Interviewer: Anthony Andujar Jr
Interviewee: Anthony Segarra
Hello and welcome to the Artist Ant Interviews People Summer Series! My latest guest is a man that I've befriended on the social media landscape known as Instagram. As with mst of the fellow creatives that I've encountered, this individual has a genuine love for Daredevil, and is a New York native through and through. This artist has a lot of love for The Bronx, he is an aspiring Tattoo artist, and a local artist that does more than what most in his community know. I'd like to introduce an introduce a fellow Ant, Anthony Segarra!
Q0. Who are your inspirations?
AS: In my personal life, it has to be my Dad, (R.I.P.) He fought in World War II, (yup Puerto Ricans fought in WWII look it up), came to New York by himself, got married (a few times) and raised 4 kids altogether. Never took a day off type. He was a display maker for the liquor, cosmetics, and fragrance industries at a factory downtown. He worked with his hands and could make anything really. Oddly enough, without it being a goal where I followed in his footsteps, I found myself working in a similar capacity in my early to mid thirties as an airbrush technician and a color mixer for the cosmetic and fragrance industries.
For my artistic Inspirations I automatically think of John Romita Jr. and his Daredevil run in the late 80's. I think of the issue where he ends up fighting Ultron of all villains and beats him with a tree branch, lol. But also Todd McFarlane's Spider-Man, Jim Lee's X-Men, were all just beautifully drawn. A lot of the Marvel books at that time were awe inspiring. Tim Burton's Batman movie was huge for me too. If I go further back when I was even younger, Warner Brothers cartoons, and Tom and Jerry Cartoons really got me drawing. So Tex Avery, Chuck Jones and those guys were big inspirations too. Not only did I love the character/cartoon design and animation on those, but the backgrounds were painted beautifully as well. I need to revisit those.
In my adulthood my inspirations are tattoo artists. All of them really. I think about how difficult a job it is and how the art form has evolved into the most important one of all. In my opinion there is no canvas, paper, digital image, object or anything that would be more important than any one human being's skin. If I have to pick a few artists, I think of Tommy Montoya, Tim Hendricks, Juan Salgado, Luke Wessman, Stefano Alcantara, Chris Garver, my first apprenticeship mentor Maggie Pabon, and the artists at Modified Tattoos, Steph Modified and Justen Borrero.
Q1. How did you get into art, most notably writing?
AS: In terms of writing, (not that I've written all that much) Pulp Fiction and the way that movie told the story, chopping up and playing with time and also digging deeper than usual into the life of "bad guys" and how they're really not bad guys per say, just making their decisions and trying to get by in life like everyone else. At the time this wasn't the usual. Kind of ground breaking. I just remember thinking to myself that I could write stories like that about my experiences growing up/ living in the Bronx and all the characters that I met in my life that would be dope to see in a movie.
I just always remember drawing. I can't remember a time in my life where drawing wasn't a thing. Comic books inspired me and cartoons did as well like I mentioned before. I would always just be trying to draw them. In high school and in college, the margins of my notebooks would be filled with doodles. Sometimes illustrating the subject matter of the notes or my reaction to them. One time in high school I had this teacher who picked on me in class because he thought I wasn't paying attention and just doodling. (I could doodle and pay attention at the same time, just like all of us). He was a heavy set dude, so I drew him like a pig in my notebook. (I was young and dumb), but it was a good drawing, It looked exactly like him. Little did I know that he collected notebooks periodically to check to see that you were paying attention. When he gave it back, he said "You have some interesting drawings in there Anthony".
Q2. When did you take art seriously?
AS: I was going to college in upstate NY studying psychology when my Father passed away. It was in October of that semester, so when I got back to school to finish out the term, I found myself drawing more than anything else, even more so than my school work. It was therapeutic in a way. At that time I decided that this is what I should be trying to do for a living. I dropped out of school and started working on a portfolio to get into an art school. I got into SVA a year later.
Q3. What drives you in your daily life?
AS: Survival. I work for myself right now, and the majority of my income is from selling entertainment/film insurance. (If a filming location, rental company, or permit office, etc. requires you to purchase insurance, I'm your guy. Check segarraproductioninsuranceservices.com for more info. Excuse the shameless plug.)
Really it's the pursuit of making a living solely on my creativity and/or hand skills. I really want tattooing to be the way I make a living for the rest of my life. It's such a challenge, but I enjoy the challenge of new things in life. I like having uncertainty in front of me, and then doing everything I can to overcome it. I've already drawn and painted to the best of my ability, so now let's see how good I can get at tattooing. It will be difficult, and will likely take several years, but I think I can eventually be really good at it.
I've also recently started custom painting boards for a backgammon company. I really like it, it's up my alley, and It requires me to use hand skills. So I gratefully accept what the universe sends my way. We'll see where that goes.
Q4. What made you the person that you are today?
AS: Missed opportunities, lots of poor decisions, a few good decisions, and blessings here and there. Also see the answer to question 1 and 2.
Q5. If you could speak to any living creator or inspiration, who
would it be, why, and what would talk to them about?
AS: Tough question to answer. I would've said Stan Lee (R.I.P.) up until recently. I would've asked about the actual specific situations and occurrences that sparked his creations.
I guess to answer the question fairly, I would say Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. I know that's a sharp turn here but what she has accomplished at her age and what she works for is truly inspiring.
Q6. If there were any deceased creators , actors, singers, writers, etc that you would want to speak to, who would it be, and why?
AS: Bob Marley. He was half black, half white, and when interviewed he spoke about not fitting in when he was growing up. Not just being teased, but persecuted. Not being accepted on either side. Being rejected by his own family even. He used that feeling of non acceptance and turned it into motivation. He united people through music and reached a massive global audience. Sometimes I think the earth might have been created just for him to achieve what he did.
Also have to throw in Stan Lee like I mentioned before, Bruce Lee, Muhammad Ali, Stanley Kubrick, Notorious B.I.G, Bradley Nowell, & many more.
Q7. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?
AS: LA/California. Disney World has that Star Wars theme park now, which looks amazing. I would go there right now if I could.
Q8. What is one thing that you fear?
AS: God forbid something terrible happening to any of my family or friends.
Q 10. If you had a superpower what would it be and why?
AS: Superman's powers I guess is the default answer there because you could do and prevent so much. Especially flying. You ever have flying dreams that seem so real??? Powerful stuff. I used to get those all the time.
But I guess invisibility would be my final answer. I'd be on some Robin Hood shit. So people in the hood wouldn't have to be robbing shit. I guess it would make me a villain in the comic book world or an anti-hero at beset.
Q11. What catches your attention when you meet people?
AS: I notice when people make me laugh, or when they talk about ideas in general, rather than just the weather or everyday bs.
Q12. What is one word of advice that you would impart to your younger self?
AS: #STUDENTLOANSAREEVIL. Does that count as one word?
Q13. What are three books that you always remember or return to, and why? How did they shape you?
AS: The Tipping Point. You have to put in the hours if you want to make something happen.
Story by Robert Mckee. If you want to learn storytelling get this book.
Daredevil, The Man Without Fear. Frank Miller writing and John Romita Jr.'s artwork. I know a graphic novel/comic book might be a cop out answer, but this is just perfection.
Q14. If you could continue or remake a movie, or franchise, what would be your film of choice ?
AS: I would make my version of Daredevil. I would change it up drastically though. I would make everything set in the BX and change character names and ethnicities to match present day life in the Boogie Down.
Q15. If you were to make a film, novel, or comic book based on an album, what album or artist would you pick?
AS: A Wu-Tang album for sure. Wu-Tang Clan's 36 Chambers, Raekwon's Only Built For Cuban Linx, or Gza's Liquid Swords. Maybe it would be a trilogy.
Q16. Who In this life, has motivated you to stay true to what makes you who are?
AS: My Mom & Dad. So that all their hard work didn't go to waste.
Q17. Where do you hope to see yourself in five years?
AS: I hope to be tattooing full time at a reputable shop. Hopefully having time to do my personal side projects and such.
Q18. What are three albums or songs currently, that you listen to on repeat? And why?
AS: Khruangbin, Con Todo El Mundo. It has so many global influences but mainly the funky base, break beat drum style, and insane guitar picking mesh into this powerful sound that overwhelms my senses and makes me feel really good. There aren't many lyrics, so it's really just the feeling it gives you that's indescribable for me. “August 10” is my favorite song on that album.
Bob Marley's “High tide or low tide”. Such a sweet song, I can listen to that all day. It makes me think of special people in my life.
Jack White, “High Ball Stepper”. That's my spirit animal song right there.
Q19. What color speaks to you the most and why?
AS: Red because it's the flashiest and most vibrant of all colors. Color of love and color of blood, good and evil. All encompassing. It's why that officer pulled you over too.
Q20: What is your greatest weakness?
AS: Procrastination.
Q21. What is your greatest strength?
AS: The ability to pick myself up and dust myself off after getting knocked down. Like anything else you get better at it over time.
Q22.What's one thing that you're proud of?
AS: Starting my own business/service.
Q21. What is a mantra that you tell yourself?
AS: It could be worse.
Q22. What is success to you?
AS: Big or small, making a positive difference that you were here on earth.
You can follow his work on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/segarra.art.and.design/
Also you can check out his website which can be found here: http://www.anthonysegarra.com/
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