Graham Curran: Artist - Torrance, California, Usa

Graham Curran's portrait

Graham Curran: "People treat you how you let them"

BPP: Who are you?  And who you really are?

Graham Curran: That is a really hard question for me. I know that I am at least an artist at heart. I feel like the kind of person I am would be too self conscious about answering this type of question in fear that some years down the road he would roll his eyes at the answer. The facts about me are that I grew up with two very hard working parents; they have always been very supportive. I understand this isn’t always the case for people striving to do art, but even with my support system, I have always had something to prove. My favorite thing about doing art is the process; especially if there was something experimental I struggled with during it. I guess I am interested in challenges and risk. I think that is something I always told myself I would strive for in my work.

Invictus - 36 x 48 inches, Acrylic on wood

Troubled Joe 

BPP: If you could say something important to others who were listening, what would you tell them?

Graham Curran: People treat you how you let them.

"Time"  -  Acrylic on wood.

2012

Lucid

Acrylic on wood

2012

BPP:  What is your true dream, the one that keeps you up at night and if one day it were to come true you would feel peace and calmness in your heart?

Graham Curran: My dream is to continue to do art for a living. However, being your own boss may never give you piece of mind. I think we can only take those few moments where it pays off and enjoy them, but we can’t try to live in those moments, we must move on and set new goals. You must keep growing as a creative.

Bullshark Boy

16 x 20 inches

Acrylic on canvas

Mad World

16x20 inches. Acrylic on wood.

2012

BPP: How is life currently for the people in your country and what would you wish for them and for the planet at large?

Graham Curran: Compared to a lot of places in the world, the United States as a whole is very fortunate, but we are very divided. I think we have a lot of issues with the way we receive our news and journalism. It continues to push us into extremes where non-political issues play a bigger part in our elections and our politics then they should. A lot of it plays on people’s fears rather than giving facts. We are a diverse and changing nation which I think people will have to embrace rather than fight.

Your Eyes -  Acrylic on wood - 2012

"Endangered Species" - Acrylic. 11 x 14 inches - 2010

BPP: If you had a chance to be a child again would you choose the same life?

Graham Curran: Absolutely, I consider myself very fortunate for the people who raised me and also for the friends and loved ones I surround myself with today. They all play their part in keeping me in check.

BPP:  What was the exact moment that you realized what you wanted to do with your life?  How did you feel at this very moment?

Graham Curran: I think the exact moment was when I was in junior college and a small group of us at a table were all sharing our career goals in class. Up until his moment I had always wanted to do art ever since I was very little. I always figured it would be effortless, as if I would just fall into that career. But when I shared that I wanted to be an artist with them I received laughing in response, and they said “Graham will always be poor…but at least he will be happy” For some reason that statement lit a fire under me, and I thank them for that.

 Bear Piano

 Elephant Guitar

Owl Drummer

BPP: Would you like to tell us something we didn’t ask until now?

Graham Curran: If you want to be an artist you have to realize that the odds are stacked against you. A lot of people don’t respect art as a career path. It is up to you to prove them wrong and show them how important art and self-expression is in our culture.

Riley Raccoon

Acrylic. 9 x 12 inches

2011.

You're ok by me
Acrylic on canvas. 11 x 14 inches
2011

Garden of Tales

Acrylic on canvas. 16 x 20 inches.

2011

Graham Curran's drawing for BPProject

If you want to learn more about Graham Curran, please visit:

http://grahamcurran.com/

or watch

http://www.youtube.com/user/grahamcurran


Photos copyright by Brent Broza & Graham Curran. All rights reserved.

Past Gallery Shows/ Events:

2012

"RAWArtist: Activate" 

El Ray Theater: Los Angeles, CA. February 2012.

"Gag me with a Toon 4" 

WWA Gallery: Culver City, CA. March 2012.

"TRASHed @ Coachella" 

LAB Art Gallery: Los Angeles, CA. April 7th 2012.

(also on display at both Coachella 2012 weekends in Indio, CA)

"Crazy4Cult 6: NY" 

Gallery 1988. New York, NY. August 2012.

2011 

"Taffy Coloured Clouds" 

Rothick Art Haus. Anahiem, CA. January 2011. 

"Wrath (Sindustry) Art Show" 

Los Angeles, CA. February 2011. 

"Inle" 

Gallery 1988: Melrose. Los Angeles, CA. March 2011. 

"Doll Haus: The Modern Matryoshka" 

Rothick Art Haus. Anaheim, CA. April 2011. 

"RAWArtist: Interactive" 

Los Angeles, CA. June 2011. 

"Camp Firewood: A tribute to Wet Hot American Summer" 

Gallery 1988: Venice. Santa Monica, CA. June 2011.

"Crazy4Cult 5" 

Gallery 1988: Melrose. Los Angeles, CA. July 2011.

"A Raer Occasion" 

George Nakano Theater. Torrance, CA. August 2011.

"RAWArtist: Junction" 

Los Angeles, CA. September 2011.

"Beauty and it's Beast" 

Glass House Record Store. Pomona, CA. October 2011.

"Local Color" 

Tiny Stage Gallery. Costa Mesa, CA. November 2011.

"Holiday Bazzar" 

Crewest. Los Angeles, CA. December 2011.

2010 

"Should Have Been a..." 

Cal State University: Long Beach, CA. April 2010. 

"Attack of the Megaladon" 

Redondo Beach, CA. July 2010. 

"TNO Records Launch Event" 

Torrance, CA. October 2010. 

"The Fighter: Blood, Sweat and Art" 

Los Angeles, CA. December 2010. 

2009 

"Other World's" 

Cal State University: Long Beach, CA. February 2009. 

"Fusion" 

Long Beach, CA. May 2009. 

ALL CONTENT © ISMINI KARALI 2011 - 2012. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.