Name: Molly Crabapple
Age: 28
Hometown: Far Rockaway, Queens
Current town: New York, NY
Job description: Illustrator; muralist; former burlesque dancer and art model
Bio: Recently completed an intense succession of drawings for "Week in Hell"; immersed London's Box Soho with 90 feet of drawings; founded of Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School
Select links: “Molly Crabapple’s Occupy Wall Street ‘Vampire Squid’ Poster, for your printing/stenciling pleasure” (WSJ.com); “Molly Crabapple’s ‘Week in Hell’ Photos" (ANIMAL); “Gallery Girls, Dr. Sketchy and LA’s Sexy Underground Drawing Clubs” (LA Weekly); “A World Drawn From Wild Tastes” (NY Times); mollycrabapple.com
Describe your current state of mind.
I’m kind of exhausted right now. I just finished a project called “Week in Hell” where I locked myself in a hotel room, and I did 270 feet of drawings in 12 days. And I think it kind of broke me at the end. I did an interview for A&E today about Andy Warhol, which was cool, but I had to do lots of research.
What was it like doing so much in so little time?
It was painful. The idea was to do so much in so little time, that I thought it would break me past my clichés and past what I was used to. Like “force-able inspiration” is how I would put it. It was amazing, but it was really hard at the end. I kind of broke down into a little shivering ball. I was on live stream and I spoke on my Internets for a while.
Describe your current state of mind.
I’m kind of exhausted right now. I just finished a project called “Week in Hell” where I locked myself in a hotel room, and I did 270 feet of drawings in 12 days. And I think it kind of broke me at the end. I did an interview for A&E today about Andy Warhol, which was cool, but I had to do lots of research.
What was it like doing so much in so little time?
It was painful. The idea was to do so much in so little time, that I thought it would break me past my clichés and past what I was used to. Like “force-able inspiration” is how I would put it. It was amazing, but it was really hard at the end. I kind of broke down into a little shivering ball. I was on live stream and I spoke on my Internets for a while.
Do you see what you’re going to make before you make it, or does it just come?
For my commercial work, obviously I do sketches and stuff. For stuff like this, painting over there, I had a vague idea and then I would fill in all the little details as I would go along. I like to be a bit more stream-of-consciousness in my fine art. For “Week in Hell,” I had no idea. I just threw a tack to the wall to see what would come out.
Has that been the most difficult project that you’ve had?
It was one of them. The other was brutal. In London, I did 90 feet of murals in a nightclub called Box Soho. [I was] standing on this jury-rigged stool. It was very physically hard. And a lot of what we were doing was almost on par with construction. It’s probably the project I’m most proudest of and esteem most deeply.
For my commercial work, obviously I do sketches and stuff. For stuff like this, painting over there, I had a vague idea and then I would fill in all the little details as I would go along. I like to be a bit more stream-of-consciousness in my fine art. For “Week in Hell,” I had no idea. I just threw a tack to the wall to see what would come out.
Has that been the most difficult project that you’ve had?
It was one of them. The other was brutal. In London, I did 90 feet of murals in a nightclub called Box Soho. [I was] standing on this jury-rigged stool. It was very physically hard. And a lot of what we were doing was almost on par with construction. It’s probably the project I’m most proudest of and esteem most deeply.
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| Week in Hell, courtesy of Molly Crabapple (Photo by Steve Prue) |
How did you get started doing what you do?
I’ve always been making art. I’ve been doing it since I was four. Our whole family was in the arts, and I was just unsuited for anything else.
How did Dr. Sketchy’s come about?
I was working as an artist’s model and I thought the classes weren’t taking advantage of the models, who were these really cool performers. I wanted something that celebrated the models as muses rather than anatomical studies.
We’ve been doing it for six years. We have a lot of employees now. When I started, honestly, I just asked my favorite dive bar if I could have an event. I had a friend who did burlesque and I was like, “Do you want to pose?” I wrote into Time Out and all the listings places. It started spreading ‘cause I would post on Live Journal, and people around the world would read it and say, “Wow! That’s really cool, but nothing cool ever happens in the small town that I live in.” And I thought, “Take some responsibility. Do something cool.” I made up a little tutorial and people started going with it. And now it’s in 120 cities.
That’s impressive. And what’s it like maintaining contact with all of those people?
At this point, I have employees that run that. It’s really hard. It took a lot. You know, there’s always something going on. It’ll be like: “The Vice Police raided our event in Kansas City.” And in Bogota, there’s a rip-off. There’s model drama in rural England. And you have to deal with all of that.
It’s very rewarding and I met a lot of people, and have gotten to speak in Brazil, Finland, and all of these places I never thought that I would have a following.
What is your schedule like day to day?
It varies a lot. For the past couple of months, I would wake up around 7. The cat would usually wake me up in the head with her paw. I would do a drawing in a series called "Saints and Sinners" - a bunch of people from history that I admire or find interesting. After I did a few of those to warm up, I would start doing my commercial work and then take a walk around McNally Bookstore, read, and write in my journal. And then I would go home and deal with this huge avalanche of email, maybe go have drinks with a friend, and go to sleep.
What’s the longest that you’ve ever stayed up to do a project?
I’m pretty weak. I don’t do all-nighters much. I guess the longest would be when I did a Draw-A-Thon, which is an amazing event. I would stay up all night drawing for that and be weary off my ass the next morning eating eggs at the diner. But, generally, when I do projects that are kill-kill-kill projects, I just wake up really early and keep working steadily.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up on Long Island, about 40 minutes outside of the city. By the time I was 14, I was sneaking on the train going off the Village Halloween Parade, and getting into trouble and stuff.
What were you like as a kid?
I was really bookish and weird. People would throw Coke bottles at me and stuff. By the time I was 12, I was this angry little Goth kid who would listen to Marilyn Manson. I feel like my life sort of began when I turned 17, to be able to leave.
Do you have any siblings?
I don’t.
What do your parents think about what you do?
They’re really proud of it. My mom’s also an artist, and me and her have similar styles - except she’s a much sweeter person in terms of the detailed lining and such. My father’s a professor and I’m very close with both of my parents.
I’ve always been making art. I’ve been doing it since I was four. Our whole family was in the arts, and I was just unsuited for anything else.
How did Dr. Sketchy’s come about?
I was working as an artist’s model and I thought the classes weren’t taking advantage of the models, who were these really cool performers. I wanted something that celebrated the models as muses rather than anatomical studies.
We’ve been doing it for six years. We have a lot of employees now. When I started, honestly, I just asked my favorite dive bar if I could have an event. I had a friend who did burlesque and I was like, “Do you want to pose?” I wrote into Time Out and all the listings places. It started spreading ‘cause I would post on Live Journal, and people around the world would read it and say, “Wow! That’s really cool, but nothing cool ever happens in the small town that I live in.” And I thought, “Take some responsibility. Do something cool.” I made up a little tutorial and people started going with it. And now it’s in 120 cities.
That’s impressive. And what’s it like maintaining contact with all of those people?
At this point, I have employees that run that. It’s really hard. It took a lot. You know, there’s always something going on. It’ll be like: “The Vice Police raided our event in Kansas City.” And in Bogota, there’s a rip-off. There’s model drama in rural England. And you have to deal with all of that.
It’s very rewarding and I met a lot of people, and have gotten to speak in Brazil, Finland, and all of these places I never thought that I would have a following.
What is your schedule like day to day?
It varies a lot. For the past couple of months, I would wake up around 7. The cat would usually wake me up in the head with her paw. I would do a drawing in a series called "Saints and Sinners" - a bunch of people from history that I admire or find interesting. After I did a few of those to warm up, I would start doing my commercial work and then take a walk around McNally Bookstore, read, and write in my journal. And then I would go home and deal with this huge avalanche of email, maybe go have drinks with a friend, and go to sleep.
What’s the longest that you’ve ever stayed up to do a project?
I’m pretty weak. I don’t do all-nighters much. I guess the longest would be when I did a Draw-A-Thon, which is an amazing event. I would stay up all night drawing for that and be weary off my ass the next morning eating eggs at the diner. But, generally, when I do projects that are kill-kill-kill projects, I just wake up really early and keep working steadily.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up on Long Island, about 40 minutes outside of the city. By the time I was 14, I was sneaking on the train going off the Village Halloween Parade, and getting into trouble and stuff.
What were you like as a kid?
I was really bookish and weird. People would throw Coke bottles at me and stuff. By the time I was 12, I was this angry little Goth kid who would listen to Marilyn Manson. I feel like my life sort of began when I turned 17, to be able to leave.
Do you have any siblings?
I don’t.
What do your parents think about what you do?
They’re really proud of it. My mom’s also an artist, and me and her have similar styles - except she’s a much sweeter person in terms of the detailed lining and such. My father’s a professor and I’m very close with both of my parents.
If you didn’t live in New York, where would you live?
London, probably.
For what reasons?
I can’t not live in a big city, and London has that insane, insatiable do-or-die energy that I find in New York. I really like that but it’s a really old city.
What inspired your aesthetic? And how would you describe your aesthetic to someone?
You know, one of my friends - who’s better with words than me - said it was Dr. Seuss meets Toulouse lautrec. Which I thought was really apt. I’m really inspired by performers and ambition, but also by Maximalism and swirly lines and crazy animals.
London, probably.
For what reasons?
I can’t not live in a big city, and London has that insane, insatiable do-or-die energy that I find in New York. I really like that but it’s a really old city.
What inspired your aesthetic? And how would you describe your aesthetic to someone?
You know, one of my friends - who’s better with words than me - said it was Dr. Seuss meets Toulouse lautrec. Which I thought was really apt. I’m really inspired by performers and ambition, but also by Maximalism and swirly lines and crazy animals.
What was the best and worst thing about being a burlesque dancer?
I mean, it was really fucking fun. It’s really fun to get paid to dress up in a costume and dance in a headdress and wear sparklies. I just wasn’t very talented at it. Quite honestly, I think the worst thing was having really unflattering photos of yourself on Flickr, where it’s up your nose or some horrifying angle that you never wanted to see.
What’s happiness?
Oh God, getting to arrange my whole damn day. I think that’s happiness. Happiness is freedom.
What’s difficult?
Now? Gosh. I feel like such a spoiled asshole. I’m very lucky get to make art for a living and to wake up at noon if I so want to. I still don’t have health insurance. I work from the time I get up to the time I go to sleep. But it’s rewarding. I mean, it’s hard but it’s a good hard.
What’s tragic?
That we’re all spiraling towards death.
What’s romantic?
I think art is romantic in its transformative power.
If you could change a moment, what would it be?
That’s an interesting question. I kind of like how my life is. The shitty parts I wouldn’t change. I’m glad it happened you know?
If you could have more and less of something, what would it be?
More time, less Internet addiction.
What’s overrated and underrated?
You’re giving me fucking awesome questions.
I think what’s underrated are people who can make things with their own goddamn hands, and have actual skills. I kind of feel like that’s looked down upon now. Like anyone who can survive the zombie apocalypse is pretty underrated.
In terms of what’s overrated? A college degree.
I mean, it was really fucking fun. It’s really fun to get paid to dress up in a costume and dance in a headdress and wear sparklies. I just wasn’t very talented at it. Quite honestly, I think the worst thing was having really unflattering photos of yourself on Flickr, where it’s up your nose or some horrifying angle that you never wanted to see.
What’s happiness?
Oh God, getting to arrange my whole damn day. I think that’s happiness. Happiness is freedom.
What’s difficult?
Now? Gosh. I feel like such a spoiled asshole. I’m very lucky get to make art for a living and to wake up at noon if I so want to. I still don’t have health insurance. I work from the time I get up to the time I go to sleep. But it’s rewarding. I mean, it’s hard but it’s a good hard.
What’s tragic?
That we’re all spiraling towards death.
What’s romantic?
I think art is romantic in its transformative power.
If you could change a moment, what would it be?
That’s an interesting question. I kind of like how my life is. The shitty parts I wouldn’t change. I’m glad it happened you know?
If you could have more and less of something, what would it be?
More time, less Internet addiction.
What’s overrated and underrated?
You’re giving me fucking awesome questions.
I think what’s underrated are people who can make things with their own goddamn hands, and have actual skills. I kind of feel like that’s looked down upon now. Like anyone who can survive the zombie apocalypse is pretty underrated.
In terms of what’s overrated? A college degree.
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| Saints and Sinners series |
This is kind of a personal question, but how would you describe your eating habits?
I eat a lot of bacon, scotch and salad.
Do you cook much?
Fuck no, I can barely even cook bacon. I’m a horrific cook if I can attest to that.
Do you have a local haunt?
For food, I’m usually pretty lazy. I usually go to Les Halles down the street. It’s a little French place [where] you can get steak frites. And then I love to go to McNally Jackson; I can sit in their little coffee shop for hours and hours. Their pastries are quite lovely.
What’s scary?
Being real. I think sincerity is scary.
What qualities do you admire most and least in a person?
I eat a lot of bacon, scotch and salad.
Do you cook much?
Fuck no, I can barely even cook bacon. I’m a horrific cook if I can attest to that.
Do you have a local haunt?
For food, I’m usually pretty lazy. I usually go to Les Halles down the street. It’s a little French place [where] you can get steak frites. And then I love to go to McNally Jackson; I can sit in their little coffee shop for hours and hours. Their pastries are quite lovely.
What’s scary?
Being real. I think sincerity is scary.
What qualities do you admire most and least in a person?
I hate fucking big talkers who yap and yap, and don’t do anything. I find it almost incredibly revolting when I see someone who can’t keep their word. Or who just makes grand plans and doesn’t do them. I kind of write them off as a person.
I think the quality that I admire most in a person is a talent for action, and for keeping their word.
What was your first job in New York?
I never worked day jobs. I always had weird gigs. So my first art thing was I convinced a coffee shop owner to let me draw his favorite jazz figures for 100 bucks. My first non-art things …I have so many of them, but I was paid by a fine artist who was doing a thing at P.S. 1. As a conceptual art piece, I was supposed to go up to people and whisper in their ears: “This is the life.” But he didn’t tell the security guards and I was almost thrown out of the place. They just thought I was a creepy stalker.
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