Will Schaff
When did you begin to draw?
I have no memory of starting to draw. I just always have. Like most little children do, I drew pictures as a kid. I would make up settings on paper, then cut out the baseball players from my baseball cards, or monsters from books, and make up my own stories in these settings I drew.
When did you realise you could make a living as an artist?
I have yet to make a living, by normal definition of that phrase, from art. I don't think most folks would be comfortable living the way I do. And I live the way I do because I am pursuing the type of art I am.
Did you study illustration at an institution/ by yourself?
Both. But I did attend the Maryland Institute, College of Art for four years, and graduated with a BFA.
How hard is it to make a living as an artist at the moment?
Well, I have been trying at it, in different ways here and there, for more than 15 years. So now I at least have momentum and some name recognition. So that helps a bit. but I am in the odd spot now where folks know my name and assume I am either too well known to approach for commissions, or that I would be too expensive. They equate recognition with how much money I earn. Allow me to state, this is truly not the case.
How many hours do you typically spend in a day drawing? Do you set yourself a routine?
My only routine is pretty much to be working all the time. There are occasions where I need to leave my studio, but otherwise, I eat my meals at my desk, I often fall asleep by my desk, and when I awake, i just get back to work. That said, I don't know how many hours a day I work. It seems most hours of the day I am working on some aspect of my art.
Do you purposefully sit down to come up with an idea or is it just something that follows you around? To what extent is your work an outlet?
Sometimes, yes I do. Often there are also ideas that follow me around as you say, or I am inspired by what is going on around me. The world we live in is not short on things that inspire me to create. As for whether or not my work is an outlet, that would depend on what you think it might be an outlet for.
You seem to cover quite a wide range of subjects/matters, what are the main themes you find yourself coming back to?
Life on this planet. How living things treat each other. You'll forgive me if the answer seems evasive, but to go into more detail I feel might limit how people view my work, looking at it only through the general lens of a few words.
Are you playing a musical instrument at the moment? Are you involved in any bands/ projects? Do you give much time to playing music?
Yes. I play drums in the drum section of an 18 piece renegade brass band called The What Cheer? Brigade. You can hear samples of the music here: whatcheerbrigade.com
Does the music you listen to sometimes find it's way into your work?
Certainly the mood of the music often does. There have been times as well where I was so struck by a particular line in some song that a whole piece has come from my feelings towards that line. There have also been those times when one song might be on repeat for hours on end while I create a piece.
Anything you particularly like to listen to when working?
It varies depending on my mood. I also listen to old radio mysteries, books on tape, and at times I will have television programs on, or some film.
Anyone you would particularly like to work with?
You mean from the music world? With my art? Sure. Lots of folks. His Name is Alive, The Mountain Goats, The Extra Action Marching Band, Sufjan Stevens...the list could go on and on.
How else do you enjoy spending your time? How are things in Providence at the moment...a good place to get by?
I really don't do much in the way of extra curricular activities. The What Cheer? brigade is on hiatus right now, and that is really the main thing I do outside of the studio. If I am outside of the studio, I am usually somewhere that I can bring work with me, and I try to always do so. I don't go into Providence much these days (I live about 15 minutes outside of Providence) so I cannot really even speak too much about what's going on there. I have just recently started teaching a class over at what's called "The Training School", in Cranston, Rhode Island. It is the juvenile prison in Rhode Island. On the seldom times I do go out to do something, there is a soft ice cream stand I very fond of. I like to spend time with my friend, Joelle. We might go to a bar, or once in a blue moon, a movie. I used to enjoy bowling very much, and would probably do so again if I ever dragged myself out to the lanes.
As far as Providence being a "good place to get by", I would say yes. As far as New England goes, it is still relatively inexpensive. There are a lot of artists and musicians keeping things lively and colorful. It does close down kind of early, but as I am often in the studio working, this has never really been a problem for me.
[Dec 2009] Back to Top
