Adam Lambert blends gorgeous lines with gross images
Adam Lambert, a local artist, musician, and illustrator for Fiction Designs, has been drawing the dark and macabre for 25 years. The Ontarion recently reached out to Lambert for an email interview, and he answered with plenty of style.
“[I was] accepted to OCAD for the art fundamentals program,” writes Lambert. Most of his inspiration and the majority of his commissions come from his time as a musician: “I played in a punk band that toured North America for several years… which led me to drawing and designing for bands I met on the road.”
As for his illustrations, Lambert writes, “Skulls and brains are pretty common in my art. [I] can’t seem to draw enough of them.” Thematically, Lambert has “a fascination with duality… How two contrasting elements can have a symbiotic relationship.” Often, the juxtaposition posed by duality can be seen at play in his art.
“…Skulls and brains are pretty common in my art. [I] can’t seem to draw enough of them…”
Lambert’s Inktober (an event during which illustrators create one illustration for every day of October) blends the kitsch with cute, the disturbing with the funny, pop culture with the putrescent.
As for influences, Lambert cites other artists known for gothic works, “Godmachine, Josh Belanger, [and] Alex Pardee are just a few great artists that have always influenced me to strive further.” But he amends, “My style is always developing.”
His style and his illustrations are largely accessible thanks to his experience in screen printing: “I’d say screen printing t shirts sort of influenced me to start screen printing my art and influenced my technique for illustrations.”
Lambert discussed his theories on why we might enjoy darker subject matter, “It’s hard to say why people like dark imagery. It’s so subjective to the individual. For me I just find it more interesting than bunnies and rainbows,” explained Lambert.
“You are the only great judge of your artwork. Don’t let anyone else decide the merit of your work.”
“My mother has been asking me for 25 years why I draw such dark pictures. Once I have an answer for her, I’ll let you know,” he joked.
The mass enjoyment of horror movies is a little clearer: “I think people enjoy horror movies to get that fight or flight thrill! Without any of the actual danger.”
Lambert’s own favourite horror movie is John Carpenter’s The Thing, writing that he is a “big fan of older horror movies, not the gore flicks that are considered horror these days.”
For all his influences, Lambert tries to keep it simple. He writes, “I don’t really have any sort of agenda with my art. I just think it’s fun. I just want to make art. And if people enjoy it, that’s a plus!”
Lambert signed off with some advice for young artists and creators: “You are the only great judge of your artwork. Don’t let anyone else decide the merit of your work. Try not to be too critical of yourself. A piece finished is better than a piece perfect. Finally, just keep working.”
Image by Adam Lambert.