…Dan Meth
Hi Dan! How are you?
I’m good! I’m busy, which is good!
Can you introduce yourself?
I’m Dan Meth, a cartoonist who lives in Brooklyn, NY. I make illustrations, animated videos, live action videos, write and storyboard.
Wow, a lot of things :-) Have you studied anyhing particular to become what you’re now?
I studied illustration, and many years later i’m still discovering all the things I learned in art school.
Do you think NY is a nice place for creatives like you?
I do think it’s a very inspiring place. Your senses are constantly being overstimulated by everything around you. Strange people and situations happening all the time right in front of you, begging to be eavesdropped on. All the art and culture you could ever take in. Everyone is doing creative things, reading a lot, talking a lot. I guess the only drawback is the unfathomable rents and cruddy apartments.
Do you think your works are influenced by this city mood?
Yes. I think much of New York’s smartass sarcasm and dark humor has made it’s way into my work. People here are all extremely well-read but also kind of whiny and ironic. It’s a survival method.
Can you tell us anything about your typical working methods?
My typical working methods are to carry a sketchbook and digital camera everywhere for when inspiration strikes. Most of the good ideas happen when I least expect it. Doodling often produces my favorite drawings. I like drawing by hand and coloring by Photoshop.
I’ve already chatted with a lot of illustrators and they often said me their creative process start with doodling. What do you think?
Yes, doodling is always were it begins. The best way to get get your eye-hand-brain connection loosened up.
I’m curious: can you show us any of your doodles?
You can find many of my favorite personal doodles here.
What are your main visual inspirations?
Drawings by kids, Eastern Bloc illustration, Moebius, Mad Magazine, 70’s anything, Things I think I see in the corner of my eye, old maps, Syd & Marty Krofft shows, dreams, sci-fi paperback illustrations, Tumblr, Netflix, and 80% of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Would you describe yourself as an artist?
I usually let other people call me that. I usually refer to myself as a “cartoonist” or “director” since it’s a little less vague than “artist”.
What is your own favorite piece of work? Why?
My own favorite piece of work is probably the Meth Minute 39, a series of animated cartoons produced for Frederator Studios from 2007-2008. It was exciting to gather comedic actors, musical friends, and a small staff of young animators together to give life to my weird characters and ideas and then get such a positive response from a large online audience. With a tight budget and timeline we were able to create 39 short cartoons with recurring characters and running gags for a fanbase that tuned in every week for more. And having full-creative control was a rare delight.
What are you working on these days?
These days I’m working on a huge array of various projects; from music videos and comic books, to gallery pieces and TV show pitches. The ideas and inspirations are plentiful these days. The hardest part is forcing yourself to work on one project until you finish it, as opposed to working on all of them at the same time.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future: To finish every project I start… To veer away from the internet and make more art that can be put on a bookshelf, a wall, or a T-shirt. To live or at least travel in foreign lands. To make art even more a part of my life everyday. To start a website where I interview artists I admire with the thinly-veiled purpose of learning about their methods. And somewhere in between all that, to exercise on a regular basis.
Fine, the interview is over. Thank you Dan, it has been a pleasure :-) Is there anything else would you like to say to our readers?
I just want to say that if you are interested in my work visit danmeth.com everyday, because I put something new up every weekday.
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