ROMm issue 4
Ink
“Don’t think it, ink it.” Mark Victor Hansen
Editor & Creative Director Zara Duffy Music Jacob Warren Photography Adam Thomas Katelyn-Jane Dunn Contributors Lesley Denny Jack Kidd Gabby Russell Isabella Smith Mel Stringer Sunroom Press Bruce Swinerd Jordan Wearn Illustrations Kendra (Unadoptable) Killer Acid (Rob Corradetti) Tim Molloy Clare Neal David Shrigley
contents 7 9 13 15 23 25 29 39 43 45 48 49
jack kidd field notes - katelynn-jane dunn sunroom press daehyun kim bruce swinerd music acid drip - adam thomas mel stringer isabella smith this one time i ... jordan wearn which writer are you?
Tim Molloy
dear readers: we want that creative ink inside your brain to ooze out. over your skin. onto a page. go on, f lood the world.
jack kidd What about tattooing piqued your interest? There was always something about using the body as a canvas that caught my attention at a young age. I was always into art, studing it both inside and out of school. Seeing huge, eyecatching artwork put on the skin has always fascinated me and I always found tattoo magazines on the newsagent shelf when I was younger and could never put them down. I was also more interested in the large scale of tattooing, not so much the smaller tattoos.
How many tattoos do you have yourself? I have work in progress, currently finishing both legs (thigh to feet) along with progress on my front torso and one arm. Too many hours to count! And a lot of sooking (haha).
How long have you been tattooing? I’ve been tattooing now for around a year and a half, so I’d still be considered a young apprentice in this business.
Hardest tattoo you’ve done? It’s hard to say, in a way every tattoo is a challenge, and a lot of weight on your shoulders to get it right, the toughest so far would be symmetry on the ribs.
Were you ever squeamish of the fact that you inflict considerable pain on people? At first I thought it might, but its something you don’t think about when you’re in the moment. When you’re working away at a tattoo, it begins to feel like pen to paper. Describe a day for you? I arrive at the studio 9am sharp, have a big old coffee, commit to the cleaning duties and prepare any stencils/drawings for the day. Then I tattoo from 10am till approximately 5-8pm, pack down, clean up, head home. I usually spend the night drawing for the upcoming day! Its a lot of work and not a lot of social life, but it’s a great gig.
Favourite tattoo you’ve done? My favourite would be a small sushi tattoo on my best buddy Ross. For 5 years we’d hit the local sushi train every week, and we tattooed it in memory when he moved overseas.
Any future plans with your tattooing? I would love to travel and work overseas, guest spot at shops around the world, tattoo at conventions and meet as many people as I can possibly can! Would love nothing more than to travel the world and do great art at the same time. Where can we check out your tattoos? The best place would be my Instagram account! www.instagram.com/kiddotattoo
field notes
katelyn-jane dunn
sunroom press Why/how did you start Sunroom Press? Sunroom press began around 2011/2012 with the desire to work outside my own art practice. I had produced zines and prints for myself and friends, and publishing seemed like a good progression and zines are an attractive format. Your catalogue is very delicately curated, how do you select/find artists to publish? There is no criteria or a way I approach artists. I contact people whose work I admire or collaborate with friends. Would you ever consider mass-producing editions of artist’s work, or does rarity appeal more to you? The largest edition I have made is Johanna Tagadas Petite Studio in an edition of 50. By limiting runs I hope to give greater inherent value to zines, which can sometimes feel disposable. Do you have any future plans for Sunroom Press? More printing and keepings things simple. Hoping to do book making completely within a home studio. This probably won’t happen soon but I am slowly collecting materials and tools.
김대현 Daehyun Kim
날마다 타인 자기동일성 잘 부탁드립니다 너는 너였다 기로 너 넘어 너 너로된 이불 안쪽의 내부에서 듣기 듣기 자연스러움 중첩 구원 흐르게 둔다
Stacks of you I always go back to me Please take care of this You were you A path You are beyond you Blanket of you In the inner inside Hearing hearing Natural Overlap Save Let you flow
4:00am knows my secrets i closed my mouth. i spoke to you in a hundred silent ways she had grown so accustomed to her routine, even a rainy day would interfere she woke up to the sleepy sunrays pouring softly through her windowpanes and flooding her room with warming light she put cherry blossom perfume on in winter to keep the illusion of an eternal spring inside her soul don’t be sad you look even sadder when you try to smile undiscovered pain straw berry stained lips your mind is a labyrinth that i want to explore the depths of your soul is deluded this is only a recurring dream of your whole entire life
books have given me such a high expectation of relationships and love their minds were occupied with misery beautiful soft sentences restlessly anxious a boy vanishing off coastlinesholding money stashed in plastic bags by the river discarded in the changing landscape the scars remainin heading down to the sunless sea awkwardly fumbling emerging from a bleak existence
bruce swinerd
Killer Acid
falling out of love at this volume music by jacob warren
Falling Out Of Love At This Volume (FOOLATV) are a lo-fi garage pop/ emo band from Woking, Surrey in the United Kingdom. I have no idea how I came across their album ‘Hollow Bones’ or how long it sat in my music folder before I saw it and said “what is this?” but I am glad I did.
boring and predictable theme” says theband-e-mail-checker, Toby.
The band, which began as a two-piece, started by recording in a makeshift home studio; “the songs were never precious. Write the song, record it, move on”. By not seeking perfection, Falling Out Of Love At This Volume have arrived at The lyrics of ‘If Walls Could Talk’ tell the listener what their sound is: “we’re out of something much more commendable, time… we’re out of tune”. The traditional sought after and respected, honesty. It is music that doesn’t try to amuse you for 3 or conservative view on ‘good’ music is minutes and 20 seconds with formulaic that it must be perfect. The tempo must be robotically accurate, the notes, of both compositions tested for maximum effiinstruments and vocals, must not diverge ciency but which rather acknowledges that not every-thing is a walk in the park from the letter assigned to it unless it is and is more a vehicle of self-expression following a formula of structured diverthan a vehicle for celebrity or money. gence (think auto-tune; is giving someone who can’t sing perfect pitch what Anyway, about their music. Being a rewe should qualify as good?). The fear of ‘bad’ music is one that fears heterogene- cent convert to the audio-aesthetic of 80’s rock-pop, FOOLATV immediately ity. “Maybe we’ve always subconsciously considered perfection to be a somewhat resonated with me. A soft vocal tone com
bined with lead guitar chord melodies, atmospherically distorted rhythm guitar and bare bones drum beats produce lofi shoegaze pop. . A xylophone makes an appearance in ‘The Hum’ which would characteristically add to the ‘pop-ness’ of a song, however in the context of ‘The Hum’ it only serves to expand the space of the auditory atmosphere. The distorted guitar tone is a major contributor to the overall experience of FOOLATV. The lackadaisical sound works as an extreme weight, causing the song, such as ‘These Flowers Will Die’, to auditorily appear as an extreme force with little momentum (imagine an enormous ball of subtle distortion rolling very slowly). The vocal melodies are refreshing in every song and work to veil the more serious lyrical content such as in ‘The March’. The lack of polish is obvious and enjoyable. It adds to the human aspect of this band, not hiding behind production value or false talent, which makes the
lyrical content so much more meaningful, honest and powerful. Toby says that recording is “never overworking or diluting that initial burst of creativity”. This lofi approach complements and is a part of the lofi sound FOOLATV produce. Regardless of over thinking, dissection and putting-into-adjectives of Falling Out Of Love At This Volume’s album ‘Hollow Bones’ it warrants a listen as it is nihilistically up-lifting and promotes relaxation. FOOLATV are currently working on finishing a new album which “has been the culmination of all those years putting out lo-fi albums and learning to put the emphasis of being in a band in the right place.” I’d like to thank Toby from the band for his time and answers. bandcamp facebook
Acid Drip Photographer: Adam Thomas Styling: Zara Duffy Model: Gabby Russell Assistant/Hair & Makeup: Lesley Denny
adam
mel stringer What was the first thing you drew (if you can remember)? I was always drawing as a kid because my Dad is a cartoonist. Probably the first thing I can actually recall in my memory would be my family. Just a bunch of scribbles and clouds for hair. What influenced you to begin illustrating? Because my Dad is a cartoonist, I was always encouraged to draw. There would always be a marker and paper or scrapbook somewhere that I could put to use. I only started to actually imagine that I could turn my passion into my career when I left my home town to come to Brisbane. Originally I came here to study Visual Arts.
What was the first thing you drew (if you can Your portfolio is an incredible wonderland of differentgirls, and it seems you never draw the same one twice. Do you create individual characters? Thank you, that’s very kind of you. I don’t consciously avoid drawing the same thing twice. I always try to stay consistent throughout my exploration though. Sometimes I look back at older work which helps me move forward. The characters I draw are all mostly a portrait of me at the time. Maybe not a visual replica of what I’m wearing or what my hair looks like, but a portrait of how I’m feeling or what I’m wanting to communicate. Even if its to communicate that I ain’t happy or I’ve had a rough day.
Do you have any other favourite things to What are your weapons of choice? Digital draw? I love symbols. They help me convey drawing tablet, photoshop, lead pencil, arches things like love and anger. Lightning bolts are watercolour paper, good quality watercolour usually bad while hearts and stars usually mean paint and my beloved bic biro and fine tip felt good. I love baby animals and how cute they pens. are. I love looking at the latest fashion trends and if there is something I like then I usually inDescribe your process? I try to take a couple of corporate it. I love that the 90s have made some days off a week to settle my brain, rest my think- sort of comeback. Even the dorky elements. It’s ing and just bliss out. I find that when I actually nostalgic for me because I grew up then so I get back to it after that, my ideas well is overlove that I can concrete my excitement in drawflowing. Usually the ideas all come at once and ings. I begin by excitedly writing them and sketching them down. Rough, bubbly sketches and Do you prefer personal work or commisdisjointed dot points. Then I try to spend the sions? Of course I prefer personal work. Beday bringing them to life with my tablet or with cause its me calling the shots. But when I’m traditional materials. Sometimes I leave things looking for direction, I like the way that working to sit for a day or two before putting it online. I with someone on bringing their commissioned feel like that breathing space gives me perspec- illustration to life can whip me into shape. tive the next day and I can see changes I can It gives me a new perspective on how to do make that I wouldn’t have been able to make if I things and that’s why I continue to enjoy workshared it with the world immediately. ing with people in that way.
Any hidden talents we should know about? Musician. But shh. I’ve been working on stuff over the years that I haven’t shown anybody, just to keep my musical bone active and alive. But I haven’t played a show since 2010. If you were to illustrate a children’s book of your choice, what would it be? It’d be a crazy huge book full of stickers I suppose. I can’t think of any good stories that would keep a kid engaged. But I know kids love stickers. Do you have any goals or aspirations for the future, regarding your work? Just to stay happy, live off my art, do some big shows or be involved with people/organisations that I admire. My dreams come true all the time so I hope it keeps going in that direction. I feel very lucky to be doing what I love.
melstringer.tumblr.com facebook.com/melstringerart melstringer.storenvy.com
isabella smith
What was the first thing you drew (if you can remember)? I can’t remember but I’m guessing it would’ve been crayon scribbles of my family or my dogs when I was little. What influenced you to begin illustrating? During year 12 I referenced Del Kathryn Barton for my final piece. I found her style really interesting by including illustrative components with other media like acrylic and watercolour. I thought it looked amazing so I attempted it myself!
Do you prefer personal work or commissions? A few people have asked me to draw them for money but I’m not too sure if I want to go that way yet. If I’m drawing a girl and I don’t like it, then I just put it down and do something else and I might come back to it weeks later and feel better about it. Commissions are hard because then I have to meet other people’s time frames and expectations rather than my own terms. Colour or black and white? I’ve been using a bit of colour lately but I’m still experimenting! Most of my works are black and white.
If you emptied out your pencilcase, what would we find? I honestly don’t have a pencil case! I just leave all my pens and pencils on my desk or in my bag with a rubber band around them (they always break). I always have a Any hidden talents we should know about? Hahaha I graphite, 2B, eraser and artline 4.0 with me, but on my desk don’t wanna blow my own horn but I can swim pretty at home there’s my watercolours, gauche, and a hundred fast and that’s about it. other pencils! Do you have any goals or aspirations for the future, reAre you currently studying anything art-related? I’m garding your work? Not really, I definitely want to keep doing a Communication and Media course but I’ve chosen selling it online but it’s just something on the side at more electives from the Bachelor of Arts so I can keep mak- the moment. Maybe later it’ll turn into something biging work rather than getting bored with text book work. ger but probably not while I’m studying at uni. Where do you draw influences for the girls you draw? instagram @izzysmithh Del Barton, porcelain dolls I had as a child and I usually take www.isabellasmithh.tumblr.com the angles and face structure from photos of friends or ce- www.society6.com/izzysmithh lebrities. For the patterning I usually just go with the flow!
this one time i...
gave myself a tattoo this one time i gave myself a tattoo because i was determined to be as little of a catholic school girl as possible. i also gave myself piercings to be extra masochistic . clare
this one time I gave myself a tattoo of a small love heart on my knee, because the vodka said yes and there was nobody there to say no. stevie-rae
this one time i tried to give myself a tattoo because i’m a fucking committed editor. ouch. zara
this one time I gave myself a tattoo of a crooked coathanger on my thigh. it bleed plenty. xavier
Clare Neal
David Shrigley
~TAKEN~ You draw the velvet curtains your grandmother had bought you, to keep away the night, before you turn to me and take my legs upon your shoulders, pale thighs against an olive chest, you murmur words of tenderness into the lobe of my ear, though I do not hear them, through my smoke stung eyes, you grasp my flesh and devour me whole, taking my heart with you, to a place I cannot follow.
jordan wearn
which writer are you? You’d prefer to be born in: a) 19th century Boston b) The 1960s c) Elizabethan period d) Romantic Era As a child you: a) Were orphaned b) Grew up on a farm c) Were the eldest d) Almost died What would you write? a) Gothic literature b) Horror and satire c) Poems and plays d) Romantic fiction You would most like to: a) Marry your cousin b) Live with your boyfriend c) Marry a cougar d) Die unmarried You would die: a) After being found face-down in a gutter b) of nothing and still be alive c) of a fever d) Addison’s disease Check the majority of your answers, you are: a) Edgar Allen Poe c) William Shakespare b) Chuck Palanuik d) Jane Austen
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