Scooter LaForge: Quarantine Art
Marianna
Do you have a routine you've built for yourself for entering into a creative headspace?
Scooter
Yes. For instance, I like to make oatmeal in the morning. I stir it to the cadence of soft music and then serve it in one of my favorite bowls. I let the bowl sit on the table at a certain angle, so the sunlight hits the steam, and I can see little clouds forming. This meditation brings great clarity. I go within and eliminate the space between the internal and the external.
Marianna
Do you have any habits you've built to foster creativity in your work?
Scooter
I enter a mental region where I am one with my surroundings. The thoughts, the feelings, and the atmosphere I am in, all coexist in real-time. This practice dates to my childhood. The hand suddenly starts moving on its own. My love of these automatic movements fosters even more. There is a certain grace. To me, this is pure art. I envision myself as a tube, a conduit. The work comes from an unfathomable place…a mysterious source. I stop thinking when my hand makes the first move, gliding across the paper, canvas…
Marianna
How has quarantine affected you as an artist?
Scooter
The isolation is not that different from the headspace I just described, so this has been a productive, contemplative time for me. I tend to be working all the time. Again, the exterior circumstances align with the interior…perhaps the quarantine was a response to something I inadvertently yearned for…the kind of things that come up in daydreams… I’ve been able to take my time, to not be overwhelmed, to focus attention.
In this retreat, or ‘residency,’ I wander to the land of cartoons and fairy tales, bypassing thought. The motion from ‘ether’ to hand is the only process. The composition comes together as I go along. Mostly I don’t know what I’m doing. It’s nice to be free.
Marianna
Can you describe your Corona Cave painting, the process behind creating it, and it’s meaning for you?
Scooter
My corona cave painting is a result of not being about to go to my painting studio. I was lying in bed staring at the white wall. I decided to paint on the wall—I did this a lot as a child. It has grown from there. I always have music going in my house. I have paints out on the table, and when I get inspired, day or night, I am ready to paint. It’s quite a luxury to be able to paint on the walls. I create my own personal paradise. Like a child…conjuring my entire life.
Marianna
What sources of inspiration do you currently use to foster creativity in your work?
Scooter
I collect vintage children's books. I love the old style of illustration. The books make me so happy. Musicians inspire me. Frank Zappa for one. I am inspired by things I love and hate. Rembrandt, vintage porn, Goya and Edvard Munch plague paintings—the latter died in the 1918 flu pandemic—, Madonna, Dale Bozzio, Terry Bozzio, Peter Max, Jim Nutt…
Marianna
When do your best ideas hit you?
Scooter
When my mind is empty and open to receive. Sitting in a chair looking out the window and listening to the birds inspires me to paint. Nature is my greatest inspiration.
Marianna
What are some creative accomplishments you are proud of so far?
Scooter
When I get to give talks to younger students who study art. I love being around young creative people who are fearless. I did a special event at Howl! Happening Gallery. They have a program called Howl! High. Around 13 kids signed up. We all painted on white sweatshirts, and the challenge was to paint an emoji that represented the way we felt that day. It was so fun. These kids really got into it and they were very proud of what they made. Also, I loved doing a large-scale mural in the Tel Aviv Gay Centre in honor of four queer youth who were murdered there.
Marianna
Do you experiment in your work?
Scooter
Experimentation is my way of work. The beauty of painting is there exists a limitless way to apply paint. I will go the rest of my life discovering new techniques.
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About Scooter LaForge:
Scooter LaForge was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and moved to New York City in 2001 for a Cooper Union residency. Living in the East Village for the past 18 years, his unique style mines the rich catalog of art history, infusing classical themes with a colorful sensibility. Bridging the gap between pop art and contemporary painting, LaForge’s work redefines the medium for today.
LaForge works in various media, including painting, sculpture, and drawing, employing unorthodox techniques and striking iconic images. In 2015, the artist was awarded a Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant.
He is a frequent collaborator with his friend Patricia Field. Scooter’s recent exhibitions include Creation of the Animals at Empirical Nonsense; Homo Eruptus, his second solo show at Howl! Happening; and Elsewhere Paintings at Nancy Littlejohn Fine Arts, Houston, TX.
DON’T FOOL WITH MOTHER NATURE coronavirus made-to-order hand-painted tees, $60 each + shipping. Available in sizes S to 5XL. Part of the proceeds will go to the NYC Coalition for the Homeless (@nyhomeless). DM Scooter for details.