Behind her pretty smile and starry gaze eyes, lot of DVDASA fans know Saelee Oh as the artist who likes to throw cakes at weddings, pass out at shows and be mischievous at random moments. And you can see those traits in her happy art that uses a lot of animal and nature motifs. Conversely, she’s insightful and thoughtful and I was lucky to get to hang out and ask her a few questions.

Almost every kid does art when they’re kids but at what point did you think to yourself, “yea, I want to be an artist”?

I don’t think there was a defining moment for that decision. It’s just always been one of my favorite things to do and I get a certain kind of feeling of satisfaction and serenity from making pictures, playing make believe, reading and writing stories that I don’t get from doing other things. This means that there’s also a specific kind of restless discontent that I get when I’m *not* doing it which I’m not sure non-creative people can identify with. This is why in my later adult life, I was being open minded and looking to be anything other than an artist to try and escape that discontent, but I’ve come back around to accept that I have to be an artist and that I want to be persistent and continue to make sacrifices to do this while I can.

I haven’t been able to keep up with all the latest in the DVDASA universe, but I did recently listen to the episode that revealed that you used to make art too. I never knew that and I met you about 10 or so years ago because of Giant Robot! It’d be cool to see your drawings, Bill. Can I draw what I think your drawings will look like and then we do a show and tell for each other? Lastly, I actually don’t think that almost every person does art when they’re younger. I used to have this same thought, but my mom said otherwise. If anyone had an interest or made art when they’re younger, I think they’re not meant to stop.

If you look back at a time line of your art, where could you see the formation of your art developing?

It’s all a continuous journey and path of learning. I believe in past lives and ancestral memory. I can’t take personal credit for everything that my hands create. I’m not a god. But, I thank god for punk rock because that’s what probably saved me in middle school and high school. Artistically, I see folk art as a close cousin of punk rock.They both let spirit to trump technicality. I describe my art as ‘modern folk art’ when I’m asked to describe it in a conversation with someone who’s never seen it, but they might be curious to. I don’t know if that makes sense to my dentist, cab drivers, neighbors, family of friends

Was there any influences, who or what?

I’m influenced by everything. Everyone is. The skill is to filter through those influences and to try and transform them into something more unique and let love be the glue that holds it all together.

Can you look back at various pieces of your work and it tells a story of your life at that time?

My work is personal, but it’s not a memoir or a documentary so it doesn’t tell the story of my life at the time. I do look at pieces made in the past though and they trigger personal memories

Do you view your art as how you see the world or how you wish world would be?

Both?

Are you a better artist when you’re inspired or when you’re in a world of despair?

100% inspired and mentally, physically and spiritually healthy or at least on the path of an upwards spiral. I can’t function when I’m in a deep pit of despair.

What are your favorite things to do when you’re not arting?

Up until recently, I spent mostly all of my non-work time being a boy crazy party animal, but now I’m looking forward to seeing what I’ll spend my time doing if I’m not on the yo-yo that’s always moving up and down, but not really going anywhere except back to where I’ve already been.

Camping, surfing and making a cozy home life sounds fun. Going to see movies with a blanket in PJ pants is fun too.

5 favorite things to eat

1. Churros, street tacos and horchata (preferably fresh, not from a mix) with a shot of espresso although I’m considering cutting out coffee.

2. Frozen bananas covered in dark chocolate. My freezer is always stocked with them and I would eat twice as many, but I’m confined to eating them only at home because they’re super phallic and eating them in public looks foul and perverted even to non-perverts.

3. Vietnamese food

4. Banana (not too ripe) or ice cream with a gloopy spoonful of crunchy almond butter, cinnamon and berries.

5. Popcorn with a either some or all of these toppings: nutritional yeast, cayenne pepper, fresh chopped parsley, shaved Parmesan cheese, strips of dried salted seaweed, Asian kewpie mayo.

6. French fries!!!

7. Kale salad

8. BCD Tofu House especially if I just got off a plane or if I feel like eating alone in the middle of the night.

9. Truffle mac and cheese with hot sauce.

10. I like to eat everything except odd organ meats like heart, liver and brain.

tbc…