By Courtney • 14 years ago

Interview with Painter Diane DiMassa

Guest Post by Sabrina Chapadjiev
Most people know Diane DiMassa as the brilliant cartoonist of “Hothead Paisan- Lesbian Homicidal Terrorist”. What they don’t know is that DiMassa is also a high falutin’ oil painter whose explosive abstracts are beginning to take off in the art world. I asked DiMassa about the difference between cartooning and paintings, her inspirations and working towards the the perfect art-gasm.
SC: What’s the difference between creating cartoons and creating paintings?
DD: Drawing cartoons can feel like riding a tricycle through quicksand compared to painting. Though I am not disparaging cartooning in any way! I love it! I just mean that it’s more focused and linear and labor intensive. You are drawing in a little square. You are conveying with words and agreed-upon images; it is clear, it is finite. When I paint I try to bypass my brain as much as possible. In fact, the more cerebral I get about painting, the worse it is. I can never plan for how it’s going to “come out.” Or I’ve learned not to try. It just wastes paint.
SC: Hothead is known for being filled with anger while most of your paintings seem to be a completely opposite side of that-with a muted palette and a steady hand. Does painting abstracts allow you to access emotions that you’re not able to reach with Hothead?
DD: Hothead exists to be angry, and while I would get ethereal in the comics through other characters sometimes, the focus is always on anger. I am not sure how long whatever painting is accessing has been there. Might not have been there yet. Whatever art is coming out is an accurate reflection of whatever stage of development I’m at.
SC: When did you start doing paintings, and why?
DD: I have always painted, but the discipline has been a progression. I have been doing what I’m doing now daily for about a year and half. Well, you know, almost daily. Where’d all the discipline come from suddenly? Age and revelation of mortality, of course (as in: you’re fifty, jack-ass. Get up and get moving.) As for why…well, it’s what I’m here for. It’s sure not my cooking skills.


SC: Who are your painting idols?
DD: Franz Kline. I’ve been looking a lot at the sculpture of Donald Judd. Also, Jenny Saville’s paintings are…I don’t know what they are, but I can’t stop staring at them. I also love Wayne Theibaud.
SC: Your work seems to be split between portraits (Patti Smith, Candy Darling), abstracts and landscapes. Is there a certain form that you’re drawn to more, or do you try to keep a balance between the three?
DD: I don’t really try to balance them, but I find that the abstracts are universal, which I like right now. I think it would be miraculous if all the ways that I work blended into one expression. I want that to happen- the epiphany, the original voice. The Artgasm.
SC: How do you know when you’re done with a painting?
DD: When it doesn’t make me edgy when I look at it anymore, when I stop springing up to change something. When I feel balance
SC: Can people commission your paintings?
DD: Yes, but no !!#*!%!! portraits!
For more, go to DianeDimassa.com or contact heyhothead@gmail.com.
Sabrina Chapadjiev is the editor of “Live Through This- On Creativity and Self-Destruction” and “Cliterature- 18 Interviews with women writers. She’s also a musician and will be releasing her debut cd, “Oompa!” soon. Visit her at sabrinachap.com

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