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Elijah Anderson

By Andy Enness

Website

Elijah Anderson

Tell us about yourself, where you’re located and your occupation. Where does the moniker Space Hose come from?

My name is Elijah Anderson and I’m currently living in Brooklyn, NY. Right now, I’m mainly doing freelance illustration and graphic work, but I’ll do art handling gigs or other random side jobs whenever it makes sense.

Spacehose came from an MF Doom song I was obsessed with a long time ago titled "Space Ho's". Really don't know why it stuck. Lol.

We learned that you’re a self-taught artist and drawing was something that you did on the side. At what point did you decide you could transition into a career as an artist? (Hobby to making a living).

I didn’t really start taking it seriously until about two years ago, when I saw a bit more consistent work coming in, but I’ve taken random jobs here and there (murals, drawings for friends, etc.) pretty much since high school. I’m still not positive if this is exactly what I want to be doing for work long term, but I am definitely enjoying it right now, and am very grateful to be able to do it.

We were instantly drawn to the simplicity of your art work. Often conveying broad ideas and combining them with elements of: emotion, humor, and everyday life. Where does your process start? Do you have a finished product in mind? Or does it take shape as you go?

My process is kind of changing all the time, project to project. Sometimes it starts with a reference, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes it starts with an end goal in mind (often these are work-related, but I also do have urges to get a specific thing out once in a while as well). Lots of times I have no clue what I am trying to do. Doodling plays a very big role in my process, and I think my favorite work always comes from just doodling until something happens. I do often have a certain style in mind though, and this usually depends on what I’m into at a certain time in terms of inspo, references, etc. Once in a while a funny word or common saying will come up and I try to make a drawing out of it too. 

Your work seems like it would benefit from interacting with the outside world, walking around NYC, and taking it all in etc. How has the pandemic changed or affected your process? Has it made you look at things differently? Any clever work arounds or new points of inspiration?

I think it’s really just made me more grateful to have an outlet. I’m not sure how much my work itself has changed, I have definitely made drawings pertaining to our current political/social climate, but those things seem to have always influenced my work. There’s been a large sense of community (in addition to the grief, sadness, and uncertainty) that has definitely inspired me, and I’m sure that has made its way into my work a little bit as well.

You’ve developed a project with your partner, Sophia Callahan, called Good Earth; which we are huge fans of. Good Earth focuses on deeper, spiritual concepts of the mind, body, time and life. You’ve both lent your talents to social causes like: the NAACP, ACLU, and for the benefit of the Australian wildfire relief. We admire this so much about you both. With Lite Year we're constantly reminding ourselves that during these strange and stressful times that it’s not a sprint but a marathon.

Thank you so much, I’m so happy we are able to make work together and use it for a good cause when we can :,)

This year (2020) has seemingly provided a much needed albeit unappealing opportunity for societal and self-reflection. As someone who’s work is enriched by daily interactions and social commentary, how have you managed to deal with the strain and exhaustion this year has provided all of us?

I’ve made sure to at least try to spend as much time on myself as I am on my artwork. In the beginning of the pandemic, I think a lot of people, including myself, were feeling this weird pressure to take advantage of this new found time and get a million projects done, etc. This feeling really started to overwhelm me and I had to take a step back to remember that my life is worth a lot more than my output, and that was something I needed to tell myself a long time ago. That being said, making things is always a nice, and as we saw these past few months, sometimes the only way we can deal with something that is way out of our control. I’m so thankful I’m able to use art as an outlet when things are not going well, and also when they are.  

It is not uncommon for someone to become disenfranchised with their own craft, when spending hours on end looking at it. Where do you look to or what keeps you engaged in your art?

This is one of my biggest fears, and I think it’s actually had a pretty big effect on my work as well. I always have to switch up what I’m doing, because I’m so worried I’m going to lock myself into one thing, a certain style or something. I don’t ever want to be known for one thing, or only be able to make one kind of drawing. I like to keep myself open to new avenues, styles, mediums, etc. so I can try to keep myself and my audience engaged. This is difficult at times, I often find myself wishing I did have a more locked in approach to everything, but for now I like to stay open for exploration to keep myself from becoming disenfranchised. 

Is there a piece of foundational advice you might share with the younger you? Or other up and coming creatives that admire your work?

This has been said a million times, and for good reason, but if you love something, and you cannot fight the urge to do it, and you think about it whenever you aren’t doing it, and it drives you absolutely crazy sometimes, and it makes you insanely happy sometimes, and you can’t imagine your life without it, NEVER STOP DOING IT. No matter what happens, no matter what ever comes of it, no matter how good you think you are or how much recognition you get, at the end of the day, if you love doing it, you have to keep doing it, because if everything just disappeared one day, you will still have that thing that you love and nothing can ever take that away. 

Also…

Surround yourself with positive people. 

Stop comparing yourself to others on the internet.

Be conscious of what you are putting in your body. 

Fight for those less fortunate than you!!!!

All

All
Solotex® Western Jacket - Khaki/Navy
Solotex® Western Jacket - Khaki/Navy
Solotex® Western Jacket - Khaki/Navy

$395

Harrington jacket - Navy
Harrington jacket - Navy
Harrington jacket - Navy

$450

Eisenhower Jacket - Black Jacquard
Eisenhower Jacket - Black Jacquard
Eisenhower Jacket - Black Jacquard

$400

Italian Quilted Military Vest - Army Green
Italian Quilted Military Vest - Army Green
Italian Quilted Military Vest - Army Green

$450

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