DBH: Where are you from?

NeonBeast: I was born in the Philippines and moved to the United States in the early 90s when I was still very young. Since then I have lived in Virginia, Florida, and now currently reside in Pittsburgh, PA.

DBH: What inspired your artist name?

NeonBeast: I don’t remember the specifics of why I chose Neon Beast when I did, but it probably fit in with my style at that time. Neon colors and such. I end up changing my artist name every time I feel I’ve made a drastic change or shift with my art/life/whatever. Whenever I look back at my previous work it sometimes feels like it was done by a completely different person because that skin has been shed, and a new identity usually comes from that. Maybe that’s personal growth, or boredom. Maybe both.

DBH: How would you best describe your art style?

NeonBeast: If I had to categorize for categorizations sake I would probably say surreal, but even then I don’t think it fits the term that well. How about otherworldly shapes within nightmares that creep their way up the subconscious totem pole… nevermind, let’s just go with surreal.

DBH: Where do you find your inspiration when creating your art?

NeonBeast: I wish I knew. I don’t think I find inspiration as much as I stumble upon it, like stubbing your toe or getting stung by a bee or falling down the stairs.

DBH: When did you know you wanted to make a career in the art world?

NeonBeast: I had absolutely no clue what I wanted to do but was more or less thrown into the art world by taking a job as a web/graphic designer while I was in school. I ended up dropping out of school and sort of 'faked it until I made it’ doing the art thing. It’s all irrelevant though, because I still have no clue.

DBH: What does a day of creating artwork look like for you and how to you start your creative process?

NeonBeast: I spend a ridiculous amount of time in a sort of idea gestation period where it may appear that i’m doing absolutely nothing but in my head I’m desperately trying to give birth to an idea that may or may not turn into a design, and if that idea happens to come alive I spend a 1/4 of that time I just spent doing nothing actually creating it.

DBH: What artist (either current or past) do you most admire and why?

NeonBeast: I have a deep respect for anyone who takes refuge in the intense, sometimes messy, absurd, and unforgiving process of creation, all in an attempt to scratch an insatiable itch in hope of some reward. Saying that, I think Olbinski, Dali, Ernst, Magritte, and a handful of others are dope.

DBH: What's the best advice that's been given to you as an artist?

NeonBeast: Embrace your very own intense, sometimes messy, absurd, and unforgiving process of creation and don’t listen to anyone else, ever. Including me.