Interview with Don Huber

Q1: Let’s start with the common question, if you can kindly introduce yourself.

Hello, I’m Don Huber and I was raised on a small farm in north west Ohio. I own a screen print/embroidery store in Ottawa, Ohio

Q2: How did you get into the field of your work?

As a youth I was amazed at the friends who could draw and create images. It wasn’t until the last 2 years of high school that I had any art classes, so before that I would purchase art related books, look at and study them and try to learn on my own.

After high school I was hoping to attend a fine arts college, but couldn’t afford it so I worked a year in a soup factory and acquired enough money enabling me to attend a commercial arts college in Pittsburgh, and later in Cleveland.

I worked as a layout artist for a couple of years until the company that I worked for moved across country. I stayed back and started a screen print business. I would illustrate, design and screen print t-shirts for schools, businesses and area country rock bands. In the meantime I started painting in acrylic and learned the process as I went along trying to create images that told a story.

Q3: Do you have any current favourite artists, comic artists, photographers who may have influenced you to become the artist that you are?

They are a lot of artists over the years, from Dali to Frazetta, Wyath to Valleyo, Parrish to Brom. I like most art and appreciate the work and skill that lies behind the finished image.

Q4: What are the main tools of your trade?

Now it is pencil, acrylic, illustration board and canvas

Q5: How was it for you to learn the process of that? Did you teach yourself, take classes or learn from other existing artist’s tutorial?

From sketching in pencil on the front porch of my parents home while growing up to buying a couple of tubes of oil and experimenting on canvas board in the backyard. After college I found acrylics and liked the drying time along with other properties, so I just started focusing more and more in that direction. I did have a couple life drawing classes while in college and was really frustrated by how far behind I was compared to the other students. When we would get a break from drawing all the students would get up and view the work of their peers and I found it quite embarrassing. Those moments made me want to work harder at drawing and painting and I lost the little interest I had to begin with in the mundane speckling of type and layout.

So over the years it has been an experiment by trial, error and desire to create a story in paint and graphite.

Q6: Do you think its possible for you to describe the process of your art style, what are the dos and don’ts, the important aspects you set yourself to achieve your style of design?

I spend a lot of time developing the idea and image in my head before I ever begin the sketch. I then work up a small sketch in pencil on paper and shoot photo reference using models that want to be a part of the creative process. I assemble the main image in photoshop from the reference that I shot of the model. I then outline the reference onto a canvas and begin the painting. This gives me the proportions, although it is amazing how many times I have to change those guidelines once I start to paint.

After I start the painting, since I don’t have the model available anymore I try to view people in the same pose as the image in the painting to try and develop the dimensional aspect of the painting. I imagine people are wondering why I am staring at them sometimes. Most backgrounds and foregrounds in the painting are developed from the image that I had imagined before even starting the painting.

I want the finished painting to say something, to lend a story to each viewer and I use the human element to deliver these. I love the different aspects of the human figure, the smooth properties of the skin and muscle, the motion, the expression and the many other emotions that are, or should be projected.

Q7: What are the biggest struggles you encounter as an artist?

The time to devote to the paintings that I need to create, understanding by the viewers of what I’m trying to say and an audience that is more accepting of these ideals. I can and do appreciate the fact that most people in this geographical area are not going to accept the subjects of my paintings, but it does get very frustrating at times and I feel most artists experience the same and there is comfort in that.

Q8: Do you have any other future plans that don’t involve creative art?

No, I’m running out of time as it is. I set a basic artistic goal for myself many years ago and I haven’t accomplished that yet.

Q9: Do you have any personal mottos, quotes or existing quotes that motivates you to do what you love doing? Can you share it with us or provide words of wisdom from your experiences for those who look up to you?

Never was known to have any words of wisdom, but I must say that we as artists can and should have a positive influence on people and we should strive for that. If just one person can view your work and they can find a comfort, a place of contentment and make a emotional connection then you have created and given something good.

Q10: What do you think the future will hold for all artists from all backgrounds from now?

We will always dream and wonder away from the reality of everyday life and as soon as you do that, you have in one way or another become an artist. If you dream and imagine and you cannot draw, paint, sing, dance or express those ideas to others, you have already expressed them to yourself and yes, you have become your own artist.