David's work has a truly vintage quality. Maybe it's his dediction to handmade creations, or maybe it's the soft orange and brown hues reminiscent of the 70s. I think that's why I chose the subject image I did--an image of a "seventies chic" guy in a tan suit jacket holding a cigar and a duck model. Very cool work.
David Mizelle (or davidson)
http://www.davidmizellejr.com
Richmond, VA (I grew up in Norfolk, VA)
Q: Describe your work in 10 words or less.
A: Honest.
Q: What do you like to work with (magazines, photographs, vintage)? Be specific!
A: I prefer to use vintage magazines and books for my imagery. Time magazine from the 1940's and 50's is really great, as are childrens' books. Every now and then I'll print something out from the web, but not often. Since I don't use Photoshop, web images don't have the texture I need for my pieces. There's just something much more pleasing about using old papers. I also use Letraset transfer letters, pencils, transfer markers, and acrylic paints.
Q: How long have you been creating collages and what made you start?
A: I started about 5 years ago. I was never good at drawing from life, I couldn't paint formally, but I've always had lots of magazines and books laying
around. I was looking for a new outlet of art to try besides my photography.
Q: Are you solely an artist, or do you work in another profession?
A: I'm currently in school full time, so, no. I've worked just about every job imaginable though, from high rise window cleaner to chef to secretary.
Q: Do you have any formal art training?
A: I'm currently in the Graphic Design program at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. I graduate the December of next year (hopefully).
A: I do everything by hand, so I don't use a computer to do anything except to scan in the finished piece. A lot of times I like to distress my images, or even the background the entire piece is on. So for that I use sandpaper. I like to apply paints really horribly and kind of randomly, and then start basing my imagery on that. I don't use paint in every piece, and I haven't for awhile now, but it's something I'll always work with in some fashion. Sometimes when I sit down to do a piece I have no idea what the concept or reason is, so I have tons of folders of cut up images, strips of paper, and trash I've found on the street that I spread out and just go from there. I try to communicate a message, be it social or personal, in every piece.
Q: Describe your favourite piece ever created.
A: My favorite personal piece? Probably any of my collages from my "Progress?" series. My favorite piece by someone else is "Canyon" by Rauschenberg.
Q: What other artists do you admire?
A: Robert Rauschenberg, The Beatles, Jasper Johns, Kurt Schwitters, Eduardo Recife, Wes Anderson, Chuck Scalin, DJ Shadow, Max Ernst, and Pink Floyd are artists who inspire me.
Thanks David!
![](http://www.notpaper.net/images/masters1.JPG")
i've been following david's work! it's awesome ain't it? lol -yay david!
Hi David,
Just wanted to thank you for mentioning my name as one of the artists you admire. I'm honored to be in such good company! Would like to show some examples of your work when I teach my collage class at the VMFA Studio School in the spring.
You can get in touch with me through my email address.
Wow, I forgot how I got to this page or how I already knew about David, but I love your work And good luck graduating! Woo VCU!