@carrotwithak - Artist Interviews Ep. 1

Written By Patrick Casella

I recently reached out to a Washington-based 3D artist whose work I’ve been watching closely over the last year. Drake Cappi, better known as @carrotwithak, has sent shockwaves through the online art community for his dreamy and aesthetic pieces that focus on nature and architecture.

Drake humbly agreed to answer a set of interview questions that provide some insight into his artistic work and creative journey thus far.

*All images used in this article are courtesy of Drake’s portfolio

How would you describe your art to others, what kind of art do you make?

“My art usually focuses on flower-filled environments that blend nature with contrasting architecture. The inclusion of nature often makes the scenes feel surreal and dreamlike, while the architecture or location grounds my pieces in reality” (Cappi).

@carrotwithak

What led you to pursue a career in art? Were you always creative?

“I had to move states and lost my job and was enjoying making art so much more than my day job, so I figured I would try to dedicate myself to art full-time. My mother is an artist and I was a very creative child, constantly drawing or making crafts whenever I could. I think school got in the way, and I didn't have a creative outlet for years. When I picked up film photography and eventually 3D I could instantly tell how much I missed creating art” (Cappi).

@carrotwithak

How do you find inspiration for your next piece?

“I am constantly inspired by other artists, nature, and places that people don't normally think of as beautiful. A subway car or a school hallway is usually just used to take someone from one place to the next, but I enjoy transforming the idea of those places into something worth stopping for” (Cappi).

@carrotwithak

Who are some of your favorite artists and why?

“I originally wanted to learn 3d because a few artists I followed on Instagram were making art that blew me away. Hayden Clay Williams, Lucas Rackliffe, and Jared Pike were the main three that introduced me to 3D art and inspired me to make similar works. Of the greats, Monet is the artist I have spent the most time studying. I greatly resonate with Impressionism and plein air pieces. It would be lovely to work outside with my computer rather than inside at my desk” (Cappi).

@carrotwithak

What do you feel sets your work apart from other 3D artists in the industry?

“This is hard to answer. I feel like everywhere I look I find other 3d artists covering places with flowers, and I am not the first and won't be the last. I think my work might be unique because most people who make work similar to this really just want as beautiful or serene of a piece as possible. Meanwhile, I started out mixing flowers into liminal spaces which often give a creepy or unsettling feeling. I play into that feeling when I make a POV (point of view) animation walking through these spaces, I try to make audio that makes the space extra uncomfortable and those tend to be some of my most popular works. Viewing a beautiful still of the environment and transitioning to an uncomfortable walkthrough can involve people in my art who enjoy them for both the beauty and/or the disturbing aspects” (Cappi).

@carrotwithak

Which project are you most proud of? Why?

“Nobody has seen the project I am most proud of yet, I was commissioned to make a piece for an art exhibition that focuses on bringing awareness to mental health. It has the most meaning of anything I have created so far. Furthermore, it is the largest resolution I have worked with so all of the fine details can be seen compared to most of my work that is usually viewed on phone screens. I can't wait to show everyone once the exhibition is announced” (Cappi).

@carrotwithak

How long does it usually take you to go from an idea to a finished work of art?

“It really depends on the concept, sometimes if the vision is clear and not too complicated I can finish a still in a day or two of work. However, there have been times when the concept was clear but I had to continually search or make up a way to execute the idea, and that can sometimes take weeks” (Cappi).

@carrotwithak

How do you feel about social media’s impact on art? Do you find yourself creating things that you think others will like rather than what you like?

“Social media is obviously a double-edged sword. Without social media I would have no idea how to share my art with the world and been completely lost. My art has been seen by millions of people all over the world due to easy access to social media, and I am incredibly grateful for that. The constant churn and battle with algorithms that force you to continually create art at a pace that not everyone can do or be comfortable with is one of the biggest negatives, at least in the art space, in my opinion. So many good artists don't spend the time to hone their craft because they are worried about making sure they have something ready to post next week. I try to find the best middle ground I can, where I don't work myself to death but can comfortably create new pieces at a decent rate. It's hard” (Cappi).

@carrotwithak

Why is the crypto/nft space important for artists? How has selling your art on the blockchain affected your life?

“I think that when I joined, it felt like the easiest way for an artist to gain control over their livelihoods and finally get some decent compensation for their work. It gave me the hope to go full-time art without having to give up my vision and just become a tool for others. With the recent discussions on platforms taking away artist royalties, and the huge bear market slump, I don't really want to depend on the space currently. I hope the space can turn around again, and there is some hope seeing how popular Reddit’s digital collectibles are, the integration of wallets on Instagram and Twitter, and the investigations on the many scams and rug pulls” (Cappi).

@carrotwithak

Do you have any advice for new artists trying to do what you do?

“Good art triumphs over everything in my opinion. Too many people make the mistake of being too worried about growing on socials instead of growing their skills. If you are an amazing artist with lots of skill, it is much easier to grow a following because people will connect more when they see your art. If you are still learning it is fine to post your art and watch your progress, but you should focus mainly on becoming a better artist. Instead of staying at the same skill level so you can churn out posts for Instagram, it is far better to practice and hone your craft without worrying about posting” (Cappi).

@carrotwithak

Patrick Casella
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