Scooter LaForge

40, cleans houses and washes dishes in diners to get by

media: painting, clothing

Scooter wanted to become a dancer or a fashion designer. Those were his childhood dreams which got very quickly shut down by his parents. They were very strict and wanted him to be nothing else but a book keeper: “My dad wanted me to go into accounting. And I was like “are you fucking kidding me?” My bedroom walls were all painted with murals and I was making all my clothes” You would think they had a clue to send him to art school.

You were born and grew up almost in Mexico – has this influenced you creatively somehow?

For sure!!!!!  it has totally influenced my work… all the colors and iconic imagery… I LOVE ICONS.  The dramatic Mexican books drove me crazy visually.. I love them and collect them to this day.

You know, I really wanted to become a painter and an artist when I was a little kid. What was your dream?

I wanted to be a dancer or a fashion designer… those were my dreams.  But they were shot down very quickly by my parents.. they were very strict and wanted me to be an accountant.

What did your parents want you to become? And did they manage to convince you?

My dad wanted me to go into accounting… and I was like are you fucking kidding me???  My bedroom wall were all painted with murals and I was making all my clothes… you would think they had a clue to send me to art school

Why did you move from San Fran to NYC right in the peak of your career there?

I was in a cocaine hole in SF… and did not touch any for of white powder since the day I landed in NYC.

Do you have different sources of inspiration in New York than you used to have back in San Fran?

For sure. Art influences and art is so different from coast to coast.  NYC is really the heart of the art world

What is New York now like? Art world seems to be rising up from the ashes

There really does seem to be an art movement going on now.. but I seem to be the only painter… what ever happened to painting.. I don’t think people really know how to paint anymore with the computer and digital age. I think the new art wave is happening cause the kids are hungry for some new images and new cool concepts.  Street art is becoming so conceptual.. I LOVE JIM JOE.

Who are the top 5 artists you are following right now in NYC?

I LOVE

Philip  Guston –   I just love paintings with cigarettes.

Willem De Kooning –  His color palette is the epitimey of the 1970’s

Mark Rothko –  His early works are the bomb

Georg Baselitz –  Cause he has the balls to do what ever he wants.

Rembrandt – Cause he was just a complete and total freakazoid!

Do you earn enough as an artist or do you have to do something boring to earn extra money?

I clean houses and wash dishes in diners to get by.

Some of your paintings could be used as visualization for a children book. Are you making up for something, for your childhood?

No, it is not about making up for my childhood, it is about incorporating the whole history of my life and experience.  So many pure ideas are formulated when your young and that creates a visual language that I try and pull from. They are made to make me happy.. not to sound stuck-up but I would have all my art work hung up in my home… If i did not live in a tiny NYC apartment.

Who is impersonated by the pissing bears, rabbits and other fluffy creatures in your paintings?

Former lovers and friends.  Situations that is have been involved with that left a memory.  All my characters do represent people in my life… I always visual people as animals and recreate them

How would you paint yourself – which animal represents you best?

Usually I paint myself as Popeye cause I am short and stocky and slightly ugly.

You were painting live for the anniversary of East Village Boys – what is the experience and how does it function?

I love doing live experiences.  I painted a really talented artist GIO BLACK PETER at the East Village Boys anniversary party.  I painted his whole body with lyrics from a Michael Jackson song (this was the day he died).

Is the creative process different when you’re working on garments and paintings? Tell me how you create a design for a piece of clothing?

Yes the two are very different.  Usually when I am doing an oil painting I am alone it is very personal and private and I usually don’t like anyone around.  When I am creating a piece of clothing I am collaborating with a client and we come up with ideas.

The guys you paint usually do a lot of self-sucking – is this your only fetish?

No. If it was I would never leave the house.

Did you remove a rip to be able to do it? What is the secret?

There in no secret… and I do have all my ribs. Well it is just a form a masturbation… and EVERYONE has their special way of masturbating.

I haven’t seen you live, but my research showed your body is covered with cartoon characters – have you ever had sexual fantasies with cartoon characters? Give me some gory details.

I usually don’t share this but, I used to masturbate to Super Friends and one time my mom walked in on me.

Do you have a dirty little secret ritual you do which is truly ridiculous but you love it? ( e.g. I read the ingredients of cosmetics if I’m bored on the toilet. )

This is so funny cause I usually read the warning labels on cleaning supplies while I am on the toilet …. and I read them out loud with a British accent.