For multi-talented local artist Declan Konesky, stoner metal band The Sword serves as one of the main sources of inspiration for his work. The other?
“Swans,” he says. “They’re perfectly up my alley. They’re mind blowingly loud and noisy, heavy and insane, delicate and artsy. They’re everything I aspire to portray.”
Although he boasts a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and drawing, Konesky didn’t always see the value of higher education. After failing out of college, he was selling paintings out of the Antique Market in 2010 and working on commissions when he realized that he could use education to further his intended artistic career.
“I mean this very seriously, to any other artists who might read this,” he says. “I got lucky my family is very supportive, but if you want to be a better artist, take advantage of that education. Your degree doesn't mean much to other people, so you have to make the most of that education. Those are two different things, degrees and education. Educate yourself. Soak it all up. Everything you can. If you're doing it right, you'll find a use for all of it. DIY motherfuckers.”
Fast forward to the present: Konesky has been working on a 128-page graphic novel titled “Illuminatty Ice,” his first book that he considers largely to be a labor of love.
Tell us about your upcoming graphic novel?
This particular story started title first. I like to think the title speaks for itself, but it is a combination of Illuminati and Natty Ice. This evolved into a sort of “Legion of Doom” meets” It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia” story based on politicians and celebrities secretly working to make Doctor Doompf the president (Donald Trump/Drumpf meets the super villain Doctor Doom). I call it a faux epic parody and absurdist dark humor story because it has a whole lot of elements to it, but the main point is for the story to just feel absurd and ridiculous.
Writing, penciling, inking, coloring, editing, lettering, the whole thing, has really been an effort. Since this is my first book, naturally, it has been all for free and without any guarantees of publishing. But it will pay off one way or another!
| What drove you to create “Illuminatty Ice”? I quickly learned what it meant to work full time as an artist. You have at least 40 hours a week to fill. Long story short, comics and graphic novels (a love of mine) seemed attractive. You work 10 hours a day on one project, which is actually attractive to me. I created a year's worth of work for myself, entirely based off of several passions of mine. So then, after several experiments and half started projects, I began coming up with story ideas. This is the one that stuck. I brainstormed with some friends about what “Illuminatty Ice” would be about and it started coming together. |  |
What else are you working on?
While I am working on finding a publisher for [the graphic novel], I am working on two more stories. One is the follow up to “Illuminatty Ice,” “Big League,” “Baby Hands,” and the other “Brohemoth Ultraprep,” which is an epic Brodessy. Besides that, I am making T-shirts and other merchandise for income as well as creating a workshop I can take on the road to teach.
Give us a timeline of your evolution as an artist.
Mom gave me a watercolor set when I was 8 and my dad gave me an acoustic. I doodled and drew manga and comics and wrote stories. I practiced guitar. Got more serious around 14 years old on both and worked on my actual painting chops and starting punk bands.
What helps you keep your creativity flowing?
I exercise constantly. It lets me keep the murder at bay and I can listen to my music. I also might be a little vain so I appreciate trying to look good. Beyond that, I really try to keep my fingers in as many outlets as possible. Is that the proper phrase? That sounds dangerous... Oh, speaking of danger, besides music and exercise, a lot of my inspiration comes from good old fashioned hanging out. I try to make note of conversations and jokes and themes that we all like, which translates quite naturally into my work.
While I am working on finding a publisher for [the graphic novel], I am working on two more stories. One is the follow up to “Illuminatty Ice,” “Big League,” “Baby Hands,” and the other “Brohemoth Ultraprep,” which is an epic Brodessy. Besides that, I am making T-shirts and other merchandise for income as well as creating a workshop I can take on the road to teach.
Give us a timeline of your evolution as an artist.
Mom gave me a watercolor set when I was 8 and my dad gave me an acoustic. I doodled and drew manga and comics and wrote stories. I practiced guitar. Got more serious around 14 years old on both and worked on my actual painting chops and starting punk bands.
What helps you keep your creativity flowing?
I exercise constantly. It lets me keep the murder at bay and I can listen to my music. I also might be a little vain so I appreciate trying to look good. Beyond that, I really try to keep my fingers in as many outlets as possible. Is that the proper phrase? That sounds dangerous... Oh, speaking of danger, besides music and exercise, a lot of my inspiration comes from good old fashioned hanging out. I try to make note of conversations and jokes and themes that we all like, which translates quite naturally into my work.
 | What helps you keep your creativity flowing? I exercise constantly. It lets me keep the murder at bay and I can listen to my music. I also might be a little vain so I appreciate trying to look good. Beyond that, I really try to keep my fingers in as many outlets as possible. Is that the proper phrase? That sounds dangerous... Oh, speaking of danger, besides music and exercise, a lot of my inspiration comes from good old fashioned hanging out. I try to make note of conversations and jokes and themes that we all like, which translates quite naturally into my work. |
Do you ever experience artist’s block, and if so, how do you work through it?
NONSTOP. Fear is a big part of it. My mantra is to make bad work worse and then go fix it. Just jump in despite the fear. But when that is failing me, I just work on one of my other outlets and try to just make the leap with them. Besides fear, it's just exhaustion. I paint hundreds of paintings a year; take into account the hundred plus pages of a story, the sketches, all of it and then sometimes the block feels like a well-earned vacation. That is, until I look at my bank account and the bills being due and how my fridge still doesn't have any beer and there is an awesome show coming up. (Psycho Las Vegas... I already got my ticket and am trying to save for a plane ticket...)
How do you know if a piece is complete?
At this point, I think my experience helps. That's about 18 or so years, a bachelor's in fine arts and 7 or so years of practical experience “in the field,” so to speak.
Usually, I just have to let the piece go. Sit on it, if I have to, and let it stew and see how it strikes me later. Painting-wise, it's about a balance. It's like having the munchies or a craving, except instead of salt and spice it's color. But I try not to get bogged down in pickiness, which has now translated into my very own style - loose and abstract, and embracing an amount of “wrongness,” if you will. I just let things be as they are; another nice Zen principle I got from watercolor. Rather than overworking, which is beneficial to understand, that sort of “get in and get out” practice is extremely important to my art making.
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Anything else you think is worth mentioning?
At this point, I think I have exhausted myself and just want to shamelessly self promote. Find me on Instagram @declankonesky and @illuminatty_ice for updates on everything I ever do, as well as my website declankonesky.com. You can get a sense of all the different things I do, where I will be and when as I move into doing more workshops and maybe traveling with my band (if you like noisey black/doom metal type stuff). Check out my buddy Deece at 1d4rounds.com every Friday for his webcomic. That dude is a big inspiration to me because [he is] one of a few people I know who gives me a run for being so tirelessly busy. Come by the Antique Market to see Steve Fiegenbaum's and my paintings, as well as 4P Studios, which I helped open, and That Place Coffee for exhibitions - I have one in August. I have to thank my mom, Staci Swider. We work together all the time, keeping each other sharp and focused. She just had a book published. Look her up. She is a bad ass. And thanks to Alexandria Levy for giving me this opportunity! Feels good.
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