Name: Steven Tabbutt

Nickname: For some reason if I find myself in a gym, by the end of the day the gym-rats always end up chanting in admiration “the Gunshow,” so I guess that’s as good a nickname as any.

Sign: Sagittarius, just like me half man half horse

Favorite:

Color: I’m always drawn to the fluorescent colors in nature.

Time of Day: In the south I always loved the evening when the frogs and bugs sang in harmony but in New York I guess its early morning.

Scent: I like the smell of a freshly cut lawn, too bad there aren’t too many of those in NYC.

Q1. What animal trait do you wish to possess?

A1. Well my cat purposely does annoying things to grab my attention, causes me a lot of work, and has even damaged or destroyed my artwork. Though for some reason I can never get mad at her or at least stay mad long. I’ve been around and owned several cats and they all seem to possess that ability to get away with anything, so I’d like to have that trait.

Q2. What superhero would be your sidekick?

A2. What villain would you go after first? Hmm, at first thought Batman sounds strategically good because I’m sure Bruce Wayne would buy all my art, but he has a lot of annoying villains that would make it hard for me to find time to paint. So I choose Superman, because not only can I be as reckless as I want and be safe, but people would think, “Man, if the man of steel is his sidekick he must have some really special power.” It wouldn’t be a totally one-sided partnership either. My job would be to hide in the background and conveniently appear if someone pulls out some kryptonite. Also to make sure Superman doesn’t get too bigheaded and realize I’m talentless compared to him, I’d keep a little bit of kryptonite around as a reminder. Superman can seek out villains if he finds it necessary, personally I’d rather avoid those people. Maybe I’d show up at the last minute for the photo-op.

Q3. Bathroom read?

A3.I like nonfiction, so whatever historical figure or time period is on my mind.

Q4. Where and When in time would you go?

A4. Well definitely not in any period where crowds delight in gruesome public executions (yeah I know some countries still do today, but they are the minority). I wouldn’t want to live in the 20s because the great depression is right around the corner, the 50s was dull, the 60s too turbulent, the 70s too ugly fashion-wise. I was fond of the 80s as a little kid and it did have a large art boom so maybe the 80s.

Q5. Most Embarrassing Moment?

A5. I was at the neighborhood playground with my friends, and my older sister was there with her older friends so I wanted to make an impression among both sets of friends by messing with my sister. I was climbing on this half circle jungle gym like thing and my sister was in the middle with her friends. I crawled over her head quietly and hung my head down and attempted to scare her. So her reaction was to punch me directly in the balls. But the physical pain is not what I remember most. At the time I was fond of wearing my pajamas outside. I was a little kid so I guess that wasn’t too weird since some kids wear capes. I was into comfort so naturally I was also going commando. The impact of my sister’s fist split the seam of these cheap Scooby Doo pants right down the middle. It felt like ten minutes where my balls were just hanging out over all of my sister’s friends as they pointed and laughed. I jumped down as fast as I could and ran home crying. I imagine that was a troubling sight for my mom.

Q6. Best compliment ever received?

A6. Man, I’ve been told a lot of nice thoughtful things so I appreciate any compliment. This probably sounds like a cop out but I don’t have a favorite I can think of. There are certain people I have spent time with in some way or another that I either respected their work or their honesty, who don’t compliment people too often or can be pretty brutally honest. So when they complimented me, that really made me happy. I don’t want to in anyway say that those people’s opinion are more important than anyone else’s, it was just nice for my neurotic mind to know they aren’t just trying to be nice.

Q7. What do you admire in a person?

A7. Probably loyalty, but whenever I see someone doing something nice or generous without any ulterior motive that always makes me happy for humanity. I can be a bit pessimistic at times and those people always make me feel good for being wrong.

Q8. When do you feel most creative?

A8. Whenever I had a regular job it would seem like every time I was on my way to work I would feel most creative and feel the need to work. Then I would have to push down that desire and work monotonously for eight hours. These days, since art is my job, I feel most creative when I think of some new technique or color I want to play with, or if a particular theme is obsessing me that always helps.

Q9. What 80s movie would you live in for a day? Who would you be?

A9. I would be Mark Holten’s character from Teen Wolf one and two. Holten is probably best known for his role as Pee-wee’s nemesis, Francis in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. His Teen Wolf characters name is “Chubby”. He is the most out of shape and athletically talentless guy in both movies but for some reason not only does he start on his high school’s basketball team but he’s also a boxer playing on a collegiate level in part two. The guy from the movie Rudy practically killed himself to make up for his athletic short comings. Chubby could care less, he had a terrible attitude and put in as little effort as possible. That guy has really made a lot out of nothing so when he finds something he’s actually talented at, he’ll be amazing.

Q10. Biggest Pet Peeve?

A10. People who litter two feet in front of a trash can. It’s amazing how often I see that.

Steve Tabbutt use of lines create a fluid surreal world. There is no beginning or an end, just one continuous motion through out his pieces. Playing with the idea of reality and manipulating it into his own unique world.

Please take a look at more of Steve’s work on his website.