Scotty Cocking

Scotty C is a mad scientist creator of behemoth rideable sculptures and endless graphic illustrations. If this is not enough, he is also a professional and master of the digital realm of web and design. I love his work and great attitude towards life. It is always a pleasure to talk art with him, and I am pleased to introduce him you you.

Interview by Forest Stearns of Fatbol:

Fatbol: First off, tell me What to call you, Who you are, WHERE you’re from, and WHAT you do?

Scotty C: aka Scott Cocking, Graphic Designer / Sculpter / Plays with Fire from San Diego, but got tons of help in Humboldt to get the skills I use today! I try to chop up and rebuild bikes in my garage, but mostly I make websites now.

Fatbol: Where can the world go to see more of your work digitally and gallery?

Scotty C: http://sideshowdesign.com , http://mutantbikelabs.com , http://kineticsculpturelab.com , http://spontaneousfire.com , Red Fire Flower on the Plaza, Arcata in front of Café BRIO, the DSC in Oakland (melted sculptures on the wall), various backyards around Humboldt, Area 74 (Humboldt) has many, or my garage.

Fatbol: What is specific and unique that you plan to develop for the Fatbol project?

Scotty C: I like the looseness of drawing on paper. Doing so much work on the computer, everything comes out perfect. I want to DRAW some stuff with pen and pad and tracing paper and tape and work it. I always have more ideas than time, so I get to put some of them out there for Fatböl now!

Fatbol: What is your favorite style and application for your own work?

Scotty C: Right now, I am enjoying a loose / rough cut registration style. Layered with tighter drawings / patterns. Stuff that doesn’t look like it was generated on a computer. I worked in a t-shirt shop in college, so I always like to see my designs on shirts.

Fatbol: Explain your own style and science of art.

Scotty C: Basically, I like to draw. Being a graphic designer for so long, I feel like I’m failing myself by getting trapped into the ritual of “get it done FAST”, recycling parts instead of starting from scratch. The science of Art, to me, has always been about timing. Whatever happens to me while I have an idea in my head, working out how to solve the problem, it all becomes part of the solution. Especially when building machines. Everything I need is there, I just have to SEE it. Improvise it.

Fatbol: What are three words that best describe your artwork?

Scotty C: Solid, confusing, smile

Fatbol: What inspires you?

Scotty C: Function is what fuels me over all else. I am always interested in how it works. Seeing other clever ideas, twists, or new uses for old things. Also, the anti-funtion.. I.E: “That won’t work” makes me try to prove “them” wrong.

Fatbol: What is your earliest “artistic” memory?

Scotty C: In elementary school, my friend and I got sketch books because we thought we needed to document our art. And keep it safe for the future. I guess I knew I wanted to draw forever. He’s a real estate agent.

Fatbol: What is your goal in life?

Scotty C: Have fun. Make people around me have fun. Push people to do stuff I know they can.

Fatbol: Name something you love, and why.

Scotty C: Building temporary art in the middle of nowhere (on hikes and trips, not referring to Burning Man, although it’s fun too) maybe no one will ever see it. But if they do, hopefully they smile and say “cool, someone made that for me”...

Fatbol: What makes you angry?

Scotty C: Dogs barking, forever.

Fatbol: What was your favorite toy as a kid?

Scotty C: Green Machine

Fatbol: What is your favorite toy now?

Fatbol: What is your “dream” art project?

Scotty C: “Here’s $10,000,000, build a playground on a half block downtown “

Fatbol: What have you been listening too while you’ve been working on your art[recently]?

Scotty C: iTunes streams of Breakbeats, House, Space Cowboy streams and a chill station called Groove Salad.

Fatbol: If you were a cocktail on a drink menu at a bar, what would your name be?

Scotty C: Shark Attack Shooter (a gummy shark in a shot of your favorite booze. The shark is your chaser if you don’t swallow it!)

Fatbol: If you could go back in time and talk to “8 year old YOU”, what would you say to her/him?

Scotty C: Don’t worry, you’re going to have fun and meet great people.

Fatbol: If you could collaborate with any other artist [living or dead], who would it be and why?

Scotty C: Jonathan Borofsky http://www.borofsky.com/ I love his installations, they are weird and play tricks on your eyes. This is good.

Fatbol: What is the best bit of advice that you have ever been given?

Scotty C: “Just start, you can always cut it up later” - Duane Flatmo. I don’t think he meant it as great advice, he just wanted me to get out of his work area. 

Fatbol: If you had a chance to say one sentence for the whole world to hear, what would you say?

Scotty C: “Go build something”