"For the Feeling" New works by Schuyler Beecroft
Hey Schuyler! We are so stoked to have you in the Daydream gallery! We’ve been buds for well over a decade, it’s about time we get a little Schuyler magic to grace our walls. The title of your show is “For the Feeling,” how are you feeling?
It’s been an interesting year - a healthy balance of highs and lows. Feeling grateful to be spending so much time in the studio these last few months.
When did you first realize you wanted to pursue a career as an artist?
Towards the end of high school I started to realize a life in the creative world was something I wanted to investigate. I doodled like every other kid, but when I started redrawing the illustrations in my Spanish books out of boredom, I quickly became obsessed with learning how to draw and draft properly. My exposure to the creative world was fairly limited at that time in my life, but I had a small group of friends who liked surfing and skating. Films and magazines would get passed around, and I started to realize there was a whole world out there interested in the same things and I should probably go check it out before I get trapped doing something I wasn’t passionate about.
Where did you go to college and how did that experience influence your artwork?
I went to the Savannah College of Art and Design and studied illustration and printmaking. I found the whole experience completely transformative. The talent level was deep and everyone really pushed each other. I also found my people and a support network for exploration and encouragement. Those are key ingredients for weathering the early years of creative development.
Who are your biggest artistic influences, and how do they impact your style?
I mostly look for composition, texture, and color references. Some of my favorites that do all the above extremely well are Chris Martin, Laura Owens, Robert Rauschenberg, Tauba Auerbach, John Baldessari, Tomoo Gokita, Arthur Jafa, and Kunié Sugiura.
What's the most valuable creative advice you've ever received?
I saw this quote from Oscar Isaac recently that really resonates with my current state.
“To go forward is scary, and it’s darkness, and it’s woods, and you can’t go back because that’s where the wild animals are. What do you do? You go into that, to get somewhere better, somewhere different, somewhere more true.”
Like Kyle and I, you and your wife Morgan have been together for so long, what's something Morgan has taught you that has made you a better artist?
She’s a strong advocate of simply getting started. Whatever that means. Organizing the studio. Gessoing panels. Sweeping. Putting one foot in front of the other. I’m very easily distracted, so committing to small tasks adjacent to the ultimate goal usually keeps me on a good path. I’m also privy to constant self-deprecation, and she’s constantly reminding me to have confidence in myself. I’d be in a tough spot without her.
Questions from Kyle:
How does surfing influence you creatively?
I’ve always been influenced by the art & design history of surf & beach culture, but the act of surfing for me personally is therapy, exercise, meditation - all things that contribute to my ability to be creative.
You’ve been putting in work at Ocean Beach for about 15 years now and you have the sandbars pretty wired! What are some of your favorite things about the waves out front of your house?
Having your favorite beach break in the world two blocks from your house is dangerous. Good luck getting any work done when it’s firing. There’s really no comparable feeling to scoring a proper day at Ocean Beach. I can’t really pin down what makes it so special. Standing on the dune after a session, pivoting your view between the buzz of San Francisco and spitting barrels under a vibrant sunset may be a contributing factor.
You’re a bit of a tube hound… can you walk us through one memorable day when OB was especially square?
We had a really consistent January/February this year. It was non-stop for weeks and weeks on end, but there was a particular stretch of 2-3 days later in the season that stood out. The sandbars were only good for a few hours at a time on this particular stretch of beach. The perfecto-meter from earlier in the season wasn’t quite there, but the waves were so drained out and square, so if you got a good one it was really good. All the people who are really on it were out there trading some pretty insane kegs. It was wild to watch and be a part of.
What’s your studio vibe like? What music is playing, any snacks or bevs, mantras?
It really changes day to day. The music changes often. Sometimes the Arthur Russell radio is flowing, then I lean into some heavy Dead sets. Another day it could be a real reggae/dub vibe.
I also like to listen to documentaries and/or a series sometimes. Other days I forget to put anything on and I’ll be stuck in silence for hours without knowing.
I drain sparkling waters when I’m in the studio, and I’ve also been known to slip a Trumer Pils in there from time to time.
Speaking of music, we know you’re a bit of a dead head, what’s your favorite Grateful Dead album or live show?
My dad got me into the Dead really early. He was taking me to shows as far back as I can remember. There are so many great live Dead sets. It’s hard to pick one. From time to time I can be more of a Jerry Garcia Band fan, and there was a stretch in 1973 between Dead tours that Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders really brought the heat to a venue called the Keystone in Berkeley, CA. The shows were released via a box set called Keystone Companions. Those shows are mental.
What’s something you’re excited about for the next season of your creative life?
Late last year, I left a long-time position as an Art Director/Designer and have since been freelancing. Not having a consistent paycheck is scary, but conversely, I wouldn't have been able to pursue certain projects over the last six months without the newfound freedom. I hope to continue collaborating with others and seeing new projects come to life, all while keeping the studio engine well-oiled and productive.
If you could show your work anywhere in the world, or even not on Earth, where would it be?
I really want to do a show or a big mural in Japan sometime soon. Manifesting now.
We know you’re a bit of a pipe connoisseur, what's the perfect hot dog?
I like a Portuguese Hawaiian with grilled onions and dijon mustard.
Speaking of hot dogs, you guys have a long haired weenier dog named Doobie, aka my dog godchild, tell us about him?
He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, aside from my wife. I'm watching him sleep right now and could cry.
You are the artist behind our beloved Penelope (our shop pug) graphic, what’s your favorite thing about her?
She’s the most resilient being I've ever encountered. After she broke her little arms, I was worried she'd never bounce back, but she had other plans (obviously with a ton of help from her parents). We should all take a lesson or two from her will to live.
