We were lucky to catch up with Raphael Umscheid recently and have shared our conversation below.

Raphael, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

As a multifaceted artist that paints, photos, and videos this world, I’ve worked on a few projects that come back to my mind over and over as the years go by. That distance from a project gives me the space to process and sort out why it was so important, where as, in the moment, I tend to think the latest project is the best.

In this case, I was invited to join the musical group, The Ray Talley Dancers (now reformed as the Notnaughts, from Portland, Oregon at an artist’s residency in Seaview, Washington. The musicians requested that I make a film that week concurrently with their creation of music, for a live show at the residency at the end of the week. The band had a broad concept of the power of the ocean and it’s effects on society. As a water fanatic, I couldn’t say no to this collaboration.

At the end of the week, we had bounced ideas back and forth and presented the film with the band’s music to a live audience. The feedback was instant and invaluable. As a visual artist, the reception of work is not always heard.

Many of the themes, I presented in my film persist in my works to this day; the urge to create and the conflict the human ego has with nature when pursuing these endeavors, My painted bodies interacting with nature were a natural extension of what I started here.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I make art works: paintings, large and small, music videos, art installations, music. I am a wild artist, meandering this way and that as I follow my passions. As I have taken this journey I have pushed a unique point of view. This view is somewhat surreal, slow and meditative. Something that is at odds with the majority of content pushed out today. I’m honored when individuals can see what I’m doing. Really see the depth.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist, for me, is to do work that is very personal and not mainstream and have a miracle happen where it is well received. It’s a beautiful surprise when that happens and this tells me to stick to my guns and not sell out, that I am not alone.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Slow down. Look around. Stop and see beauty. As artists, we have to try to catch society’s attention and make this happen. It’s difficult to compete with TikTok.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.raphaelumscheid.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/soyuz11
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/raphael-umscheid-119757172
• Twitter: @RaphaelUmscheid
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoksqcpZI0PujTRbNc7A7vg

Image Credits
All photos by myself