Chet Zar has quite a bit of experience as an industry and fine artist. He has been a chief designer and make-up artist for such films as, “The Ring”, “Hellboy”, “Planet of the Apes” and the critically acclaimed music videos for the art metal band, Tool. In addition, Chet is known for his 3D animation for Tool’s live shows.
Beginning in 2000 (at the suggestion of horror author Clive Barker), Chet decided to go back to his roots of fine art painting in oils. The result has been the creation of a darkly surreal, portrait-style of work seen here. Chet started exhibiting with me about 5 years ago and has live-painted and sculpted for my MAX!! shows in downtown over the years.
Meet Chet:
Nathan Cartwright: You told me once told me of a childhood vision that moved you more towards your style- can you elaborate?
Chet Zar: Actually, it was an out of body experience. I was in the beginning stages of an OBE and I was trapped in my body. My eyes were closed, but I could see the room around me. Then some scary, shadowy figure came out of nowhere and began to hit me repeatedly with a pillow. It was really terrifying because it was not a dream and I knew it. I was totally conscious and mentally aware.
These kinds of things are supposed to happen on a certain astral plane, the one closest to the earth plane. There are lots of creepy weird beings that try and fuck with you there. Robert Monroe has written some good books on the subject. It all sounds crazy, but luckily I am at a point in my life where I don’t care if people think I am crazy. There is much more to life than meets the eye.
Nathan Cartwright: How do you bring your images down to earth man? Sketches or straight to oil?
Chet Zar: Both. I try to plan out and sketch as much as I can for a piece but there are those times when I just can’t wait to throw paint down. These pieces usually end up taking a lot longer than the ones where I had taken the time to work it all out in sketches and studies. But they are often more fun, at least in the beginning.
Nathan Cartwright: When I was a kid my music teacher played, “Flight of the Bumblebees” and made us draw what we were feeling……..aw the good ol’ days. How has your work with big music acts affected your style through the years?
Chet Zar: Working with Tool definitely had an effect on me. It allowed me to explore some weird areas that I may never have gone to. The Tool experience definitely helped me to develop my own style. Those videos and other projects with them were some of the biggest creative highlights of my commercial art career.
Nathan Cartwright:What’s the plan for your featured spot at The Hive Gallery in November?
Chet Zar: The same thing that I do for any show, to try to make artwork that is better than the last work I did.
Opening November 3rd at The Hive Gallery http://www.thehivegallery.com/ , Chet will have the featured Tall wall spot at The Hive Gallery alongside featured artists, Mike Ryan, myself, Jose Lopes, and Darren le Gallo. You can check his work and items for purchase at www.chetzar.com.