JOSH DICKINSON - WHEN WORK BECOMES PLAY
WHEN WORK BECOMES PLAY
Describe your work in three words.
Playful, colorful, crafted.
What does your art focus on?
I focus on having fun with my art. If I’m not having fun making it, I don’t think it will convey the energy I want to my viewers.
What triggers your imagination?
Small things like a shape, a color, or just the way two objects look next to each other. My mind takes these little things and tends to jump to random image ideas to make with a camera.
Who’s had the most influence on your artistic growth?
I think all the photographers that I assisted when I was coming up in the photo world here in NYC had a big impact on who I am as an artist. Seeing how they interacted with their clients and approached different projects visually and technically showed, me many different ways to create and present ones self. All that information/experience helped me shape who I wanted to be as a photographer/artist.
Besides your computer/phone, what is the one thing you cannot work without?
Shoes. For some reason having shoes on puts me in the mindset that “It’s time to work” and helps me focus on creating rather than being distracted by other things.
Has Instagram influenced your work?
It has. I feel like Instagram is a great tool to keep a pulse on what’s going on in the industry and new trends. It’s also great place to see what your peers are working on and get inspired by their amazing work. I don’t have time to go to a gallery or museum everyday, but I can take a few minutes to look at work people from around the world are making on my phone.
Name three Instagram accounts you follow religiously.
Besides all of the dog accounts?
@ifyouhigh posts so many visually satisfying videos
@adigoodrich I love seeing all of the environments and images she dreams up (I'm also a sucker for a BTS photo)
@WeAreSundayAfternoon because my friends constantly inspire me to keep pushing my own work.
Tell us about your biggest failure.
Sometime around 2013 I was dealing with some health issues that made it almost impossible for me to work. I was still assisting and ended up losing all of my regular clients. When I sorted everything out health-wise I had to really hustle and put in countless hours of work to get my name out there again. I feel like this drive hasn’t left me since then and now here I am a few years later living out my dream career.
Your five all-time favorite movies?
The Royal Tenenbaums, Survive Style 5+, The Holy Mountain, The Princess Bride, The Breakfast Club.
For a plethora of different reasons. Most stem off either visually bringing a world to life or conveying a story thats fun to follow.
Your all-time five favorite music tracks?
Don’t know if they are my top 5, but they are definitely up there:
“Deal With You And Me” - La Guillotine
“Plane vs. Tank vs. Submarine” -Tigers Jaw
“Cute Without The ‘E’ (Cut From The Team)” -Taking Back Sunday
“Daybreak” -Saves The Day
“At Your Funeral” -Saves The Day
Who is your dream collaboration?
I would love to work with Sagmeister & Walsh. Our aesthetics and sense of playfulness seem to align really well and I can’t even comprehend how amazing a project that we all put our heads together
on could be.
What keeps you going?
Knowing if I stop I won't be happy.