MITCH COTIE

Austin Lipinski: What’s keeping you occupied other than work these days?

Mitch Cotie: It’s weird because my work/play environment are kinda the same. I chose to become an artist for that reason, so work and play could be one in the same. Still trying to figure how to perfect it though. So basically I spend the day drawing and painting at my day job, come home and draw and paint on my freelance stuff or my personal stuff, hang out at the shop, kill brain cells and draw and paint shit on the walls. so I guess if I’m not painting and drawing I’m riding or wrenching my motorcycle.

AL: You’re into motorcycles. Is there a crew you ride with? What do you ride?

MC: Yeah my bike is my only set of wheels at the moment. I have a 2005 Flyrite chopper- basically a big twin Harley Davidson in a custom rigid frame. I average about 12K miles a year on that thing since 05. Ripping through the city, lane splitting and creating cool shortcuts through town is pretty fun, but hittin the highway with just a bedroll and a pack going someplace I’ve never been, is where it’s at.

I ride with a small group of guys here in Chicago that have similar interest and outlook on life. 9 of us outta that bunch have a shop on the North side, that we nicknamed “Bravetown”. Life around here kinda centers itself around there and “The Lodge”- my apartment, the place that inspired us to create “Kemosabe and the Lodge” blogspot. We all come from different backgrounds- we’ve got skaters, bikers, taggers, professional contractors, professional musicians, electricians, welders, bartenders, ex-military, married, single, film geeks, computer geeks, whatever, but we all love our motorcycles, that’s what brings us together. We have two short films out on You Tube that David Lukasik shot and edited, with more stuff planned in the future.

AL: Your son skates, has/had a ramp and seems to be pretty rad. Did it ever worry you that he would fall into the wrong crowd when he started skating?

MC: There’s a “wrong crowd” in any environment – I don’t care what you’re into. You have to let kids grow. You have to let them make their own mistakes, choose their own battles, find their own groove. A good skater has to learn how to fall, right? I believe in my kids’ ability to make their own decisions. They are at the age now where they need to exercise that. Screw up a lil bit to grow. That’s a tough thing for a lot of parents to do.

AL: Do you ever do art shows?

MC: No not really. I guess I never really think about displaying my stuff like that. maybe that’s something I should look into.

AL: Where can someone get original and printed artwork of yours?

MC: Through my web site www.mcotie.com- email me.

Weston’s Questions: How long have you been in this art business?

MC: I’ve been an artist all of my life, even while I was in the military, mostly as a hobby. but I’ve been professional since 2000.

W: Where did you start?

MC: I left the military in 2000 after 14 years in and went to art school in Dallas at the Art Institute- I majored in Game Design from there I got into the Video Game industry landing my first gig at Raven Software in Madison. Currently, I’m a Creature/Character Concept Artist for Day 1 Studios in Chicago. But when I’m not drawing and painting crap for those guys I’m doing Gig posters,decks, t-shirts, even Dungeons and Dragons type shit. anything to keep the cash flowing as long as it’s stuff I’m into.

W: Where are you from and has that influenced your style of art?

MC: I was born in New Orleans but I’m from all over the place. My parents lived the gypsy lifestyle and I continue that tradition since I left home after high school for the military. I think living abroad helps you become flexible and adaptable- I consider myself a pretty adaptable artist.

W: What are some main influences in your work?

MC: Probably the main influence in my art is the artist Frank Frazetta. I enjoy a bunch of different artwork form different artists but no body’s art gets my blood flowing like his. It’s a challenge though to strive for individuality. It would be easier to just try and paint and draw like him use his style and approach, but you gotta do your own thing.

W: Is there a certain genre of music that you relate to your art?

MC: Not really. I listen to all kinds of stuff. While I’m working – mostly classic stuff, you know Maiden, Priest, Slayer. Classic rock- staying away form the typical radio fodder of the old favorites and choosing the B-sides and more obscure stuff from Thin Lizzy, MC5, Deep Purple, Sabbath. Stoner Rock stuff – Solace, Sleep, High on Fire, Orange Goblin- even cool movie scores/soundtracks. It’s important for the music to just be ambient while I’m working and not become a distraction.

W: How does your skateboarding art differ from your other work?

MC: Not much difference really. I guess I’m fortunate enough to choose gigs where I don’t really have to change my style to fit a genre. maybe the level of complexity in a piece will change. With a book illustration, for instance, I can put more detail and broader range of color or whatever into a piece, whereas, a shirt or deck graphic might have to be simplified to one or just two colors, so it might take on a different look, but the basic foundation is still there.

W: Main choice of medium?

MC: Most always start with a b/w pencil illustration on Bristol, scan it in, color it in Photoshop using my Wacom tablet to keep it real. Keeping the final artwork digital makes it easier to make quick adjustments for my client.

W: Where do you start when given a job?

MC: Lots of really rough sketches; thumbnails, doodles; just throwin around ideas and layouts; the client rarely ever sees these. I carry around a small sketchbook with me, so in case I get a cool idea or thought I can doodle it out or sketch it quickly, so the idea isn’t lost. I’m a natural born space-case, so I have to do that. I will pick out the strongest ones, tighten up a little then show those to the client- then go from there.