TonyWardStudio.com

Atomic Bombshell

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Tony Ward

……….I waited in anticipation for the Atomic arrival. I had worked with the bombshell before – but this time around I knew things were going to be a little bit different. We have been working on a pretty tight friendship over the last year or two – gaining more confidence in each other along the way and therefore more trust. Atomic enjoys comfort and this time around was planning to reveal more flesh. She didn’t disappoint and always has me calling back for more……

To be continued……….

Atomic Bombshell

Posted on March 6, 2011 by Atomic Bombshell

.

Recetnly, I took some time getting to know Comedian Steve Hofstetter, (also known as an author, columnist, and the original writer for collegehumor.com.) who is currently on tour promoting his new album called Pick Your Battles. Hofstetter has written humor columns for the New York Times, SportsIllustrated.com, and NHL.com and multiple books. Check his website for upcoming dates near you: www.SteveHofstetter.com.

Steve Hofstetter

Photo: Adam Teixeira – 2011

Atomic Bombshell: So, would you ever consider giving up sports to be a dating/sex advice columnist?

.

Steve: Well, it would be odd to have to choose between the two, but I have written dating advice columns mainly targeted at nerdy guys teaching them how to be men instead of piddling boys.

.
AB: If I was a nerd right now, what advice would you give to me to stop piddling, move out of my mom’s basement and give up my dungeons and dragon’s??

.

Steve: The first advice is to talk to girls like they’re actual people
Don’t worry about being agreeable or kissing her ass. Treat her like a person and she’ll be much more interested. I see guys struggle with that all the time.

.

AB: Did you date a lot before you settled down?

.

Steve: I made up for my awkwardness in high school, yes. I had my single idiot time on the road
I don’t like the term “settle down” because it wasn’t settling. This was reaching beyond my league.

.

AB: That’s a wonderful way of putting it!

.

AB: So let’s get back to your career for a minute, you do multiple things with comedy & writing. What would you like to do? What are some of your immediate goals?

.

Steve: I have a movie that is very close to being made. That would be wonderful
I’ve also gotten into the business side of things. I own pieces of a few clubs, and I’m expanding that.

.

AB: A movie! That’s exciting!! As a writer, that a major dream to have, come true!

.

AB: Congratulations on all your upcoming success! Good luck on your tour for PICK YOUR BATTLES which hit #1 on itunes comedy chart on February 15th!!

.

Steve: Thanks so much!

Atomic Bombshell

Posted on March 5, 2011 by Atomic Bombshell

.

Recently, I took some time getting to know Comedian Steve Hofstetter, (also known as an author, columnist, and the original writer for collegehumor.com.) who is currently on tour promoting his new album called Pick Your Battles. Hofstetter has written humor columns for the New York Times, SportsIllustrated.com, and NHL.com and multiple books. Check his website for upcoming dates near you: www.SteveHofstetter.com.

Steve Hofstetter

Photo: Adam Teixeira – 2011

Atomic Bombshell: I saw that you became well known during your college years. Did it help you gain popularity with the ladies, as well?

.

Steve: I don’t think any lady has ever said, “Wow, you run that sports website? We should totally do it!”

.
AB: Obviously, you didn’t have a lot of cheerleaders at that college?

.

Steve: At Columbia? No…

.

AB: Still those were great accomplishments and that adds to a man’s sex appeal.

.

Steve: Our athletes didn’t even get laid, let alone the guys who wrote about them.

.

AB: That’s really sad.

.

Steve: Actually, it’s kind of awesome that people didn’t care about that shit.

.

AB: What was your first dating/bad sex experience like?

.

Steve: When I lost my virginity, she was allergic to the spermicide.
So we had to get new condoms and try again the next morning

.

AB: Allergic? Like what happened?

.

Steve: Burning? Crying?

.

AB: I can’t believe she would try again after that I don’t think I would.

.

Steve: Well, we were allegedly in love. It wasn’t her first time, it was mine.
Lets be fair, she was also a 19-year-old girl who hadn’t had sex in several months.
Maybe she loved me; maybe she wanted to have sex?
Your guess is as good as mine.

.

AB: Crying, burning, that definitely sounds like love to me!
At least how I remember it-

.

Steve: Well it was only bad for her briefly – we started, 2 seconds later we stopped, and she was okay within an hour.

.

AB: Do you think she tells people this story?

.

Steve: No, she’s a Rabbi now. I doubt she tells anyone.

Atomic Bombshell

To be continued……

Atomic Bombshell

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Atomic Bombshell

.

Recently, I took some time getting to know Comedian Steve Hofstetter, (also known as an author, columnist, and the original writer for collegehumor.com.) who is currently on tour promoting his new album called Pick Your Battles. Hofstetter has written humor columns for the New York Times, SportsIllustrated.com, and NHL.com and multiple books. Check his website for upcoming dates near you: www.SteveHofstetter.com.

Steve Hofstetter

Atomic Bombshell: Where was the first time you did stand up?

.

Steve: The Underground Lounge, NYC.

.

Atomic Bombshell: I read during my research that you are a sports writer and a comedian. I know that a lot of people use comedy as a platform or foundation for other things (i.e.: acting directing.) What’s comedy for you?

.

Steve: Comedy is a platform to be a comedian. I guess it does help actors get noticed.
But it’s silly when people see someone doing standup and assume they can act, they’re two different arts. Related, but different.

.

AB: Which do you enjoy more, writing or stand-up?

.

Steve: I love them both, but if I had to choose, I’d say writing. I like being able to take my time to be clever.

.

AB: You seem pretty clever to me I attempted to do stand-up before. I couldn’t get a single word out, the room suddenly got hot and it was VERY quiet. What was it like for you the very first time you did stand-up?

.

Steve: The first time was easy because I prepared for months. It was the second and third time that I went down in flames. I have my first show on tape – I have yet to show it to the world, but if I ever get my own show on network, I promise I will upload it!

.

AB: I take it that you are a huge sports fan, You wrote a blog on the web called the ”Jerk of The Week,” can you explain to me a little of what that was about?

.

Steve: It was a blog my brother and I started (before blogs, actually), where we awarded “Jerk Points” to athletes and sports-related figures who behaved poorly
It was the first time anyone really covered crime in sports, and a lot of people have credited us with starting that movement – that’s something I’m proud of, especially since I was 18.

www.SteveHofstetter.com

To be continued…….

March 1, 2011: Cover Shoot

……….Interview with Steve Hofstetter to follow in subsequent posts.

Cathy Jean Photographed On 7-14-2010

Posted On September 11, 2010

.

TW: When did you first pick up a guitar and start to sing?

.

CJ: My first memory of singing is at 3 years old in the basement of the haunted house I grew up in. I’d sing for hours along to the record player. Very creepy basement—I was always afraid there and later found out that it was haunted by 3 people. I first picked up a guitar at 5 years old. It was a tiny 1960’s acoustic sunburst Silvertone, thus that’s also the first brand guitar I put in my son’s hands when he was 7. My son plays guitar great and is an engineer at a hoppin’ studio now. I’ve played piano my whole life too.

.

TW:  How did you arrive at the title of your latest CD release, IN THE REMAINS?

.
 
CJ: It pretty much so describes what I’m in. I got the one-two punch. My only child/son was born when I was sixteen years old, grew up and moved out the same time I found out that my spouse has been cheating on me for years. My spouse also physically assaulted me (he bruised my larynx), which is the reason for track 14 (Asylum), my actual 911 call. By the way, this stuff makes for a hell of a non-wanted weight loss and big time unwanted trouble.

Cathy With Her Gibson

TW:  What inspires you the most to sit down and write a new song?

.
 
CJ: I hear music all the time. A lot of it comes from being on the verge of sleep. It’s always been this way. That’s why I have to take sleeping pills every night to make it go away. Always have taken something to sleep—even as a child. I feel guilty for doing this, I’m very thankful for hearing it, but Lord, ya know… I always sleep with a pen and paper next to me. And a guitar.

.

TW:  Which comes first the melody or the lyric?

.
 
CJ: Both.

.

TW:  If you were asked to pick a favorite song what would it be and how has that song impacted your approach to making music?

.
 
CJ: I think any song that moves one person is the best song. As a songwriter, you get 3 to 5 minutes to put someone into a feeling. It certainly doesn’t take 3 to 5 minutes to write and record it, but in the long run, isn’t the feeling the goal?

In The Remains

To learn more about Cathy Jean’s music, log on to www.cathyjean.com.

Press Image

TW:
1. Your graphic style is imbued with a very sophisticated use of shape and color that reminds me of graphic imagery of my childhood during the 50′s and 60′s. Is there a correlation with your current work and imagery you’ve seen from past era’s in the graphic design pantheon?
.

CK: If my style reminds people of the 50′s and 60′s, it’s completely by chance. I’m self taught and self developed, mainly, and actually consciously stayed away from influence as a young artist. I believe this helped give me the unique perspective and reckless abandon that I have today. I am inspired of all of life and history, though, and take from it little pieces of what I find interesting or beautiful, to explore and integrate into my style or as content. All of the inspiration an artist needs is alive in this world, and an artist’s unique perspective should be the only direction they need (vs prompts by eras or other artists), to explore and develop their unique voice and craft.

Woman With Cigarette And Martini

TW:
2. Where would you say the greatest influence’s lie that created your amazing sense of color and the use of the simple line?

.

CK: As a child, and for fun, I would write essays over my observations of people, society, their constructs, and I would then continue to consolidate those essays into 1-3 sentence essential summaries or “truths.” I would be very happy as a professional interior space organizer. I was a junior particle/quantum physicist in my youth.
I’ve always been inspired by beauty of simplicity, and extremely enjoy the puzzle and process of taking the amazing chaos and wealth of information we find in life, to organize it in the most aesthetically attractive, simplified, but emotional way I can. This way of processing information is the force behind my line illustration and photography. My involvement in other styles of illustration, graphic design, 3D modeling, or video, (etc …) is my exploration of a never-ending well of inspiration. I assume that someday all of my interests will merge together into something interesting. I’m looking forward to what that language looks like.

Resting

TW:
3. How do you best apply your stylistic approach? Is it free work, or are your illustration’s usually destined for a particular customer in the consumer world?

.

CK: Though I do some illustration for clientele, it’s mostly free work in development, and eventually I intend to publish with magazines and events around the world. Currently my paid work covers furniture design, print, video editing and motion graphic compositing.

Edie

TW:
4. Did your parent’s influence the making of your art from childhood?

.

CK: No

.

TW:
5. Who in the arts is your hero?

.

CK: Hero is such a heavy word. My dictionary defines it as, ” [someone] who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” I can’t say that I idealize any artist, but there are artists who inspire me. Some that come to mind include Picasso, Warhol, Bresson, Kandinsky, Shag, the amazing cinematographers of the world, and the musicians that give life an accessible soundtrack inspiring our deepest emotions.

Vera, Winston Hotel-Amsterdam

Post by Corey Armpriester

Amsterdam and Philly and Computerland

CA-Amsterdam seems just right for you on many levels; think about the Tulip and two lips being the vaginal lips. Have you ever thought about doing an erotic shoot in a field of Tulips or is that redundant?
TW- It’s actually a wonderful idea, I would be very compelled by something like that, and now that you gave me the idea, you may see that picture in the near future.

CA-Do you have a favorite Philadelphia artist?
TW-Hands down George Krause, he was one of my early mentors in the ’70s and after meeting him I invited him to Rochester to lecture when I was studying at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and he stayed as a guest in my home for a weekend which was unbelievable for a 24-year-old photography student. Even these days when I look at his work, it remains top shelf.

CA-Are you enthusiastic about art or photography?
TW-I feel enthusiastic about digital media, the internet, specifically blogs. I think that is where artists should move their work forward, by creating their own community around the work.

CA-I’ve been to your blog and it feels like an explosion of yes.
TW-I appreciate that because for the first time in several years I feel like my creativity has been invigorated. Whenever you go through personal struggles like a divorce or illness or death in the family, it’s very draining on the creative process. I’ve catapulted all of my energies into a daily commitment to the blog. I encourage any artist young or old, if you don’t have a blog or a website or email address to get those things so you can become part of the digital world.

CA-Is there any way of escaping that?
TW-No, it’s like if you need glasses. It’s part of the process now.

CA- You see it as an empowering tool?
TW-Absolutely, you become your own publisher.

CA-Empowerment through electronic media?
TW-One hundred percent. I’ll take it a step further; I think galleries as a vehicle to show work these days is passé.

CA-Really!
TW-Yes, the frontier for showing uninhibited work is on the internet.

CA-How do you balance reaching for the stars and accepting reality as it exist?
TW-There is no balance. The artist must have an unwavering commitment to what they believe in and must maintain this unique position.

CA-Do you mentor artists?
TW- I’m constantly mentoring artists.

CA-What is it about human sexuality that makes you seek it out and explore it? What happened in your childhood?
TW-It’s what happened when I studied art history. I saw a lot of great things–I saw great painting and great ancient art, great sculpture, and then I started to see a lot of photography and when I looked at all of that work I said, you know what’s lacking in this great canon of art that I studied? Where’s the human sexuality? That was lacking in my view of art history.

CA-Do you think it was cleverly disguised?
TW-It was disguised in allegorical paintings but hard core sexuality, which is part of human existence, was never seriously addressed.

CA-Does the name Pindar mean anything to you?
TW-No, I don’t know Pindar. What is it?

Tony And Tony

CA- You have a photograph on your website that is a portrait of you and Tony Ward (model/actor/artist) you’re both wearing sexy short shorts and slogan t-shirts that say “I am Tony Ward” (I am=God, esoteric symbol) and Tony Ward (model) is feeding you something that looks like a cigar and you’re blowing smoke out of your nose while the other Tony Ward is touching his penis. This trinity of symbols made me think of Pindar, the golden penis of the dragon/lizard that lives in the South of France. Are you familiar with this myth and legend?

TW-It’s interesting you bring up mythology and the esoteric; I have heard these kinds of connections to my work before. People may not know but I meditate twice a day. Who knows, maybe just a subliminal thing. On a practical side, the way that t-shirt came about was Helmut Newton’s former stylist Sascha Lilic saw my book Orgasm in a book store in Europe. He was creative director of Spoon magazine at the time and sent a message to his editor in New York to contact me about us working together. I thought he was looking for Tony Ward the model. So I contacted Sascha and suggested we do a shoot with Tony Ward. Tony Ward shoots Tony Ward (the model) and Sascha loved it. We met in LA to produce the shoot where Tony resides and that’s really how that photograph came about.

CA-You seem to be more and more involved in the world of celebrity. Is there anything about that world that frightens you?
TW-The more famous you are the less autonomy you have.

Actress Thandie Newton

Collection, Fotomuseum Winterthur, Zurich

Post by Corey Armpriester

CA-Can an artist be successful without an agent or gallery representation?
TW-That’s a problem with the art scene over the past 10 to 20 years. The galleries and the collectors became the power brokers in the art world instead of the artists and the artist almost became secondary to the art. You don’t need a big name gallery a big name museum or a big name collector verifying your importance; that is something you have to establish yourself and that is what will draw your audience, not the other way around.

CA-Why do you live in Philadelphia?
TW-This is where I was born and raised and I have family here and I’m a very family oriented person, Philly is home.

Family, assistants

CA-Do you think having a family hinders the artist in any way as far as resources and time that can be given to the work?
TW-No question, that was one of the hard things about my marriage and raising a family. It’s always an underlying drive, the work comes first. Any artist of merit will say the Art comes first.

CA-How does your family deal with that and what is the consequence?
TW-The consequence in my case is divorce. Unfortunately my 23 years of marriage to my wife Sandy has started to unravel through divorce proceedings. It’s an unfortunate circumstance.

CA-Do you ever allow the assistant to take the photograph?
TW-No, my assistants generally take care of my post production needs and they also help me on the actual shoot, but I never give them the responsibility of taking the shot and then me putting my name to it; that would never happen.

CA-Is there something unethical about that?
TW-No, Andy Warhol had the factory; it’s really up to the individual artist to decide.

CA-Do you practice sex magic?
TW-I’m not gonna get into my personal sex life.

CA-What? Tony Ward is afraid to talk about sex!?
TW-I’m not afraid to talk about sex. I think there’s a thing called love and I think there’s a thing called sex and the two are not necessarily the same; does that answer your question?
CA-Yes.

CA-Is the Muse necessary?
TW-The Muse is like having coffee in the morning.

CA-Is feminism contributing to the destruction of the family?
TW-No, I don’t think feminism is the thing that destroys families, there’s a lack of a long term commitment.

Maya And Paige, 1997

CA-People will be surprised that Tony Ward is coming to the defense of feminism; that’s very bizarre.
TW-I’m not committed to the idea of feminism. Who am I to say a feminist viewpoint is right or wrong. What I prefer to do is through my work ask more questions about a variety of cultural issues.

CA-Is photography stupid?
TW-Photography is simple, not stupid; even with all the cameras out there people still take very mundane pictures that don’t need to proliferate the planet. In the proper hands, it’s really a rewarding medium.

CA-Could you talk about light?
TW-There’s no such thing as good light or bad light

CA-Artificial and natural light are equal?
TW-There’s no mandate from the art gods indicating what type of light one should work with.

CA-Amsterdam is
TW-My second home.

CA-Do you have a favorite coffee shop and do you eat Space Cakes?
TW-No, no Space Cakes for me. I know too many Dutch friends that have carted Americans off to hospitals because of those space cakes.

CA-One Space Cake is not going to send you to the hospital.
TW-I know that Mick Jagger has been taken back to the hotel on occasion.

Part 3 of the interview will be posted tomorrow…..