The paintings that you create; they are so dense with creatures! There are fifty or sixty sets of eyes in some of them. DO they leave their lairs at the same time?
I’m big on eyes and teeth. And yes, we hold mandatory meetings monthly.
Some people might not know that you work on the Fox show Family Guy, as a story board artist and occasional director. In one episode, the characters fell into the nightmarish Vaux world. What was it like cross -pollinating your personal fine art with commercial art for a major television show en masse?
My paintings are my passion, but animation has paid the bills for my adult life. I’ve been Directing Family Guy episodes for 11 seasons now, worked on the show for eighteen years. I’ve worked in animation since 1996. I feel really lucky to have the two artistic outlets. The day job exposes me to a ton of other great, inspiring artists. We work together on episodes, that are essentially group art projects. We brain-storm, pool ideas and draw our asses off. We have an amazingly talented and friendly team on FG.
Just before I switched from being an Assistant Director to Director on Family Guy, I was granted an amazing opportunity. The writers on our show, who were aware of <my> painting career, had scripted a nightmare sequence for Brian Griffin. The dog was to experiment with some psychedelics he’d stashed for a rainy day and have an awful trip. The script read something like: Brian’s nightmare trip sends him spiraling into Joe Vaux’s painting world. My mind exploded and two worlds collided. The Execs were mostly hands off and just wanted me to write and direct a three minute horrific trip for Bri. It was such an honor and the results still make me smile.
Ok, what is a Wihwin. and why does it stare so blankly?
“Wihwin” was created for a book called “Beasts” It was a collection of artists doing renditions of mythical creatures. Wihwin is a malevolent water spirit from Central America, part horse, part croc. Don’t be fooled by that blank stare. It’s observing all it’s surroundings.
Would describing your paintings as a mutated hybrid of Ralph Bakshi and Hieronymus Bosch be insulting? If not, why not?…
Ralph Bakshi plus H. Bosch equals Joe Vaux. I’ll take it! Ralph actually gave me my first job in animation. I’m forever grateful for that. He really took me under his wing. It was a surreal first gig, working for an animation icon, out of a small New York Studio. I think his film “Wizards” played a huge role in my artistic development. I’d also add to the above equation. RB + HB + 2 amazing artist parents + 1 demented uncle + 70’s and 80’s films = Joe Vaux
I noticed that you are exhibiting sculptures in Glitch. Can you tell us about your foray into the third dimension?
“The Glitch” will feature 3 small sculpts. Trophies from my trip to the forest. It’s been a while, but I used to sculpt a lot. My first solo show at the Mendenhall Sobieski Gallery, in 2004, featured quite a few dimensional beasties. I sculpted a giant shark fin ripping through the floors of Copro Gallery for my solo, “Catch of the Day”. The venture into 3D isn’t new just a return.
It’s important that, in order to remain a semi-respectable publication, we’d like to ask you at least one near-biting question that make you so uneasy that you almost not answer it. You know, something where a reader could sense the uncomfortable nature of the whole back and forth… Problem is, we’re fans of what you do, so we’re a bit too biased. So, what should we ask you to make you almost angry with us, but still respect us for asking?
HA! Hey, I’m honored to be asked to do this, you can ask me anything. My paintings make me happy, they’re not necessarily filled with deep meaning or ground breaking unexplored artistic territory, but I think they are entertaining. I picture each piece as if they are a still from an animated film or nature video. As far as an uneasy question, how about: Joe, is it true that you went into that jacuzzi while having active diarhea?
Oh, err. in that case. We will leave it at that. But, speaking of uncomfortable things, have you fully recovered from winning Wipe Out? And what did you do with the prize money?
AHHH! Wipeout! Ok, my neck will never be the same, but my Wipeout appearance worked out. Season 5, Episode 7, “That’s Snow Way to Fall Down”
What can I say, I’m a glutton for punishment. My earnings went toward a cute front yard fence and the kid’s college funds. It was well spent/invested.
Joe Vaux’s solo show “Glitch” opens in March at Brassworks Gallery in Portland. Images courtesy of the gallery.
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