Artist Profile: DAN PHEOS

Age? 38

Location? L.I.N.Y.

(Long Island, New York)

What do you love most about where you live? It’s quiet. I lived in San Fransisco and Brooklyn, but I’m over it. My family is here and I like seeing them whenever I want. If I want to head to Brooklyn to see my friends for a night of boozing it’s only 30 minutes away…

Where did you grow up and do you feel it influenced yr art? Actually, I just moved into the apartment in Hicksville that I lived in when I was two years old. We moved around a bunch in Queens. At one point, we lived right along the L.I.E. and the Cross Island Expressway in the late 70s when it was covered in graffiti. I really loved it. It was rooted right there along a healthy dose of Saturday morning cartoons.

Did you have formal training or are you self-taught? I taught myself when we moved back to Hicksville from Queens. I was young, didn’t have any friends, and didn’t want to meet anyone new, kind of like how I am now (ha ha). But I stayed in a lot and drew and drew and drew.

When did you start creating? I guess around 7 or 8 I made a village of rabbits out of loose-leaf paper. It was better than my real toys.

What time of day are you the most artistically productive? When it hits me, it hits me. Most of the time it’s late at night or right up from a nap. I nap, I never get a full eight hours of  sleep. Or if everything around me at the time kind of bores me, I’ll just start scribbling on whatever is in front of me.

What are some things/people/places that inspire you? A good movie, a good song, my close friends…

If you could collaborate with any other artist or product line, what would it be? If anyone wants to work with me, I am down! DanPheo@gmail.com

What is yr favorite medium, and why do you think you are drawn to it? Bic pen, because somebody always has one.

What were you like in high school? I just found my tenth grade report card… it said I wasn’t a good student at all. I just skimmed by. I didn’t care too much for school anyway. I quit football and just wanted to skate all day.

What do you usually occupy yr time with on the weekends? My skateboard company takes up a lot of my time. When I am not working my regualr job driving a texi, I’m out recording skateboarding ( http://www.youtube.com/user/pheoskatbordermen ) or working on graphics. Maybe I should get a girlfriend to take up some of my time!

Favorite music and why? I like old punk, WDRE-type music, and 80s and 90s rap. I like some newer stuff, but that is just a guilty pleasure that I won’t let you in on.

Where can we find your work? I just had a write up in Thrasher Magazine. I’ve done work for Circa Combat  sneakers, number nine skateboards, and a few other companies. I’m also working on a comic book with  ”Snow” from FX Crew. It’s called “Tales from the Mist.” Should be out next year so keep an eye out for it.

WWW.HAZELSKATEBOARDS.COM

http://bryceward.com/Albums/070524_art/index.htm

http://www.youtube.com/user/pheoskatbordermen

http://anotherdayattheriver.bloggspot.com

…or just Google me, I’m sure I’ll pop up somewhere…