"Shady Characters" artist profile: Project Detonate

Today, thanks to Brian Colin, we have our first of seven artist profile/interviews with Shady Characters art show contributor Project Detonate. This show is featuring a cast of 7 artists who include: Matthew Ryan Sharp, H.C. Warner, Ben Walker, Tyler Coey, Toby Stanger, and Brian Colin and is set to go down on August 6, 2010 from 7pm - Midnight at Alcove Gallery in Atlanta. Take a minute, and get to know these artists as we ramp up for what promises to be a great show!

For those unfamiliar with you and your work can you tell us a little about yourself and your craft?
My real name is Yosiell Lorenzo, and I was born and raised in Bridgeport, CT now residing in pistol wavin' New Haven HA! Graphic designer by day, paint pusher by night. Been painting seriously for about 4 years now although all my life I have been doing art in some form or another...I paint creatures that look like they are uncomfortably doing things that aren't suppose to be doing but still doing them, I think in life we tend to do things that we don't want to but still have to do them, whether good or bad.

With Shady Characters being the title of the show, how does your work represent this theme?
Shady characters everywhere..all my creatures are hypocrites, up to no good, but still trying to act like they are the best creatures ever! not to be trusted

Is this a theme that is regularly seen in your work?
hmmm it really depends what inspires me at the moment, or a situation that I'm dealing with..I guess for the most part yes

And lastly on the Shady Character front, do you see yourself as a Shady Character?
Hahaha, nah, At least I don't think I am.. I try to be upfront about things, if I was I don't think to many people would be dealing with me.. what you see is what you get with me.

Do the subjects in your pieces represent you or anything that you are going through?
Yeah I think in the whole two faced aspect.. growing up in a seriously religious house hold and going to every church possible haha I have seen lots of hypocrites, people preaching one thing but then doing something crazy on the side..man I could tell you stories hahah

What else do you have going on in the near future that you would like to let folks know about?
I will begin to slowly start the transition of using my real name for fine art and keeping Project Detonate for more mass produced works... but mainly you will see my real name from here on in. I have a toy coming out with Happy Panda toys, crazy 4 cult show in SF early september, then laying low after that since I'm relocating to the East Bay area,then 2011 solo show in Portland, and DC.. lots still in the works/infant stage but 2011 is gonna get serious! Don't Sleep!