'I love walking around with my camera in hand, snapping pictures wherever I go. The art projects that I have featured here are my personal art projects - and I’ve been fortunate to work with some very talented models over the years to help with my art.'
Michael-STATIC Studios
As impressive as it is to create an incredible capture of the male form, Sacramento photographer Michael from STATIC Studios captures quite a bit more. The first images of Michael's that I saw were the two images at the end of the post. When viewing the images of 21 year old model JT Thao lying on the floor I was impressed with not only how original the images were, but also the distinctive mood Michael so beautifully creates.
Describing the mood is next to impossible, it will be different for every viewer, but it is there, quietly loud, emitted most powerfully from the light and shadows that surround and cascade over JT's body. Michael says he finds studios dry and sterile and I think his choices of shooting within natural environments, and his use of natural light, help create the mood with a warmth that sweeps over both his models and those who view his images.
Michael maintains this warmth regardless of location, inside or outside, factory or loft. I especially love the many creative ways Michael connects JT to so many light sources, sunlight of course, but also the light from an open door, a window, candles, streetlights and morning mist.
Born and raised in Sacramento, CA, natural light sources are not just a part of Michael's work, but also deeply important part of his life. Michael currently lives in what he calls a fun solar-powered loft in Downtown Sacramento, the perfect location to work on his art. Photography is not the only art form created in Michael's loft, the artist calls his work, varied and multi-dimensional and also includes painting, poetry, street art and photomontage.
21 year old JT Thao is also an artist. A fashion design major with a focus on designing cutting edge fashion for both men and women. Michael and JT have done about 10 photo shoots together and Michael is currently working on a photography book project that will exclusively feature JT, for publication in late Summer of this year.
'Working with JT has been a fantastic experience. Upon meeting each other, we found that we both had artistic ideas that matched well, as well as a joint interest in shooting artistic (and artistically erotic) nudes - and thus a great artistic collaboration was begun. JT has been a delight to collaborate with, as he's willing to try just about anything, and has made suggestions for photos that have worked very well.'
I was curious about Michael's choice to use Static within his professional name, I was sure it must have something to do with electricity, interference or static pressure. I am glad I asked as his answer was much more interesting than the reasons I had initially assumed.
'I've used "Static" since the mid-1990's as my art (and sometimes graffiti) "tag" of sorts. Initially, I was looking for a way to anonymously sign my artwork, and chose the name "Static" in reference to my "imaginary friend" I had when I was around 5 years old. I liked the use of it - as it was rather something of an "in-joke" for me, my doppelgänger identity as Static being a product of my early childhood imagination. As I am a self-taught artist, and my artwork over the years ranges from the faintly naiive to the generally uninteresting/unacceptable to the mainstream heterocentric art world, the idea of continuing to use this name is my way of declaring my identity as an "outsider" to the larger art world.'
'My interest (and participation in) DaDa art also had a lot to do with my use of the tag "Static." I firmly embrace Keith Haring's idea that art should be free (if possible), and accessible to all, and so I've often posted my artwork under the "Creative Commons" headings that people may freely share my work, if they find beauty (or find anything, really) in it. I still tag my work (c) Static, knowing full well that the "copyright" is totally meaningless to an artist who wishes for his work to be shared freely. Along the DaDa line, I similarly would tag buildings, other artwork, books, and even trees and rocks "(c) Static." This very cheeky idea of "copyrighting" unowned and uncreated things and places amused me, and I suppose it still does. The same idea applies to my art. I feel that the real "creators and owners" are the viewers of art.'
JT Thao on ModelMayhem
STATIC Studios on ModelMayhem
STATIC Studios Official Site
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