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With wondrous works of art, and witty, insightful books, Louis Cannizzaro better known as Louis XXX, is a creative mind on the grind.
He is constantly exuding positive thoughts with good vibes, and fresh perspectives.
Find some inspiration and check out our exclusive GroundSounds interview with him below.
Can you tell us a little bit about your paintings and poetry?
Yes, I will try to answer your question as best as I can.
I would like for people to think of me as an interesting person who makes super nice things. I make art, so I get thought of in that way. It’s sad that everyone is not responsive to good and positive things.
I’ll tell you a funny story…. When my first book came out, “I Love My Girlfriend” I got a call from a boutique in New York City. The girl was whispering into the phone. She said, “There is a couple here looking at your book and the girl is saying to her boyfriend. “Look at this book. This guy knows me better than you and he doesn’t even fucking know me.” And the guy wanted to know where you live so he could punch you in the face.”
I don’t get that at all.
Can you tell us about your creative process? How do you typically start working on a piece?
I work very fast….super fast. That’s my comfort level. Fast. If I wait too long ideas get polluted and then they start to stink. I get this feeling and I think it’s my best thing: you know when you’re working on a test and they tell you you have like 10 minutes left. I have that in my head. It pops up at the right time. Always. Like when you wake up 2 minutes before the alarm, everytime. So, when that happens I stop painting. It keeps things from being obvious. So when I write “I Love My Girlfriend” on a white canvas and that’s it. It’s perfect. Such a beautiful line. I don’t want to exhaust it. And when people look at it they can appreciate it and add their experience to it. I like giving a little bit and leaving a little bit.
Did you make the decision to become an artist or did it just happen?
When I moved here from New York City I couldn’t find a job. Then I found crappy jobs that no one should have. I felt like nothing was progressing. Life should be forward motion…don’t you think?
Too much was being decided for me. Painting was something I could do and have control over. After a while friends started liking them and were very encouraging. So I gave them out. When this girl I knew took some pieces to her studio to photograph them she told me people wanted to buy them… and how much were they? My rent was $750. So I said $750. A few months later I had a years rent paid.
So, it did just happen but it just happened because I was doing it already.
What mediums do you typically work with?
Acrylic. Because it drys the fastest.
What has been one of your greatest artistic successes?
I love when people send me photos of tattoos of my work they had done. PS it’s always girls. Guys will talk about getting work done and pay for an image. But they never come through. Girls will send me pictures out of the blue after they get it done or while they’re getting it done. Guys are such cowards.
I guess the success part is finding out that people you’ll never meet know who you are. We don’t exist unless we are famous.
You have many published books, “I Love My Girlfriend”, “Full of Grace”, “Have Faith”, can you tell us about creating your novels and your passion for writing?
I feel that I’m a pretty good writer and a pretty fair to poor artist but when I combine the two I’m better than ten others..
What people, places, and books have inspired you most?
I get inspired by information I never see coming. If you look at your girlfriend and she has the most perfect ears or does something so much more beautiful than anything you ever saw. You can’t let that go to waste.
What advice would you give to aspiring artist?
Hmmm. I don’t know. Isn’t the whole idea to do it on your own?
How does creating art make you feel?
It makes me feel like I’m not redundant. Like I don’t have a failed life.
What are you currently working on? What’s next?
I have a new book ready to go. I’m going to move into a new neighborhood with my girlfriend. I have a project with the great Gregory Siff that we’re working on.
http://powderfrench.tumblr.com/
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