer in a the benefits of constantly working and refining your art. Waiting around for the big idea to happen doesn't work for me. I also like to be around people that challenge me.
What role does as a artist have in society?
An artist should be an explorer, prankster, shaman, psychic, jester, provocateur. Great art leaves you with more questions than answers. |
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What has been a seminal experience?
Two years ago my wife and I went around the world for 3 months. We went through Mexico, Hawaii, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand and Morocco. The influences I absorbed and details that continue to emerge could keep me busy for the rest of my life, but I'm ready to go again.
Explain what you do to create you work?
I work in a lot of different media partly because it can help generate new ideas but also to consciously work against my skill set. I respect technical ability but it can get in the way and take center stage if you aren't aware of it. This is especially true now in the digital age. I am not opposed to using any tool available however. It gets really interesting when you can use all of this amazing technology to address archaic problems.
What art do you most identify with?
I am a student and fan of so much of art history but I think I approach my own work like the so called outsider or visionary artists.
What work do you most enjoying doing?
I like the freedom of my personal artwork but I also really enjoy collaborating on projects or starting with a specific purpose as defined by someone else. My job as a photographer helps to balance the time I spend in the ambiguous world of creating "art."
What’s your strongest memory of your childhood?
I have a lot of really good memories of hanging out on the Chesapeake Bay with my family. I spent endless days catching crabs and walking around in the woods. |
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What themes do you pursue?
I seem to be drawn to biological forms and metaphors for vision/perception. In a way I think it all relates back to the experience of being in nature when I was young. The thrilling euphoria of being stunned and fascinated by the world is what I hope to catalyze, a sense of discovery and mystery.
What’s your scariest experience?
I remember being maybe 5 and seeing older kids put on Halloween masks and being totally freaked out, in a good way. The idea that people could transform in front of my eyes was really fascinating to me. My wife recently pointed out to me that my work is largely about transformation and I agree. As far as a real world experience, while traveling after college I had some trouble in Tangier with a street hustler who tried to extort me by claiming he could have me jailed...
What’s your favorite art work?
I was completely blown away as a kid by Hieronymous Bosch' "the Garden of Earthly Delights". Also the "Wizard of Oz" really did it for me.
Describe a real-life situation that inspired you?
Part of my year is spent in Richmond at my studio in a pretty rough part of town. Its normal to see transvestite hookers, wild eyed hobos, and people doing some kind of homemade Tai Chi and talking to themselves. Then I come to the beach and am back to nature but also with the insane tourist element. Both extremes are really inspiring to me, I am drawn to strangeness and juxtaposition.
What’s your most embarrassing moment?
As a photographer I get into some really interesting social scenarios. Everything is heightened during these big days. Upon arriving to shoot a wedding I once said, "so you're the mother of the bride?" and was replied to "no, I am the bride". tough crowd. |
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What jobs have you done other than being an artist?
landscaper, one hour photo guy (endlessly interesting), bartender, lifeguard
Why art?
Art allows you to set your own curriculum. Its also kind of like a calling, similar to what religious people must feel.
What is an artistic outlook on life?
I try and remain curious, always willing to look under rocks and in the alley for the sublime.
What food, drink, song inspires you?
My wife is a great cook so whatever is on the menu. I can chop the hell out of some stuff and do a really mean bunch of dishes. Beer is my thing, cheap, good, whatever. I am currently on a 40's and 50's doo wop binge.
What do you dislike about the art world?
There is a lot of posturing by some pretty phony people who don't seem to really get it. |
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What jobs have you done other than being an artist?
landscaper, one hour photo guy (endlessly interesting), bartender, lifeguard
Why art?
Art allows you to set your own curriculum. Its also kind of like a calling, similar to what religious people must feel.
What is an artistic outlook on life?
I try and remain curious, always willing to look under rocks and in the alley for the sublime.
What food, drink, song inspires you?
My wife is a great cook so whatever is on the menu. I can chop the hell out of some stuff and do a really mean bunch of dishes. Beer is my thing, cheap, good, whatever. I am currently on a 40's and 50's doo wop binge.
What do you dislike about the art world?
There is a lot of posturing by some pretty phony people who don't seem to really get it. |
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What do you dislike about your work?
I tend to work on a lot of things at once. That helps me stay loose but I really am trying to focus and follow through on things.
What do you like about your work?
When things are going well it is as if I am seeing the work of someone else. I am a viewer along with the audience. Its pretty cliche to say but also very true: I see myself as a type of medium, channeling this stuff from somewhere else.
What superpower would you have and why?
Time travel, to be able to skip around and go to the best concerts and parties through the ages. Hang out with the druids at Stonehenge, break mystical bread with the Mayans. Maybe stop in and have a pint with Joe Strummer.
What is your dream project?
I am constantly planning and thinking about films. I would love to have some serious backing to make the movies in my head.
Name three artists you’d like to be compared to.
David Lynch, Perry Farrell, Francis Bacon. |
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Favorite SurfBoard?
I won a 9'0" Jed Noll a few years back in a raffle that's a real beauty.
Biggest Waves Surfed?
Countless storms here on the Outer Banks churn out angry, big, dark surf that will help you keep things in check. I also dropped in on a really big beautiful left at Kuta Beach in Bali once.
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When did you start surfing?
I was late and didn't start seriously until I moved to the Outer Banks when I was 20. Before that I spent a lot of time on the skateboard and skimboard but didn't have the perspective that you get when you live at the beach. You can visit for 20 years and never see how good it can get. I also didn't realize the unexpected bliss of a nicely groomed waist high wave. I used to the think of smaller waves as crude substitutes for Pipeline or some kind of Hollywood image of a wave. I was grossly uninformed.
First SurfBoard?
A 7'6" Michael Price.
Your
Local Break?
75 steps from my back door in the Outer Banks...
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Fav Food?
Thai
Fav
Choice of a cold beer?
summertime ice cold Modelos seem to work
local bar?
Tortuga's at the beach Comfort, Bellytimber Tavern and the Belvidere in Richmond.
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What Type of music do you like?
I'm an omnivore. Lately I have been really into the Cambodian pop/psychedelic band Dengue Fever from LA.
Do you have any
fears?
prison, being killed by a crowd. |
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What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Recently while going through some old portfolios, I found a letter from a great illustrator I had been lucky enough to meet and visit with when I was around 12. His advice to me was to always persevere. I really needed to read that at that exact moment, 25 years later. The career of the artist is not for the faint of heart.
Professionally, what’s your goal?
To me success is making it possible to make more work. I would also like to get to a place where I have enough security and time to take bigger and bigger risks.
Closing Statment
I'm looking forward to another summer here on the Outer Banks. I still have the love for this area that brought me here in the first place. The people and landscape are totally unique and I'm lucky to be here. |
| You can find more of Todd's art on his website at toddshale.com |
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