1. Let's begin with telling a little about yourself.
Allow myself to introduce... myself.. My name is Katie Owens, otherwise known as Epidemic. I do mixed media art.. and a little bit of photography. I like to experiment with my artwork, new techniques and all that. I do freelance art, which is sort of difficult when you procrastinate as much as I do.

2. When you have an idea for a piece, do you sketch it out first, or dive head-first into the creation?
I never ever sketch out what I want to draw. Maybe that's my secret? I just go with it. I wish sometimes that I wouldn't just do stuff to my drawings without sketching it first, I've ruined a lot by doing that hah hah.

3. All of your pieces have a chaotic overtone. Is there a method to the madness?
No. There isn't. You can't learn what you can't explain.. just when you're drawing, don't correct your mistakes. Make them work. Also, don't sleep. That'll help some what. :)

4. Have you done any commissioned work? If so, for who?
Why yes I have, I currently work for Heartcore Clothing.. and have also done work for a few bands Trophy Scars, Maverick, the Cardnial Rule, Silent Envy. I've also been commissioned to design tattoos, which is sort of weird.. Having my work on somebodies body, very unreal.

5. Are all of your pieces autobiographical, or are they based on experiences other people have had?
Umm, most of my darker pieces have to do with how I feel at the time, or have to deal with some issue I'm dealing with. That's why when people ask me what my drawing is about, I wont answer or I'll lie and say nothing, cause it's just too personal. So if my pictures about me, or something random, you'll never know.

6. What is your technique for using color?
Technique? What's that? I usually just grab, splatter and go. There's no method to how I paint or color. I just like grabbing colors, and hope they work. I start with backgrounds most of the time, splattering watercolors and going crazy with spray paint, leaving random white spaces for some drawings. Then water color the drawings after they're done. I'm also fond of crayola markers and fine tipped sharpies. :)

7. How do the ideas for your characters come to you?
My characters, I don't know where to start with my characters. The two main characters that re-occur in my drawings are Kizioko(brown haired lanky tar demon that has an umbrella) and Elliot(the boy in the priest outfit). They're my alter egos. They live in my imagination.. in my drawings, as cheesy as that sounds, but it's true. Most my creatures are just.. blank faces and lanky bodies. I like to start with the faces, then work from there. I do the bodies, arms, legs, feet, tails, then wings. I noticed lately that most my creatures have wings :P I go through a lot of fazes.. heh heh.

8. Do you use primarily pen and ink, or are some of your pieces totally digital? If mixed, can you explain what you add or subtract in each stage?
Depending on how lazy I am.. I mostly use ink. But if I'm lazy, I do digital, cause it's quicker and I can play with colors easier. Acrylic paint can only offer so much. I don't have that many pieces of mixed traditional/digital. If I do mix them, it's cause I had a drawing and hated part of it.. then had a few more where I had the same problem, from there, I cut out the pieces I like and paste them together. I then quickly paint a background, scan it, and have some fun :D I put my drawings over the background, and there you go. I have a few stock images of paint splatters I've created, and throw those in as well. Tops, a digitally traditional drawing could take me anywhere from half an hour.. to 3 hours. It all depends on the amount of detail and how much of that I have to color. You might think I'm crazy, but I never EVER use the paint bucket. I color everything by hand with my tablet pen. Every time I use the paint bucket, bad things happen. D:

9. Which artists do you cite as your influences?
I'm rather fond of work by Alex Pardee and Luke Cheuh. They're both fucking amazing. I'm also inspired greatly by music.. Trophy Scars, Thursday, the Fall of Troy, Sage Francis. Music is my fuel. As long as the lyrics are epic, I'm good to go.

10. What is your workplace like? More specifically, what is your "perfect" atmosphere for creating?
Hah, my work place is in my room on my bed or on my floor. Paint tubes everywhere, scraps of paper, glue, and magazines spread out on the floor. I always have a glass of water ready in my room for when I want to paint. However I prefer to paint in the kitchen. I love creating artwork standing up.. so the kitchen counter is perfect. I don't really have a perfect atmosphere set.. since it doesn't need to by quite, that's what headphones are for. Just as long as people leave me alone and don't fuck with me. If I can do my thing with out interruptions, I'm happy as a clam.

11. What kind of cameras do you use for your photography?
My camera is my baby. It's a Minolta X-700. I also have an Olympus Camedia C-3040, which is a piece of shit cause it's so old. Not too many people know, but photography is a HUGE passion of mine. I can express a lot through my photography that I can't do with drawings, it's a nice outlet.

12. What do you like or dislike about the online art community?
I love the opportunities and the help you can get. I love the people you can meet. I love the exposure you can get if you work hard enough and lastly.. I love the art you can find. :) however, There's an ugly under belly to the art community, stuff like art theft. A nasty thing that is.

13. How can someone purchase prints of your work?
They can get prints by emailing me at wednesday.the.3rd@hotmail.com, I'm not promising anything, but we could probably work something out. Otherwise, I have no prints out yet. When I turn 18, I'm going to sell through deviantart. I don't know of any other place that sells prints(that's easy to use), if there is one besides deviantart, I'd be so happy if you'd let me know.

14. Give an aspiring artist one piece of advice.
Do art for YOU, cause it makes you happy. If you like it, that's all that matters.

15. How did you first come across Phirebrush, and what makes you keep coming back to submit more?
I found Phirebrush through deviantart. I was looking for some good communities to join.. and there you guys were. I don't know why I keep submitting... but I'd have to be pretty stupid to stop. You've done a lot for me :)