An interview with visual artist Elijah Marshall AKA Trash Catalog:
Elijah Marshall is a neo-expressionist visual artist and creates art under the name Trash Catalog, you can check out his work, request a commission, or shoot him a message on his Instagram page HERE This interview occurred over Facebook messenger between 8/19/2023 and 8/21/2023 and has been edited for formatting.
Eric:
Can you introduce yourself and give a brief overview of your artistic journey? What initially drew you to digital art?
Elijah:
Creating art has fascinated, relaxed and thrilled me from my early childhood to my current days. From scribbling crayon all over my worksheets with dizzying blends of color in preschool classes to drawing simplistic doodles and figures in school notebooks during my adolescence, the pastime of drawing, coloring and brainstorming concepts to scrawl on paper with reckless abandon has always been a favorite of mine. I tried my hand at creating comic strips with characters I doodled throughout my teenage years however I eventually lost interest in this medium. When I finally decided to embrace social media in earnest around 2015, I was thrust into the world of digital art as a means of entertaining others rather than just sating my own restless mind. At the invitation of a friend, I drew comically poor renditions of popular album covers for a well liked Facebook page and became so enamored by the artwork, music and humor of the community that I felt the compulsion to explore visual art as a hobbyist.
Eric:
I find it interesting that social media actually helped bring you back in to old hobbies. it's not often you hear anything positive like that about socials. 2. Your art often carries a unique style. Could you describe your creative process and the techniques you use to bring your ideas to life digitally?
Elijah:
I often utilize a neoexpressionist style consistent with action painting in my approach to visual art in order to produce primitive yet colorful and conceptually rich pieces. I especially revel in marrying discernible subjects with abstract and electrifying surroundings that complement my pieces and furnish negative space with striking visual stimuli. Through the use of abstract line art, pixel art, photo manipulation, noise and image layering, I try to produce aesthetically compelling and texturally robust pieces that I can enjoy drawing for hours. Looking at the blank white or transparent polygon that faces me before I start a new piece is often daunting as it is exciting. The nature of my process ensures that I will never truly know what form the final product will ultimately take in spite of any vague ideas or mental mapping I may entertain prior to opening my phone. Every contour that I add to a piece presents a new opportunity, a new direction and a new concept for me to explore much like a great video game or an uncharted biome.
Eric:
I really relate to what you said about never knowing the final form until it's done, my process for music is basically the same, though i find your art FAR more compelling, personally. 6. In the digital art realm, collaboration can be powerful. Have you ever collaborated with other artists or creators, and how has that impacted your work?
Elijah:
Yes! Have collaborated with a few artists most recently @hopeswidow and @beetlejoooles on instagram. The results of those collaborations usually weave in elements of my own neoexpressionist style with the textures and techniques that those artists incorporate into their works such as collage and cartooning.
Eric:
The art world has increasingly embraced digital platforms. How do you navigate the challenges and opportunities of showcasing your art online?
Elijah:
Mainly by taking things one step at a time. The key is to never stop putting your stuff out there. Many artists will suggest registering a business or learning the basics of business law and the like. All fine and good but at the end of the day the key is to ensure that your work is seen by those who value it most. That will make you far more fulfilled and ultimately successful as an artist.
Eric:
And how do you feel about the rise of generative AI and it's use within the art world? do you feel there are any acceptable ways to use things like dall-e2 in art without sacrificing ones artistic integrity?
Elijah:
AI, like all digital art applications, is a useful tool to help people realize their artistic visions in a rapid and more intuitive way. That being said it should never be relied upon entirely for base results as that ultimately strips the artist of their own vital visual input and replaces it with a machine’s rather randomized interpretation. I’ve always found both the bullishness and hysteria regarding AI incredibly revolting and I support a balanced and intelligent approach to its applications.
Eric:
I discovered you a few years ago from one of your pieces of MC ride and we bonded over our similar tastes in music.you've turned me on to some amazing artists and i hope i've been able to do the same for you. What are some new artists you've discovered that you feel are influencing you creatively?
Elijah:
Well Death Grips is still a big one but recently I went to this music festival that hosted many great underground rap artists from Spider Gang and other heavy hitters like Sybyr, Kamiyada, Jasiah, midwxst and more. I’ve found the new generation of rappers both underground and mainstream to be hella inspiring. Yeat, Lancey Foux, and Hardrock are some more prominent examples as well
Eric:
Your take on keeping a balanced perspective on AI in art is really interesting. It's cool how you connect with music and explore new artists. Speaking of creativity, have you discovered any impressive visual artists recently? Artists who really inspire your own creative process?
Elijah:
Absolutely! I love the dark, gritty and almost neoexpressionist style of this Georgian digital artist named goshmar. Megagrozov (Dmitry Grozov) creates beautifully drawn renditions of film scenes and historical events in an immaculate vintage anime style that has really inspired my current interest in creating stylized anime figures and original characters.
Eric:
When you're in the digital art scene, it's not just about showing off your artwork. It's also about connecting with your followers and fellow artists. How do you strike the right balance between engaging with your online community and staying focused on your creative process?
Elijah
I believe that the key to striking that balance is to wear blinders whenever you’re creating but treat your followers and fellow artists with the respect and cordiality that they are due. Boundaries and consistency is the key.
Eric:
Finding the right balance between establishing boundaries and engaging your online community can be challenging. Could you share more about how you go about setting those boundaries and maintaining consistency while also keeping your audience connected to your artistic journey?
Elijah:
I am fortunate enough to have so many cool, patient friendly and understanding people surrounding me in my artistic process that I see no need to establish any serious boundaries however I am always sure to emphasize that communications regarding commissions should be relegated to dms. I am also forthright with my artistic process when engaging any clients potential or otherwise. I am a relatively speedy creator however so typically clients are happy with my process.
Eric:
I can speak from personal experiencethat that is completely accurate. You are my favorite artist to work with and I have a lot of art I commissioned from you on this site. I love it. I just want to say before we go on that I love modern technology because I’m continuing writing this and checking my notes from my pc on my phone on the bus on my way to work . So, New Jersey has a pretty diverse cultural scene. I’ve been there a few times in the past. How has your African American heritage and your experiences growing up there influenced your artwork?
Elijah:
My African heritage has influenced my work and my approach to art in a multitude of ways. One of the most important ways was engendering an appreciation for the unique and glorious past of my ancestors both Yoruba from Southeastern Nigeria and Caribbean by way of Haiti, Guyana and Barbados. I often weave in African diaspora themes and motifs in many of my pieces, particularly my portraits and Jean-Michele Basquiat inspired pieces.
Eric:
I had only ever heard of Jean-Michele before discovering your art which led me to falling in love with his work. You and I have shared some quality conversations on world events and politics, what are some societal or cultural issues that you're particularly passionate about? Do you feel you address political or social themes in your art?
Elijah:
To say that I address the political issues I am most passionate in my artwork about would be too bitter of an insult to the causes and struggles that I have been passionate about throughout my life. The issues that compel me the most like antifascism, pan-Africanism, proletarian liberation, anti-imperialism and social justice are far bigger than any one artist and I try to avoid trivializing these issues by saturating my portfolio with artwork depicting motifs of such struggles. I have once a mural style piece for international working women’s day but it is the only piece of its kind within my portfolio. That being said, oftentimes I will weave in the aforementioned political themes into my artwork by adding subtle symbolism or color schemes into otherwise superficially apolitical works of mine however I do not wish for my artwork to be seen as an avenue to represent the political issues most sacred to me.
Eric:
I understand what you’re saying, oftentimes when artists make regular political pieces, it becomes all of what their known for it takes away from the message, often being used as a tool by those that it stands against. I think Banksy is a pretty good example of that, I feel over the years hes stopped being so much a message and more a meme. It’s also important to not compromise values. I have never known you to shy away from expressing your beliefs or addressing topics that people shy away from or are controversial. I have also never seen you get into energy wasting arguments that go nowhere online with people that disagree. That’s something I personally find difficult to do. Do you have any advice for people like me who have difficulty not engaging in those situations?
Elijah:
Always look out for your own mental wellbeing and remember that 99% of people are not trying to have their perspectives altered by your rationale. They are only arguing with you let off steam and feel more affirmed in their self-confirmed biases. You gain nothing from arguing with atomized strangers online except contempt and a high blood pressure. Stop, take a deep breath and let it all go. It was a difficult approach for me to learn for a long time but once you master the ability to see the big picture and understand that it’s only worth helping those that have taken it upon themselves to listen and learn rather than argue, you will be a much happier person.
Eric:
Over the last few years I’ve begun to notice your art appear online and out in the wild, one of your prints was in the background of some well known youtubers video not too long ago and more recently someone shared they discovered your artwork in a goodwill and they didn’t know who you are but now they do. what challenges have you faced in gaining recognition and exposure? How does it feel seeing your artwork in the public eye like this?
Elijah:
It feels spectacular and encouraging to see that people love my artwork enough to want to display it in their homes or on their bodies. Seeing huge prints of my artwork in my uncle’s office or in living rooms like the one from a certain Linus Tech Tips video feels surreal as a digital artist.
Eric:
I can imagine. I get excited for you when I see that happen. I wore the NC Ride shirt I bought from you when I first found your art to see Death Grips a few months ago and got the opportunity to turn a few people on to your work. Digital art offers a wide range of possibilities in terms of techniques and tools. What are some of your favorite techniques to use, and how do you decide which ones to apply to a particular piece?
Elijah:
My favorite technique involves photobashing and overlaying objects and textures to create new aesthetics. It all depends on whether I’m trying to achieve an organic hand painted look or a truly digital almost 3D art piece
Eric:
Can you explain what photobashing means in laymans terms? i'm not familiar with the term
Elijah:
It’s essentially using photography and photo editing to create brand new or novel images to incorporate into one’s artwork
Eric:
Basquiat's work often contained coded messages. Do you incorporate symbolism or hidden meanings in your art as well, and if so, could you share an example and its significance?
Elijah:
There a few here. This one is called Orcadian Cossack and it’s meant to be illustrative of the Russian civil war particularly as it took place in the free territory of Ukraine. You can see the skull and crossbones of the anarchist black army led by the Ukrainian peasant turned revolutionary Nestor Makhno, one of my absolute favorite historical figures.
Eric:
Before we wrap things up I’d like to thank you for taking the time to answer all these questions and give us some insight in to the art you create. The last question I’d like to ask you is looking to the future, what’s in store for you as an artist? Are there any new directions or projects you're excited to explore?
Elijah:
It’s always a pleasure speaking with a great friend! The future is never certain as many artists know however going forward I would love to diversify my artistic approach and try my hand at some neoexpressionist animations. Of course I’m a habitual still image creator and old habits die hard. So far all I’ve really mustered are a few glitch edits but I believe I can do more with enough determination and motivation.
Eric:
We should definitely do this again soon, Elijah. I think it would be really interesting to have a talk about historical events with you, i have a very limited knowledge on that subject and you never fail to tach me interesting things. I;m actually about to wiki Nestor Makhno as i have never heard of him until now. It's evident that your art holds the power to connect people and transcend boundaries. We're honored to have shared this dialogue, and we're excited about the conversations your work will inspire among our readers.
Elijah:
Thank you for this dialogue and for all of your support and admiration. Let’s speak again!
Thank you for all the amazing art you've made Elijah