Monday, April 30, 2007

The Interview!

My buddy Sonja, from the blog Quantum Leaps (a wonderful blog by the way, you should totally check it out if you haven't already!), sent me these great questions to answer. I will do my best!

1. You mentioned in one of your posts that you were born in Belgium. What sequence of events brought you to the US?

It's true, I was born in Belgium (giant sob). After that, my family moved to Germany, then Puerto Rico, and then Indianapolis. We did more moving after that too... even lived in Japan. The reason is simple, everyone in my family is a dinosaurologist. And as dinasaurologists, our goal was to find and catch the mythical dinosaur, Stegasaurus Rapsalot. Unfortunately, catching the creature proved impossible, so we all decided to move to Phoenix and become ghost story writers and UFO experts.

2. In the art world, isn't the School of Impressionism really just a club for painters with bad eyesight?

Hmmm, it's very true that Monet lost a lot of vision later in his career... but I must admit, there are some great impressionist painters who could really 'see,' and Monet, in spite of all the hype surrounding his work, was truly amazing and very consistent in his excellence... and Van Gogh is one of my favorites, he's one of the best drawers in the history of art, in my opinion...

3. Before your illness, in what ways did you use your artistic talents to make a living?

I haven't posted any of my older artwork from before I got sick, it makes me too sad... I still can't draw very often, and when I can, all's I can do is simple cartoony stuff (but that's better than nothing, that's for sure!), I can't do anything that takes a great deal of concentration and detail... Previously, my work was usually based on observation and extreme detail...

The main reason I had moved back home was so I could have more time to devote to working on my art, and also finally have some time to seriously focus on selling my art. Unfortunately, I fell sick a couple months after returning home!!! I avoided galleries for the longest time, the commissions they take, especially from young artists, are ridiculous, but nonetheless, I figure, whenever I'm better, and I can get a good series of paintings done, I will go out to LA and find a gallery. Also, I will set up a website to sell work from there. I also do commission work when healthy.

4. How have you evolved personally through having this illness?

I'm not sure how I've evolved, I think I'm a stronger person mentally because of this illness. And I think I've come to appreciate life a lot more, all the little things and all the big things too. I feel lucky to be alive. I'm grateful, grateful for life, for family, for friends, for my dog... and I hope that over the course of my illness, I can become a better person to others, more considerate, helpful, compassionate...

5. Koala bears-cuddly forest denizens, or mad, hissing nocturnal beasts?

These creatures are sweet during the day, but at night, they have what I'd call were-wolf syndrome. They turn into vicious creatures and they grow wings and fly into peoples' houses and they tear apart the furniture and they eat the drapes. It's all very sad really, and there's so much housework to be done the morning after a nightime koala bear invasion.


So, I 'd love to interview people, so here's what you do if you want me to interview you...

  • Leave a comment at my blog saying, “Interview me.” Include your blog URL.
  • I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions.

  • You will update your weblog with the answers to the questions.

  • You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

  • When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

  • Have fun!

26 comments:

Katie McKenna said...

ha ha.. you are always interesting!

Interview me. I feel like a dare today. :)

http://katiemck.blogspot.com/

Katie McKenna said...

I recently was tracked down by a guy from one of my high schools. We are talking 30 years here... lol.. He made me realize the influence of spending my first 10 years in Europe when he said I was unconventional ..
I remember there was a lot of American views that I did not understand....

Princesse Ecossaise said...

You know I always wondered what type of vicious animal came into my room while I slept, sweeped the floor with my head, turned my pyjamas back to front and messed up the duvet.

And as my brother says..."Where's the bear that shat in my mouth in the night?"

Now I know.

The Koala Bear.

Barry Nong said...

How much slander can a koala bear I say.

They really are just cuddly little vampires!

Anonymous said...

Interview me ! Me, me, me, me, me !

Okay, I must admit, it has always been one of my fantasy. Do you know the show "Tout le monde en parle" ? Used to be really popular in France, was adapted for Quebec as well and a bunch of other countries (I'm talking to your french roots now !). It's basically a bunch of artists interviewed by the host, but not only about their current CD, book, exhibition or whatever. It's real deep interview. Like childhood stuffs, then teenage years etc.

Well, I've always dreamed to be in that show.

Of course, the show is over now, and I'm not even remotely famous.

But please, I'd loved to be interviewed ! ;-)

Anonymous said...

I volunteer for the interview too, if ever you still have place for me.. ;-) and I do so because I am so curious about the kind of questions you may have for me...lolololol...
That was very impressive and so informative... ;-)
SeaRabbit at http://glamorizedphoto.com/seablog

Sebastien Millon said...

Katie: Yay, I would LOVE to interview you! Sooo true, about how different the European mentality is to the American one...

Princesse Ecossaise: I'm glad I was able to enlighten you on the evils of the koala bear. I can't fall asleep anymore, thinking about that creature scares me SO much.

Shaymus: Hahaha, cute cuddly little vampires, I like that... Do you have koalas hanging around your house??!! That would be awesome!

Zhu: YES!!!! I will come up with some questions for you! Hmmm, don't know that show... I will try and come up with some deep, gut-wrenching questions for you :) I usually like Terry Gross' interviews on NPR, she's really good at interviewing, are you familiar with her show?

Searabbit: YAY! Of course there is still room for you to be interviewed! I will get to work on questions for you :)

Anonymous said...

I would like to be a candidate for interview! Although I think Koalas are about half as menacing as their hand-holding sea-borne counterparts: otters. Once an otter took hold of my fishing line and broke it, the little bugger. And then he made a cute noise like nothing even happened.

Anonymous said...

good post. I'm glad you think you've become more appreciative of things in life. It's made me more appreciative too.

Barry Nong said...

Yes Yes...Its just like the flintstones here.
Echidnas for scrubbing brushes, Koalas for ear muffs and we ring a bell and a kangaroo hops in and we go to the toilet in it pouch and hops away.

M said...

So that's what happened to the drapes... That explains everything! And here I was blaming it on the wicked witch's flying monkeys. But why would they eat the drapes, that's what didn't make any sense. Thank you, Buddy!

Nikki Neurotic said...

Good interview. I didn't realize you've lived in so many places, and I always assumed you were born in France. Guess you learn something new everyday.

yellowdoggranny said...

Babs sent me...she said I would like it here...Babs is always right..remember that..always..she has learned to duck befor I send the bips..
by the way..during a noctural visit I trapped, kilt, skinned and ate me one of them koalas..it tasted like chicken.

yellowdoggranny said...

Babs sent me...she said I would like it here...Babs is always right..remember that..always..she has learned to duck befor I send the bips..
by the way..during a noctural visit I trapped, kilt, skinned and ate me one of them koalas..it tasted like chicken.

Trey said...

I would be honored to be interviewed.



Damn koalas!

Mrs. Hairy Woman said...

Hey Sebastien.. I Think between the Koalas and the Platypus' you are one busy guy..and the sharks.. I forgot about the sharks..

Anonymous said...

i like the idea of interviews, i just am a horrible questioner...if that makes sense.

Anonymous said...

No problem, take care of yourself and rest ! I was a zombie myself last week, lack of sleep I guess...

BTW, I'm adding you in the "read them !" section of my blog if you don't mind ;-)

Anonymous said...

I knew you would come up with some good answers! Now I know why you are such an interesting person, you have traveled so much, alas, the elusive dinosaur never materialized for your family. That's why you had to start that family business in bull sperm production. But that seems to have worked out for the best!

Sebastien Millon said...

Ian: Yay!!! Would love to interview you! Felt a bit tired of late, so it might be a couple days before I get the questions for you... ohhhhh, otters, now those are some seriously villainous creatures...

Frenchy: Yeah, I think it's been pretty eye opening for a lot of us.

Shaymus: I KNEW IT!!! I want a kangaroo, I didn't know they were soooo useful...

Mariana: Of course, ya know I bring the truth!!!

Silver: Haha, yup, I guess there are always surprises :)

Yellowdog Granny: Hello there! Babs is AWESOME!!! Yummy, I've never tasted koala bear, but it sounds quite scrumptious!

Taarzaan: Oh yeah! would love to interview you buddy! Might take me a couple days, been feeling a bit tired, and I'd like to come up with some good crazy questions, muhahahahha!!!

Babybull: I know, I lead a very busy life. Dangerous too... But that's how I roll.

Sir Jorge: Haha, I understood! I'm not sure I'm a great questioner either, I don't think I would've been a very good inquisitioner back in the burning people days...

Zhu: Aww, thanks for adding me! I added you to my links the other day!

Sonja: Haha, I don't know if I'm all that interesting... but thank you for your wonderful questions!!! And it's true, bull sperm is a very very lucrative business! I'm soooo lucky to have found my calling.

Jessica said...

I love your drawings. I was shocked at how good you are when I came over here, You may have lost some technical proficiency, but I think you may have gained someplace else.

Anonymous said...

I added you under "Seb Is Still Thinking" - hope that's fine ! Otherwise, let me know under which name I should put your blog...

J'ai très peu d'imagination à 10:54 ;-)

Moonbeam Baby said...

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones... MY Koala has fluffy pink wings, and he cleans my room while I am sleeping. His name is Howard. I don't understand how he vacuums my carpet without waking me up.

However, he never remembers to put the toilet seat back down after he uses the bathroom...

Sebastien Millon said...

Jessica: You are too kind! Well, hopefully I will be able to do stuff like I used to do, but in the meanwhile, it's good fun creating little fun creatures.

Zhu: That's wonderful!!!

Moonbeam Baby: Howard sounds like the bestest! I wish I could teach my stuffed animals to do that stuff, instead, they spend all day drinking beer and talking sports. They are soooo rude.

Deadmanshonda said...

Oh your illness sounds dreadful. I'm so sorry. I've had mono several times, TB, lots of nasty intestnial issues from traveling and catching plagues (not even kidding) so I completely sympathize with you. I do hope you get better soon....best wishes...

Sebastien Millon said...

Hi Leiselb! Thanks for stopping by and commenting... oh, being sick is hard sometimes, but it's the way it goes, things can always be worse! I'm sorry about your own issues with illness, the plague sounds scary, very scary, but I checked your blog out, and you seem to be ok, yay!! Thanks for the kind thoughts :)