Full Name:
William Robert Killen IV
William Robert Killen IV
Do you have a
nickname?
Bill
Bill
Birthplace:
Providence, RI
Providence, RI
Current hometown:
Burrillville RI
Burrillville RI
Favorite city:
NYC
NYC
Birthday/Age:
12-9-70
12-9-70
How would you
describe yourself physically?
Awesome.
Awesome.
How would someone
else describe you physically?
Not so awesome.
Not so awesome.
Hair Color/Eye
Color/Race?
brown - blue – white
brown - blue – white
Sexual
orientation?
Straight.
Straight.
Religion, if any?
Agnostic.
Agnostic.
Are you
superstitious at all?
Not really.
Any bad habits?
DRINKIN!
Not really.
Any bad habits?
DRINKIN!
Current
occupation/Dream job:
Owner Killen Studios INC Acrylic Systems Manufacturing / same.
Owner Killen Studios INC Acrylic Systems Manufacturing / same.
What do you like
to do when you’re not at work?
Paint.
Paint.
What is your
zombie outbreak survival plan?
Dodge and weave.
Dodge and weave.
Weapon of choice:
Shotgun.
Shotgun.
Do you have any
special skills?
I can paint zombies.
I can paint zombies.
Did you go to
college and, if so, what for?
RISD – painting.
RISD – painting.
What is your
favorite animal?
Hawks.
Hawks.
Speaking of pets,
any pet peeves?
Those Stars people put on their houses.
Why that in particular? It’s so specific.
I don’t know I just think it shows a little laziness. Someone wants decorate their home to stand out and they do it in the most conformist way possible. I know that’s too harsh and I really wouldn’t hold it against someone… it’s just a pet peeve not a way of life.
Those Stars people put on their houses.
Why that in particular? It’s so specific.
I don’t know I just think it shows a little laziness. Someone wants decorate their home to stand out and they do it in the most conformist way possible. I know that’s too harsh and I really wouldn’t hold it against someone… it’s just a pet peeve not a way of life.
Favorite/Least
favorite Food:
Not a big eater...
Not a big eater...
What is your
favorite quotation/motto/saying?
"Nuts!" - General Clement
What is the best
thing that ever happened to you?
I got married.
I got married.
What is the worst
thing that ever happened to you?
I got married.
I got married.
What is the best
thing you’ve ever done?
Became a dad.
What is the worst
thing you’ve ever done?
That could a long list - not sure I want to go there!
If you could kill
one person, consequence free, who would it be?
Probably shouldn’t say - I may get in trouble with a certain government agency...
Probably shouldn’t say - I may get in trouble with a certain government agency...
How did you get
started doing what you do?
I have always been an artist – it’s just something I have
always done and always will do.
What is your
advice to other people that want to get started doing what you do?
You have to be 100% dedicated to it. If not then it’s
just a hobby which is fine if that’s what you want. But to actually be
considered an artist is a life long goal and obsession that one may never
really accomplish so you better dive in 100%
What projects are
you working on?
I always have at least 4-5 paintings going on at once
plus developing new lines of artist products for RISD - We are finalizing a new
line of High Chroma ink that I'm excited about.
Tell me more about that. What is “High Chroma” and why are you excited about it?
High Chroma means the color is extremely saturated with a maximum pigment load so they are very bright and dense colors. It’s artist quality (as opposed to the lower student quality) which means I can charge more for it! Thus the excitement. But I am seriously proud of the formula behaves and think it’s better than the other acrylic inks on the market.
Tell me more about that. What is “High Chroma” and why are you excited about it?
High Chroma means the color is extremely saturated with a maximum pigment load so they are very bright and dense colors. It’s artist quality (as opposed to the lower student quality) which means I can charge more for it! Thus the excitement. But I am seriously proud of the formula behaves and think it’s better than the other acrylic inks on the market.
What are you watching?
Wilfred.
What are you
listening to?
Talk radio.
What are you
reading?
"Lost Soul a confederate soldier in New
England" by a Rhode Island author Les Rolston.
Favorite
author/book?
"One Second After" by William Forstchen - I
also love the Harry Potter series – that’s tough to admit.
There’s no shame in that. I’ve read all of the books and watched all of the movies.
I read the series 3 times… maybe that’s why I was like “dude move on…” in my head.
There’s no shame in that. I’ve read all of the books and watched all of the movies.
I read the series 3 times… maybe that’s why I was like “dude move on…” in my head.
Favorite band/song?
The Clash
Least favorite
band/song?
Boston
If you could do
anything other than what you do now, what would you do?
I would have made a career in the military.
Who would you want
to meet that you haven’t met?
Leonardo Da Vinci
What’s the best
and worst job you’ve ever had?
I worked as a Creative Director for Revlon in NYC. They didn’t pay me for 13 weeks and I was finally fired after 6 months when my boss found out I wasn't gay. "You can't be a good designer if you’re not gay." - Then they used all my designs for the next year.
Wow. What a dick move. I have no issue with the pink mafia but that’s a bit fucked.
I Know! I me neither my best friend and godfather of my daughter is gay, but he’s a shitty designer…
I worked as a Creative Director for Revlon in NYC. They didn’t pay me for 13 weeks and I was finally fired after 6 months when my boss found out I wasn't gay. "You can't be a good designer if you’re not gay." - Then they used all my designs for the next year.
Wow. What a dick move. I have no issue with the pink mafia but that’s a bit fucked.
I Know! I me neither my best friend and godfather of my daughter is gay, but he’s a shitty designer…
Anyone you
recommend I interview that you can put me in touch with?
Les Rolston might be an interesting local guy to talk to.
I don’t know how to get in touch with him though. Probably isn’t too hard to
find.
Cool! Thanks! I sent him a Friend Request on the Facebook.
Actually, in an interesting coincidence he got his interview responses back to me just before you did so his interview is the one before yours.
Cool! Thanks! I sent him a Friend Request on the Facebook.
Actually, in an interesting coincidence he got his interview responses back to me just before you did so his interview is the one before yours.
Got any questions
for me?
How did you come across my work?
Glad you asked! I’m working on a post-apocalyptic zombie epidemic novel length book project and I searched Facebook for the keyword “zombie” and added/joined everyone and every page that seemed interesting and worth the effort. It’s a weird coincidence that we live in the same state. I grew up in Woonsocket and live in Cranston but I tell people I live in Providence because who wants to admit that they live in Cranston? Speaking of zombies, how do I go about commissioning some art to illustrate the book I’m working on? As a fellow artist, I know how much time and effort it takes to make a piece of art, so I know better than to ask you to do it for free for some dubious chance at “exposure” but if I can get you on board to agree to do a painting for the project when it’s ready for illustration I can compensate you for your time and effort and it very well may be a decent opportunity for a bit of cross-promotion. You interested?
Definitely, I actually just sent out copies of my book to publishers. “Prey” it’s mostly an art book but I threw a brief narrative of an artist surviving the zombie apocalypse and passing the time painting zombie portraits. My rates are pretty reasonable I try and keep costs as low as possible. You can check out pricing on my etsy page www.thezombiehorde.etsy.com and you can always email me with ideas and we can work something out. Thanks! That sounds awesome! Thanks! And thanks for subjecting yourself to being interviewed!
How did you come across my work?
Glad you asked! I’m working on a post-apocalyptic zombie epidemic novel length book project and I searched Facebook for the keyword “zombie” and added/joined everyone and every page that seemed interesting and worth the effort. It’s a weird coincidence that we live in the same state. I grew up in Woonsocket and live in Cranston but I tell people I live in Providence because who wants to admit that they live in Cranston? Speaking of zombies, how do I go about commissioning some art to illustrate the book I’m working on? As a fellow artist, I know how much time and effort it takes to make a piece of art, so I know better than to ask you to do it for free for some dubious chance at “exposure” but if I can get you on board to agree to do a painting for the project when it’s ready for illustration I can compensate you for your time and effort and it very well may be a decent opportunity for a bit of cross-promotion. You interested?
Definitely, I actually just sent out copies of my book to publishers. “Prey” it’s mostly an art book but I threw a brief narrative of an artist surviving the zombie apocalypse and passing the time painting zombie portraits. My rates are pretty reasonable I try and keep costs as low as possible. You can check out pricing on my etsy page www.thezombiehorde.etsy.com and you can always email me with ideas and we can work something out. Thanks! That sounds awesome! Thanks! And thanks for subjecting yourself to being interviewed!
Pitch parade:
Give me all of
your links for things you want to promote.
All of them.
About the
Interviewee:
Bill Killen’s Horde Series is a project
started in 2011 at the request of a friend who runs a horror genre news
website. The series branched off to
custom portraits, skateboards, motorcycles and zombie pin-ups. He currently is
working on a book of the artwork called “PREY - Victims of the Zombie
Apocalypse”. Custom work is available at thezombiehorde.etsy.com and can be
found on Facebook under “The Zombie Horde by Bill Killen”. The acrylic
paintings are all done with Killen Studio acrylic paints. Killen Studio Acrylic
System TM , which is being private labeled by RISD as “RISD Acrylic Color” and
the Museum of Modart Art as MoMA Studio TM
Killen’s non-zombie paintings and silver
point drawings are of a representational narrative genre. His oil paintings are executed in the
“Flemish Painting Style” - realism created by many thin transparent
layers of paint on wood or canvas. The method is a lengthy one, and is best
suited to miniatures, realism, and painting that requires a very high degree of
detail and surface finish. The silver
point drawings are created with a piece of Sterling Silver (or 18k gold) rather
than the more common graphite pencil. The silver metal tarnishes over time
giving the drawings a delicate, antiquated look.
He portrays a specific place and time with
simultaneous empathy and detachment. The
viewer is left to fill in the blanks of each pieces storyline of improbable and
sarcastic juxtapositions. The Female form puts new life in old narratives,
powerfully & unapologetically taking control.
He recently came out with his own line of
acrylic paint - Killen Studio Acrylic SystemTM , which is being private labeled
by RISD as “RISD Acrylic Color”. He earned his BFA from Rhode Island School of
Design and continued Studying Drawing and Painting at The Art Students League
of New York under Ephraim Rubenstein, Sherry Camhy, Harvey Dinnerstein and
Nelson Shanks.
Experience.
* Creative Director – present
* Private Instructor. 2003 – present.
* Various Freelance Commissions, private and
public, 1993-2008.
Education.
* Art Students League of New York 1999 - 2003.
* BFA Rhode Island School of Design 1993.
Exhibitions:
* AS220
Solo Show 2013
* Risd Alumni Show “Radius”
2013
* Bottle Neck Gallery NYC solo show 2012
* Bottle Neck Gallery NYC group show 2012
* AS220
Show 2010
* AS220 Group Show 2009
* Risd Alumni Show 2009
* Risd Alumni Show 2008
* Salon 2002: New York Academy of Art, NY,
2002.
* Limner
Gallery Annual Juried Group Exhibition, NY, 2001.
* Credit Suisse Exhibition, NY, 2000.
* Reworked, Climate Eight Gallery, NY,
2000. (Solo Exhibition)
* Art Students League Showcase, NY, 1999, 2000,
2001, 2002 & 2003.
* Degree Exhibition, Rhode Island School of
Design, 1993
* Rhode Island School of Design Student
Exhibition, 1992
About the
Interviewer:
Scott Lefebvre has probably read everything you've read and can write about whatever you want him to write about.
Scott Lefebvre has probably read everything you've read and can write about whatever you want him to write about.
Mostly because when he was grounded for his outlandish
behavior as a hyperactive school child, the only place he was allowed to go was
the public library.
His literary tastes were forged by the works of Helen
Hoke, Alvin Schwartz and Stephen Gammell, Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson,
Stephen King, Clive Barker, Edgar Allan Poe, and H. P. Lovecraft.
He is the author of Spooky Creepy Long Island and a
contributing author to Forrest J. Ackerman’s Anthology of the Living Dead,
Fracas: A Collection of Short Friction, The Call of Lovecraft, and Cashiers du
Cinemart.
His reviews have been published by a variety of in print
and online media including Scars Magazine, Icons of Fright, Fatally Yours and
Screams of Terror, and he has appeared in Fangoria, Rue Morgue and HorrorHound
Magazine.
He is the Assistant Program Director for The Arkham Film
Society and produces Electronic Music under the names Master Control and
LOVECRAFTWORK.
He is currently working on a novel-length expansion of a
short-story titled, "The End Of The World Is Nigh", a crowd-funded,
crowd-sourced, post-apocalyptic, zombie epidemic project.
You can check out the blog for the book here:
You can check out the Facebook Fan Page for the project
here:
You can check his author profile at:
You can follow him at GoodReads here:
You can check out his electronic music here:
soundcloud.com/master_control
And here: master-control.bandcamp.com/
You can check out his videos at: www.youtube.com/user/doctornapoleon
You can check out his IMDB profile here:
www.imdb.com/name/nm3678959/
You can follow his Twitter here: twitter.com/TheLefebvre or @TheLefebvre
You can follow his Tumblr here: thelefebvre.tumblr.com/
You can check out his Etsy here:
www.etsy.com/people/arkhamscreenings
You can join the group for The Arkham Film Society here:
You can stalk his Facebook at: www.facebook.com/TheLefebvre
You can e-mail him at: Scott_Lefebvre@hotmail.com
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