Sterling Molldrem is cleaning up after spending about 3.5 hours
straight spray painting his grand parents’ workout room. While cleansing himself with turpentine, he
answers some questions asked by his father.
Dad: So, how are you
feeling today?
SM: Goody.
Dad: What was your
first memory of creating something?
Anything?
SM: It was a drawing done with pencil and I munched a bunch of creatures together into one character. One freaky character. I also did 3 more of them.
Dad: You used to ask
your mom and I to keep every stupid paper roll towel core, cardboard box, and
empty tissue box that we came across so you could make “arts and crafts”. You used to love making crazy sculptures –
some bigger than you. Why did you stop
creating large sculptures and go full on draw mode?
SM: I don’t
know. I just; I don’t know. Seriously.
I don’t know.
Dad: One of your very
first mediums was spray paint. You
begged me to buy you spray cans. Then
you proceeded to teach yourself spray paint technique. First you got super discouraged and then Ibu kind
of cheered you on. How do you manage to
encourage yourself when a piece isn’t going the way you want it?
SM: Touch your
chalala and hope for the best. Just
kidding. If you keep going and going,
sometime you’ll get it right -- and you just keep pushing off from there.
Dad: So much of your
work is saturated with color -- just full of vivid coloration. Using color seems
to come natural to you. Where does that
natural flow come from? Are you really,
really thinking and plotting where you’re going to put which color and how many
shades, or is more of it just coming from some weird kind of creative stream
you just tap into?
SM: I’m going to tell
you like this. All you have to do is
think about it, think about it twice and then put it down. Don’t over think about it. And there you go.
Dad: For some, art is
a form of escapism. Do you feel you’re
trying to escape anything at the tender age of 12?
SM: No. That was always a stupid quote for me. I never believed in that. I always do it for fun. I mean I don’t really have a drastic life so
there’s no reason for me to escape.
Dad: What inspires
you?
SM: I don’t really
have a great inspiration. I just see
people, watch people on Youtube and I guess they inspire me. But I don’t have one certain inspiration in
mind.
Dad: You’re
constantly improving, and so far you have firm command over Copic markers, Microns,
charcoal, acrylics, spray paint, oils, and Photoshop. Which has been the most challenging and do
you tend to focus on a particular medium more, if it is difficult or shy away
from it?
SM: If it’s difficult
most definitely I focus on it more. It’s
always fun when you know it real good. There’s
no reason to shy away from it, you just have to practice it. For me, the most difficult is spray paint.
Dad: How important is
commercial success to you?
SM: What kind of
question is that for a kid?
Dad: What do you like
to draw the most?
SM: Imagination based drawings. Still life has always been pretty
boring for me.
Dad: What’s your favorite
ice cream flavor?
SM: All of them are
good.
Dad: This was fun
dude. How about we revisit these same
questions 5 years from now once you graduate high school?
