Cool Addict

Cool Addict had the privilege to talk with multi-talented Ryan Obermeyer, whose work has been featured on Cool Addict before. He opens up about working with artists such as Imogen Heap, his proudest moment, frustrations on the job, living in Austin and being naked in public! Thanks Ryan for taking the time to talk to us! (photos by Teresa Tsai and Julian Humphries)

INSPIRATION

Ernst Haeckel, 1st Avenue Machine, Jean Cocteau, Werner Herzog, and Gottfried Helnwein are some. I get inspiration from other weird places though. Music mostly.

COMING FULL CIRCLE

My grandmother on my father’s side used to subscribe to National Geographic World Magazine for me when I was a kid. A few years back they contacted me to do a feature on me as a “photoshop expert.” They asked me to give some advice to their readers who might be interested in photo retouching. It was right after my grandmother had passed away so it was a cool thing; cyclical.

FRUSTRATIONS ARE PART OF THE JOB

Once, my hard drive with my life’s work on it died. I was considering throwing more than a computer out the window. After a string of events the data was recovered. I think I have 4 backups in various locations
now. It can also be frustrating when some vapid old lady on a board of geriatrics tries to tell you that you need to move that one tree a little bit to the left simply because she’s been in a publishing company since before Carrot Top wore mascara. But that’s completely hypothetical of course…

WORKING WITH IMOGEN HEAP

She’s great– certainly an artist in the truest sense. Sonically, she uses a lot of digital tools but employs a very organic procedure to give her electronic music a heart. I think I work in a similar way visually. She has a real interest in all aspects of her record but she gives me a lot of freedom and trust which nurtures the imagery. I would also consider her one of my closest friends which creates a nice environment for our collaborations.

CURRENT PROJECTS

I just finished creating album graphics for Milosh (Canadian electronic musician). He’s a good friend I met through Imogen. One of the new pieces I did for his record includes dentures in a botanical setting with a Freudian subtext. I listened to the album on repeat for days and allowed myself to use a stream-of-consciousness method of
working. I pieced together all of these random items I photographed separately to form a really strange composite. I didn’t let myself over think or second guess the work. I wanted it to really evoke the feeling of the record which is mostly about love. I think love is beautiful and scary but compelling.

I also just created a piece for an Austin magazine called Tribeza that comes out on Monday. They invited me to be one of five photographers to submit my visual interpretation of “the little black dress.” I think my submission might be the strangest. I hope it is. It’s inspired by bees which were a reoccurring theme in my life when I
moved to Austin in September.

GUILTY PLEASURES

Showering, pasta and cheese (any configuration), gravy, chocolate covered gummi bears (or raisins), rum/vodka, music, cats, Rockstar energy drink, KY liquid. I wish I were in a band so I could put these items on a contract rider and throw a fit if they forgot the cats.

LIVING IN AUSTIN

It’s this weird amazing anomaly in the middle of this backwards state. It’s full of many progressive, democratic, creative, warm, diverse, active, relaxed, mature, unassuming, ambitious, friendly, real, people.

IF I COULD PUNCH….

I punched your mom last night (unless your mom is dead in which case I retract that answer and apologize profusely).

NAKED IN PUBLIC

Countless, but it’s more goofy and inebriated than lecherous. I don’t usually entertain pride, but when I do– it’s in all the right places.

SECRET

I’m a bit of a klepto (major chains only).

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