Words by Avery Gregurich<\/strong><\/p>\n Thad Pasierb is trying to reimagine visual art for the country and folk music scenes. The Pennsylvanian artist has worked with the likes of White Denim, Shakey Graves, Houndmouth and many others, making gig posters, movie posters and other illustrations. Through a few email dispatches, Thad revealed his creation process, his influences and why he thinks there\u2019s a gap between visual art in various music scenes.<\/span><\/p>\n[aesop_gallery id=”5407″]\n Urban Plains: What’s the five-minute bar\u00a0stool recitation of your life so far? <\/b><\/p>\n Thad Pasierb: <\/b>I was born and raised in rural Pennsylvania; a stone\u2019s throw from everywhere and a stone\u2019s throw from anywhere. Divisions as arbitrary as how a word is pronounced or which particular stretch of coal-black mountain and orange creek you called home are imbued with significance. My parents were teachers. I was a latch-key kid raised on action movies until my parents got home.<\/span><\/p>\n UP: When did country music specifically enter your life, and why has it stayed?<\/b><\/p>\n TP: <\/b>My parents had a nice collection of mostly folk and some rock and soul albums that they spun frequently. John Prine, the Band, Dylan, Joni Mitchell were spun regularly and all left their mark. Being an elementary school teacher, my mom sang and taught me old folk songs.<\/span><\/p>\n Eventually, I began playing music, and the sound and feel of bluegrass made sense to me. It was through bluegrass that I began to get into country. \u201cThree chords and the truth\u201d says it about as well as I could.<\/span><\/p>\n UP:<\/b> When did you start your sketching, and what things\u00a0were you drawing then?<\/b><\/p>\n TP: <\/b>I\u2019ve always drawn. Comic books, portraits, animals — I don\u2019t remember a time when I didn\u2019t draw. Drawing was \u201cme\u201d to those who knew me and those who knew of me.<\/span><\/p>\n UP: Who were your favorite artists growing up, and how have your influences changed?<\/b><\/p>\n TP: Artistic influences are tough and sometimes either seem obvious or seemingly irrelevant. I am hugely inspired by comic books and children’s book illustrations. Quentin Blake, Shel Silverstein and Maurice Sendak were my childhood, and inspired me to write and draw. Then comic books took over, and the list of artists there is too long. Eventually, I got into more mature illustrators like Charles Burns, and I’m still envious of his clean technique.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n UP: Tell me about your art\u00a0projects so far, particularly, whom you’ve done concert posters and illustrations for, and any future projects you’ve got running?<\/b><\/p>\n TP: <\/b>I\u2019ve been making gig flyers for local legends and barroom superstars in my home county for years. <\/span>Blind Pigeon Records<\/span><\/a> is the local rock \u2019n\u2019 roll label, and I make gig fliers for them regularly. Mistakes trained me, and that experience gave me the confidence to reach out to bigger artists.<\/span><\/p>\n I have made posters and designs for Houndmouth, Shakey Graves, Futurebirds and countless barroom bands. I have many projects in the pipeline — movie posters, gig posters and other illustrations. Most are top secret, but stay tuned.<\/span><\/p>\n UP: Do you draw whom you are listening to at the time?<\/b><\/p>\n