Interview with artist DSFlora

 I've been continually impressed by the artworks of DSFlora, and I recently had an opportunity to interview him:

When did you start using MS Paint to create art?

I started using MS Paint while I was a student at UW-Madison, working as a DJ for the college radio station, WSUM. My first Paint artworks were for fliers to advertise the different radio shows I hosted. However, the hobby didn't really kick in until I was working my first job out of college, living with my parents. I was under a lot of stress at the time, and MS Paint offered a weird, and strangely relaxing way to unwind after work.

Who’s your favorite artist on Paint Avant-Garde and why?

It's tough to choose one. hellopirate2 has some classic works, and he pays attention to detail, which is rare for MS Painters. nametheGarels has a good theme going with his portraits. And I love GiliusThunderhead's series on "infamous cult leaders" ... you won't find that sort of thing anywhere else.

You have many intriguing artworks on PA-G, and I’d like if you could explain a few. What’s the meaning of “It Came from the Purple Void”? This artwork is quite scary!

It has no special meaning other than the idea of a ghastly thing hanging out in some vacuum of time and space. Sort of like an old dorky sci fi flick, like The Blob. I like to play with colors and large "filled" spaces. Large filled spaces are calming for me.

What about “The Tragic Rockabilly King”? Is this the King of Rock and Roll?

I'm very inspired by the idea of Elvis, who started out as a lean, handsome and energetic good ole boy from Mississippi and turned into an overweight, washed up and sad shadow of his former self. It's the American Dream turned upside down. It's drugs. It's who we are.

What’s the inspiration behind “Summer ‘92”? This artwork makes me think of Gatorade and Michael Jordan.

It makes me think of those things too. I love the early 90s because that era reminds me of childhood. We had great role models - Jordan, Ken Griffey Jr., Mario and the Ninja Turtles. It was an optimistic period in our history. Anything was possible. The opposite of today.

What’s the meaning of “At the Tentacle's First Sight”? How do you feel about the set of visual responses made to this artwork?

Well, that tentacle has to be coming from somewhere - so what's up in the tree? I think this was inspired by the kind of books I liked as a kid. Like The Teacher from the Black Lagoon. You always had a sense something awful was lurking behind that shadow. And I love the visual responses. I never would have guessed it would inspire so many sequels. I feel like George Lucas. I am George Lucas.

What about “H.R. Puff n' Lovecraft”? This is another chillingly scary artwork.

Is it scary? I thought it was cute. It's a Beanie Baby version of Lovecraft's Cthulhu.

Is MS Paint your only creative outlet, or do you have others (and if so, what are they)?

I actually do some "real" painting as well, though this is a newer hobby. My main creative outlet is writing. I have a blog about nothing (http://takelifeseriously.blogspot.com/) and I have an ongoing "e-zine" project (http://truestoriesofamericanboys.wordpress.com/).

And finally, what’s your favorite color and why is it the best color in the world?

My favorite colors are blue and red. Ask me on different days and I'll give you different answers. Blue and red are the most important colors, because one calms you down and the other one gets you fired up. Plus, together they make purple, my third favorite color.