The Obelisk Questionnaire: David Paul Seymour
The Obelisk Questionnaire is a series of open questions intended to give the answerer an opportunity to explore these ideas and stories from their life as deeply as they choose. Answers can be short or long, and that reveals something in itself, but the most important factor is honesty.
Based on the Proust Questionnaire, the goal over time is to show a diverse range of perspectives as those who take part bring their own points of view to answering the same questions. To see all The Obelisk Questionnaire posts, click here.
Thank you for reading and thanks to all who participate.
The Obelisk Questionnaire: David Paul Seymour
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
I am a freelance illustrator, mostly creating t-shirt and album cover art for the heavy metal/heavy rock communities.
I started this as a hobby while still working in the architecture field. The last firm I got laid off from in 2009, I just kept on drawing and left the cubicle world behind me.
Describe your first musical memory.
Seeing KISS on television at the age of 4. Next thing I know, Santa was leaving each year’s KISS record for Xmas, and my first concert was at the age of 6, seeing KISS in 1979.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
The second “Psycho” when it was still in Orange County, CA. I was invited out personally and had access to the “backstage” band area; and hung with many heroes and contemporaries. I felt like I won some kind of prize.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
Hmmm. Good question. I suppose the rare handful of times I was asked to draw something that I was uncomfortable with and turned it down. I’ll leave it there.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
Artistic progression eventually gets one further to one’s penultimate station of self.
How do you define success?
Success is defined purely around enthusiasm. And how many friends you make along the way of the journey. Success has very little, often, to do with money. If that were the case, few amazing people would consider themselves successful.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
Probably some musical heroes whom I’ve met who turned out to be not the character of person I’d hoped or anticipated them to be.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
I am happy to say I’ve been blessed enough to check off every box on my list. I guess I would have to say I hope the train continues to go down the tracks for as long as I want or need it to.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
The overarching function of art is to make someone’s day a little better or brighter, to help someone through a hard time, and to bring pleasure.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
I am in the process of starting a small business to restore vintage American trucks with my Dad and Son and some cousins.
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