Art & Life with Eric Cox

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Cox.

Eric, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I could start talking about the accolades I’ve had as an artist like many would in this situation. Do you really want hear where I studied art or where I was born? Perhaps it would be better to reveal the failures, the fights, the strip clubs, the busted relationships, the rumors, and the compliments that are contradictory to the free meals and special treatment while also being an outcast from status quo of the credit card, meal planning, well-adjusted members of society. Hold on for a moment while I check the beer fridge and crack a cold one at 1pm in the afternoon.

I used to feel like these truths would prevent mystique or sound like complaints. I realize they are inherently part of me being an artist. I make art nearly every day. I make art for a living.

Sometimes I eat 100$ of sushi by myself in one sitting without consideration of the financial consequence. I will spend 40$ on a paint brush, but not go to the doctor about this neck pain. I can only conclude that the pain is from being a pain in the neck. You can see that I have been working on my dad jokes.

Once I put a painting in a group show and the “curator” changed the title of my painting without any discussion because they found it to be offensive. Early on in Phoenix I put up a solo show in a space, hanging and labeling the art by myself only to find it all taken down the next day upon returning to my show with family and friends.

I can tell you a hundred stories of fumbled realities. I’m thinking there needs to be short film reenactments, but that just seems like an expensive endeavor. Perhaps the future will reveal some short stories.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My work is in a constant state of flux. I stay focused on creating freely without censoring myself. Currently I’m working on series of drawings and paintings that are made with masking tape and a blow torch. The color of the tape and its slight transparency makes for an interesting and challenging surface to push and pull negative and positive space. The tape is a visual metaphor for the fleeting nature of life. I know that many of us feel like we barely have things held together.

In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
It is way easier to be in the art business today than it was 20 years ago. I used to drive door to door putting fliers for my art openings in mailboxes and on car windows. Social media makes marketing and communication 1000 times easier. This convenience may saturate the market a bit, but that doesn’t bother me so much. (insert evil grin here)

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I’m active on most social media from Facebook to Instagram. It’s possible to tune in and check out some live painting or watch me burn an original in the firepit out back. In the near future I will be showing work in Scottsdale off of Mainstreet. Lastly, it’s great to peruse my website (artsycoxy.com) to see an overview of the works from all of my inspired series.

Contact Info:

• Website: artsycoxy.com
• Email: artsycoxy@me.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/artsycoxy
• Facebook: facebook.com/artsycoxy
• Twitter: twitter.com/ArtofEricCox

Image Credit:
Eric Cox

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