Danny Ische-Knoblauch

Welcome to the sparse, but intimate illustrative world of Danny Ische-Knoblauch. Recently the artist has been creating thought-provoking compositions, combining elements of pop/internet culture with classic design sensibilities.

In our latest interview, we have a chance to talk about their favorite places to relax in NYC, the creative process, and all kinds of other fun stuff.

A self-portrait by Danny Ische-Knoblauch

Would You Rather

get a full back tattoo of Garfield or Alf? Please explain why.

100% Garfield. If someone paid for it I would probably just have it done. I grew up reading Garfield comics and it's usually very dry and cynical, but there are a few that are very sweet and loving. I would definitely get a tattoo of Garfield being happy and getting along with Odie and Jon.

Some questions with Danny Ische-Knoblauch

Recently you have been incorporating abstracted pop culture references in your work. Was there a catalyst that inspired this?

I think the first time I drew two things together like this was just constellations with a drawing of a hand above it. The next was the alphabet, then comic/cartoon characters. Many of them about a year ago made “sense” or had some kind of relationship between the two drawings that could be read easily. It just spiraled from there and became somewhat of a beast of its own. I don’t really believe in “high brow vs. lowbrow” art so I’m more open to using pop culture references/imagery. Lots of people with big brains use “lowbrow” as a word to devalue something they don’t like but can’t explain why. I sort of realized I wasn’t having fun drawing anymore and I started to use more obvious figures from memes simply because it’s funny to me. It is entertaining and challenging to draw in various styles because that is how I learned to draw- from looking at manga and Pokemon cards.

If you had to eat food that was only one color for the rest of your life what color would it be?

Beige, probably. Like chicken. There’s lots of foods that are beige or tan. Cooked fish could be beige. Pancakes, too. I might be okay with that.

Can you whistle?

I can. I was better when I was younger and had a big gap between my front teeth. I ended up getting braces and had to learn how to whistle again and it was never really the same.

What has been the best interaction you have ever had with a fan of your work?

I really enjoy it when people ask if I make the child-like drawings or if I get some kid to do them for me. I do all the messy drawings myself except for one where I taped a drawing from a kid who left it at the restaurant (where I work).

If you had the power to turn into one other person whenever you wanted who would it be? What would you do?

I’d like to turn into anyone with immense athletic skill just to feel what it’s like. I’m a big fan of basketball so I’d turn into anybody in the NBA and just dunk a few times and drain 3’s in an empty gym for an afternoon then go home.

What draws you to the medium you have been primarily working in of paper and graphite?

I believe drawing is one of the most compact mediums to work in while living in a city. I was able to paint on canvases while I was at school because I had the studio space for it, but it isn’t very practical for me to make anything huge now that I work from my apartment. Paper and graphite is very easy to scan, post, ship, frame, then hang in an apartment for people who want a drawing. The accessibility of drawing is simplistic and beautiful to me.

You put together a list of quiet places in NYC. Do you have a favorite one? Why?

I have a few favorite ones but they’re always changing year to year since I have moved around in Brooklyn a bit. I would say my favorite is McGolrick Park in Greenpoint. I’d get a coffee and sit on a bench for about an hour before I went to work. Lots of dogs over there which is good to see. I should probably make a map for just quiet places in Brooklyn now. I don’t think many people have been going into Manhattan lately. I probably haven’t been into Manhattan for about 5 months now. 

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

Keep donating to charities you believe in, and if you don’t already have a few- find some. If you can afford it, I can guarantee there are organizations that can spend your stimulus checks more thoughtful than you :-)