Hope Gangloff
The New York illustrator inks out an existence in her "perpetual state of woo"
By Angie Vo
Published: January 8th, 2007 | 1:45pm
Before Hope Gangloff, black, red, and blue never had it so good. Her work, which has appeared in publications such as New York Times Magazine and Res, among others, and as ads for fashion line Built by Wendy, features these three colors in intimate settings with familiar faces in Gangloff's life. She pens some responses to questions about her most recent show in Chelsea, her alternate profession as a headstone artist, and why "big chain art stores can kiss [her] ass."
Tell me about yourself and your art.
[I] am a left-handed Virgo, born in Amityville, New York, living and working in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Who introduced you to drawing? What is your earliest memory of drawing? Who are your clients?
My mom's a retired teacher. Her father was a draftsman. I think drawing was a tool she used to teach me things on a regular basis: a way of clarifying, describing objects and how mechanisms work, the same way she had learned things.
My earliest memory of drawing would have to be sitting in the stairwell with a purple crayon drawing a "flying purple people eater" on the wall. My mom saved a lot of stuff.
What do you use? Specific kinds of ball-point pens and paper? Why do you use black, red, and blue for your drawings?
When I got out of school, and was moving around a lot, I needed a material that was uniform and readily available regardless of what town I was in. At the time I was working on a collaborative project - a set of drawings that needed to be consistent. Those pens seemed a good bet: black and blue to differentiate space and red to brighten the corners. The play of those three colors is endless.
Presently I use a mix and incorporate dip/nib pens and shellac inks. I won't tell you my favorite paper, but I love New York Central Art Supply. That is the craziest artists' candy store. Those big art chain stores can kiss my ass.
[I] am a big fan of old children's books from the '‘40s and '50s - ones where there is a beautiful line drawing in black, and then maybe a single splash of color throughout the book, chartreuse or whatever. There is a simple elegance to it, something about a limited pallet appeals to me. But I've used green quite a bit too.
When did you start drawing? When did it become a full-time endeavor (is it)? When do you draw, and how often? When does inspiration hit you?
I draw everyday. Inspiration comes from my crew of peers, so many of them are good artists and fun to be with.
Recently, I've been making art full time - very recent development, had many many years of bad jobs. I think things changed when I started drawing for Sweet Action - a self-published collaboration I worked on with two of my friends. We got good press, and the girls gave me free range to draw a comic strip in the center of each magazine.
Where do you do most of your drawing? Where do you find most of your subjects? Do you know them?
[I] procured a studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; up the hall from an old school friend. Having a tight artist community is key to me. I like going to the studio in the morning knowing that people I know and admire are pulling crazy hours too.
I know everybody I draw. The same people show up repeatedly in my drawings. With most projects, I have fun and usually get to draw my friends unless I'm assigned to draw somebody specific (for an illustration job) that I don't know, like a celebrity. That's tougher. I can't tell if the likeness is good, because I don't know what's natural for that specific person.
You had a show a couple months ago. How was it?
[I] am new at the show thing, had been in a couple group shows. The show in Chelsea [at the Susan Inglett Gallery] was out-of-control. [I] am very lucky that Susan asked me to be in the inaugural show of her new gallery space.
What compels you to draw? What would you do if you couldn't draw for a living?
[I] am compelled by many things - including a desire to entertain my loved ones. It's fun to make glamorous or unreal situations.
If I couldn't draw, I guess I would have to become the Martha Stewart of Headstones. Why are they so ugly these days? Old headstones in East Hampton are amazing…
Do you draw anyone on request/do special orders? Do you draw from memory or photos? If photos, are they ones taken by you?
Because I illustrate as a hired gun, I do draw people on request. But that's a tiny proportion.
I draw from both memory and photos. I like to always have a camera, and rarely consider drawing from other people's photos. Reference photos are handy. For example, if you asked me to draw a lawnmower right now, it would probably look Dr. Seuss. If I have any shot of a lawnmower, I could kind of figure out what it looks like in most perspectives. Of course, the perspective in most all of my drawings is totally wonky, but pleasing to me.
Where can people view/purchase your work?
Susan Inglett Gallery is my gallery in New York. I am represented for commercial purposes by art-dept.com. I pop up in literary stuff here and there.
[I] will also plug Built By Wendy's store right here. She had me draw t-shirt graphics for her years ago. She helped me get over my fear of putting a price on my labor.
Have you ever used your drawing to woo someone?
I think I might be in a perpetual state of 'woo'.
Check out more of Hope Gangloff's work on her website and Sweet Action Magazine.
Issue #35
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