Another interview for you, this time with the enigmatic Canadian artist Steve Morovek, the featured artist in Issue No. 3 of our magazine Living the Photo Artistic Life. Steve’s work is consistently excellent — and powerful. His extreme self-portraiture in particular is always drawing excitement and attention whenever he posts to our private “AWAKE” group on Facebook. We’re lucky to have him. Let’s jump into the interview!
Q: What inspires you as an artist, and what would you say “Living the Photo Artistic Life” means to you?
Steve Morovek: I’m inspired most by music, colors, textures, people … the list goes on. My mind never rests. I’m a photographer, so I’m always “looking.” I inspire myself, I suppose, which I believe really helps my work. You might say I have a “look,” if you will. I’m a big guy with lots of tattoos. That type of look is what I like. The dark, scary side of life.
And when it comes to living the artistic life, I’d say it means instead of me seeing something that resonates or hits a nerve, and going, “Wow, that’s cool,” I can now CREATE something from it. It also means just always being more aware of my surroundings … Stuff is always HAPPENING. And I SEE it now. From watching an ant carry a crumb to an eagle carrying a fish! It’s a beautiful world out there. And seeing it as an artist enhances it all.
Q: What are the most important things you’ve learned in your journey as an artist?
Steve Morovek: I’ve learned that you really must stop and smell the roses. I’ve learned to make time for my art. Life can get crazy and busy. I have learned to turn that negative energy into positive energy. I see things more clearly and deeply now. I find myself thinking How would this look in black and white? Or heck, crazy things: What if this tree were growing out of that car? My imagination has been unleashed and it’s going wild!! Most importantly, I think I have learned to be myself.
Q: Speaking of which — a lot of your art has YOU in it. Why is that?
Steve Morovek: As I said before, I have a “look.” Also I have done two “365 Projects,” where you have to take a picture of yourself every day for a full year. So — I have a lot of pictures of myself. Those projects make you be creative. To take a pic of yourself every day is one thing, but to make each one unique and different … there’s the challenge. Looking back at those photos and combining them with what I have learned in Photoshop Artistry Fine Art Grunge, I think I have produced some very interesting creations, ones that I am very proud of.
Q: Do you see yourself continuing as an Photo Artist in the future? Or was this just a short-term thing to try something different?
Steve Morovek: I have no plans of stopping. This is my third year with Sebastian Michaels, and this amazing group of artists (the “AWAKE” group) who create their own art with pure abandon. I am learning every day, I am growing every day. I’m not just a photographer anymore, I really do see myself as a photo artist.
Q: In your experiments with self-portraiture, do you feel you have become more aware of yourself as an artist … or in some way found your identity as an artist strengthened?
Steve Morovek: Yes, definitely. As I said before, I think I’ve found I have a “look.” And working with my own selfies, I wasn’t embarrassed to experiment with editing. I was confident with posting some of the extreme creations I made of my own face. And the response from my peers was amazing! I seem to have hit a nerve with everyone. It has kind of become my signature. Of course, what I have learned in my selfie edits, I have carried that over to the rest of my work. I have been told people can recognize my work without even seeing my name on the piece.
Q: What would you estimate your success rate at in terms of self-portraits you’re happy with? Do most of them turn out pretty cool, or does it take a lot of attempts to get something you really want to work with?
Steve Morovek: My success rate is substantial, I think. With the two “365” challenges, I have so may creative shots to choose from. Some have inspired me to redo a particular shot and then go from there. The ones that I share have come together quite easily. The ones that hit the cutting room floor seem to be when I try to change it up. Fact is, I am what I am, and I now know what style works for my self portraits. And since adding the Creative Black and White Photo Artistry course to my tools, I’ve taken the whole approach to another level!
Q: Your work always looks so complete, so deliberate, almost inevitable even. But how real is that, though? Do your compositions just evolve easily for you, or do you spend a lot of time trying out different things until eventually something works?
Steve Morovek: It’s very real. They are deliberate. I pick a shot and know exactly where I’m going with it and what I want to achieve with it. It’s very rare that I go back to a piece. I see the image in my head. Then it all comes together. Something also worth noting: My look changes in reality as well. I shave my head, have a giant mustache, or I will grow my hair out and grow a beard. Which is where I am now. Bearded. But in a few months I may shave it all off. It all grows back so fast on me it’s not a big deal to change my entire appearance when the mood strikes me. Maybe that’s why my self-portraits come together so easily for me. I don’t get bored with the same look all the time!
Q: While each of your compositions clearly takes its own path and ends up in a completely different place, do you find yourself beginning your pieces in roughly the same way? (For instance, duplicate the image, set a blend mode, add a texture, etc.) Or do you deliberately strive for something completely new right from the get-go on every piece?
Steve Morovek:As in the 365’s I tried to have every shot different and unique from the others. Same goes for my portraits. I try not to start an image the same way. I want each image to go in a different direction. The finished piece usually ends in my hard and dark signature theme. Getting there is a different road traveled.
Q: One of the things that is so striking about your work is the sheer masculine strength of your personality as an artist. I get the feeling that you distinctly draw upon this in your work, and you’re comfortable with it. But when you were first starting out, did you ever experience moments of self-doubt? For instance, wondering if you should be working on a motorcycle instead of painting on a layer mask?
Steve Morovek:No, not at all. I have loved photography for a very long time. But it’s been since finding Photoshop Artistry, and then the advanced “AWAKE” group, that I can REALLY express myself. Yes, I’m a big, loud guy. Hell, I’m a Locomotive Engineer by profession! So I’m constantly around heavy equipment and pissed-off men. I have been since I was 18. There was never any time for screwing around. One stupid move with that stuff and you’re dead. So, self-doubt … No, sir. I can tear apart an engine, wash my hands, and hit my computer to work on something perfectly tranquil, like an image of a beautiful fox I shot while fishing with my son.
A lot of people I have talked to about self-portraits have said the same: ‘I hate pictures of myself.’ But after completing two 365 Projects, I have no problems whatsoever with taking photos of myself at this stage. I’ve long been comfortable behind a lens, and anymore I’m just as comfortable in front of it. Honestly, I would actually like it for someone else to take pictures of me sometime instead of me having to set it all up and hit the timer! LOL!
Truth is, I’ve always loved photography, but I’m an artist thanks to the courses I’ve taken with Sebastian Michaels. I am the big scary bearded tattooed man with a creative soul. But now I’m not afraid to show it off.
Q: If you were to give one or two pieces of advice to other artists just starting out, trying to find their own voice (and the confidence to use it), what would you say to them?
Steve Morovek: A solid foundation to start with. You can have all the inspiration in the world, but without that or the tools, you will be lost and frustrated. But beyond that … Find what makes you happy. Look for that feeling when you see something that gets your heart pumping. Capture that. And keep your eyes open. It’s a big beautiful world. Get out there and explore it.
The advanced course (“AWAKE: Living the Photo Artistic Life”) is definitely a great way to push yourself further than you ever thought you might go. It’s this course that has given me the tools and guidance needed to truly break open the creativity I have inside. If you get a chance to join AWAKE — do it. That’s my advice.