ARGADOL is a French Visual Artist, influenced by Pop Art and Street Art. His work is about to take a new look at the ICONs. In his world, Superheroes are fragile and blessed by love, brands don't ever want our happiness... He uses portraits to critic our world, our society.

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Hi Argadol, today you selected for MoW 10 of your artworks inspired by music. Can you tell MoW why you selected those specificly? Why those music artists ?

It was very easy to make a selection because all the artworks I create (in relationship with music) are influenced by the artists I love... and as you can see, it all deals with Rock, Folk and Pop music...

Artwork by Agradol

Are you a Music Addict ? (like represented in one of your artwork) How does music impact your life ? Why is music important to you and your art?

Artwork by Agradol

If I'm a music addict ? If someone listen to music 8/10 hours a day, is this person a Music Addict ? lol Oh YES ! And if you add the fact that the tatoo I have on my forearm is something I draw with the title of a Beatles' song : FREE AS A BIRD...

Music is essential to my art because what I draw or paint is influenced by the kind of music I listen to when I do it... and I usualy choose the playlist according to what I want to obtain, it could be energic, melancholic, sad...

If you had to choose one, which of your artwork would be your favorite ?

Wow... Just one ? ... so diffcult.. maybe JIMI HENDRIX because it's not only the portrait of the Guitar Hero, but the portrait of an era, one of the craziest period for Rock Music. Hippies, Vietnam War, Protest songs, Woodstock, black power... Sex,Drugs and Rock N Roll ! ;-)

But I could have chosen the portrait of Iggy Pop, because it's a special one I made just to give to him during a gig in Paris... to thank him back for what his music did give to me.

Can you tell MoW more about the techniques you used. How old is your technique? How did it start? How long does it take you to make an artwork ?

My art is mixed media, by that I mean I use collage of pictures and special papers to create the background, to obtain a relief effect. Then I use ink or acrylinc paintings to add colors. The main subject (often a portrait) is first drawn on the canvas and then, painted with acrylic. I finally add the details around the portraits, a black frame and black drips... I use a lot of different media, it could be POSCA, soft pastel, etc...

This technic is always evolving but it appeared 4 years ago by "accident" during the creation of a portrait of James Dean...

To make an artwork, I usually work on it for 25/30 hours (it depends on the size) but you have to add the research I make before for the colors, for the details...

Do you have plans on creating new artworks insipired by music ?

Yes ! Of course.. the next ones would probably be Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger (alone, not with Keith "The Human Riff" this time...) and David Bowie... legends !!!

Do you listen to music when your working ? If so what kind of music ?

Rock, Folk and Pop music... The kind of music I listen everyday, and specially when I work in my studio, where I'm alone and where I can put the volume up ! ;-)

What is the song you liked the most lately? Or album ? What was the last gig you went to ?

Arctic Monkeys "AM", Arcade Fire "Reflektor", Kings of Leon "Mechanical Bull" are the albums I recently add to my Ipod... (but sometimes I buy vinyls for the pleasure of the visual, such a beautiful object... and for the incomparable sound !)

The last gig ? I work too much, i don't have time anymore to go to gigs... I mean not as often I would like to... the last one was Iggy Pop in Paris, a private gig ! Just amazing, as always !

Watch "Supersoaker" by Kings of Leon on their album "Mechanical Bull"

Are you a musician yourself ? If so can you tell MoW more about your music projects ?

A musician ? No !!! I can't say that... an amateur musician, yes, just for fun... I have no time to play drums anymore, but still play guitar. I have several acoustic guitars and 2 electric guitars.. and i could not live without it !!!! <3