Art On - Vol. 2 with Chuck Trunks

Working for years in a secret underground lab somewhere below Camarillo, California engineering some of the deadliest half-man, half-sea otters the world has ever seen, Chuck Trunks has taken a few minutes out of this day to talk with me about, well, Chuck Trunks.

If you don't know Chuck is one of many fantastic artists in our powerhouse family of craftspeople (and responsible for Endless Summer and Deal Breakers) , whom until just very recently was making art on the side. He's backing his artistic side full time now and I had a chance to catch up with him....

Working for years in a secret underground lab somewhere below Camarillo, California engineering some of the deadliest half-man, half-sea otters the world has ever seen, Chuck Trunks has taken a few minutes out of this day to talk with me about, well, Chuck Trunks.

If you don't know Chuck is one of many fantastic artists in our powerhouse family of craftspeople (and responsible for Endless Summer and Deal Breakers) , whom until just very recently was making art on the side. He's backing his artistic side full time now and I had a chance to catch up with him....

GS: What prompted you to become an artist?

 

CT: Even though I just retired from the biopharmaceutical industry after 22 years, I can't help but think that I've been an artist all my life.  As a genetic engineer, I preferred to draw how I conducted my experiments - complete with hands holding testtubes, DNA, cells, laboratory equipment...etc.  When I transitioned into biotech manufacturing, I could never really understand the non-intuitive written procedures so I opted to be trained by the resident experts while I sat on a step ladder drawing storyboard after storyboard of the operations - complete with processing tanks, filters, valves, hoses...etc.  I became so good at these diagrams that I was moved into the area of business analysis where I'd analyze various departments within my former company and document the operating practices in (you guessed it) graphical form.  So,  basically, art has been with me from the get go.  But something deep inside made me want to walk away from the corporate world to pursue art full-time. I found that my edgy high-contrast style coupled with the social, cultural and political messages behind my work not only gave me a voice but a venue to listen and learn from others who may or may not have a similar point of view.

 

GS: Until very recently you seemed to shy away from colouring, why?

CT: Since moving towards the addition of colors to my black and white compositions, I keep getting this question.  Don't get me wrong.  I love the interest! Anyway, the first thing that comes to mind is a trip I made to Barcelona.  While visiting Picasso's childhood home/museum, I noticed that the artist went through many phases. For instance, ever seen his line of abstracts where he applied only various hues of
blue? Well, those pieces were made during his 'blue phase.' Um, sorry if I just sounded like an annoying blowhard. Anyway, am I comparing myself to the master himself?  No way!  I just wanted to illustrate how artists can go through phases. My black and white phase lasted about three years but when I look at my recent "Glamtropolis" piece, I can't help but realize that I'm ready to stay with the color additions because, well...I just feel it now.  For the time being, you will see my signature black and white mosaics somewhere on my upcoming works. Since I've become known for this particular style, I certainly don't want to abandon it.  How else are people going to point to a wall, an iPod or t-shirt and say, "Hey, that's a Trunks!

GS: What is your favorite cheese and give me an example of how it's used in a recipe you might bust out to impress some guests?

CT: Finally, a critical question!  Ha, ha.  I love cheese - but not those smelly, sophisticated cheeses.  And not those nasty, rubbery Kraft "singles" either.  If I'm looking to impress (other simpletons like me), I'll bust out my Wisconsin extra sharp cheddar cheese and put a slice on your toasted, buttered plain bagel, add a
fried egg on top of the bagel.  But don't eat it yet, let me mash it down with a plate so that it's a half-inch thick.  Sure, things get a little messy but served with some good dark roasted coffee - you've got something way better than a fat free yogurt and a granola bar.

GS: Do you have a muse?

CT: First of all, I am flattered to be included amongst the Gelaskin artists.  All of these unique artists inspire me - especially after I visit their websites to see more of their amazing work.  As for the inspirational source (outside of the Gelaskins artist family), I have to go with Peter Max.  I don't know what it is but I've been continuously drawn to his work throughout my whole life.  His choice of subject matter, use of space, and high-contrast color selections never cease to make me stop at one of his compositions.  Yes, I know he's totally commercial at this point but I recently had the good fortune to meet Mr. Max at a gallery down in Laguna Beach, CA.  I can honestly say that despite his age (around 70) and massive
celebrity, he remains completely enamored with the creative process.  When I told him that he is my biggest inspiration, Mr. Max excused himself from the throngs of art collectors so that he could see some of my work and to explain how he too uses a similar approach when attempting to capture social, cultural and political statements within abstract drawings and paintings.  After about 15 minutes of this
amazing one-on-one encounter, Mr. Max politely thanked me for the conversation and returned to the patient line of buyers to resume signing a stack of his original paintings - each one costing more than my car - when it was new!

GS: If you had to pick a winner in a fight between a one armed Bonobo and 25 Scorpions, who would win  and why?

CT: Hmm.  This is a huge question - one that I don't take lightly. I'm going to assume that our one armed chimp is a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic and that a small army of scorpions would have a field day.  I imagine a pleasant two armed chimp just doing the normal grab-assing that chimps do when suddenly, the banana falls out of his hand and into the murky fringes of a quiet lagoon.  All the other
chimps scatter - but not our little curious George.  He blindly sticks his hand into the green water to retrieve the banana only to be horrified that an alligator just clipped his right arm from the shoulder down. "Nice going idiot" he mumbles to himself.  25 scorpions?  Please, I think 6 of the smaller ones could take him down.

GS: Who's your favorite Canadian and why?

CT: Okay.  Here's where I become the typical American sportsman. I'm a huge Wayne Gretzky fan yet I've never played real ice hockey.  In fact, I pretty much stink at street hockey too (can't see the passing lanes quick enough). To me, Wayne Gretzky had the classy dominance of a Tiger Woods coupled with an "aw shucks" demeanor.  You couldn't help but love this guy.  If you lived near him (like I do now), you'd
realize just how involved he is with his family and his community.  I've never met him or anything but if I had the chance, I'd probably pee my pants like a silly school girl.  Hey, don't give me any grief - I've seen hardcore truckers get all soft around the Great One!

GS: I understand that most of your pieces have a story behind them specifically
       relating to the content. Could you enlighten us about Endless Summer?

CT: Endless Summer is about global warming and unlike Al Gore, I didn't really care about it until it impacted me personally.  My meticulously planned Caribbean vacation to Cancun, Mexico (in '05) was abruptly canceled when a category 5 hurricane named "Wilma" put three feet of Gulf water in what would've been my hotel lobby four days before I was supposed to check in.  I was seriously bummed yet I did manage to research the subject of global warming (since all I had was time) and created a piece that shows the actual molecular structures of the seven most damaging green house gases (like good ol' HCFC-22). There's also a radiating sun that comes complete with weather controlling sun spots as well as our planet which seems overwhelmed by the hurricanes sprouting up from unseasonably warm ocean water. Not all of my pieces are so serious but I was pretty happy with the way this one came out.

And there you have it, straight from the Trunks!

Join us next time for Art On when we dig for the nitty gritty with your favorite artists.