Although best known for his performance pieces, artist Doug Wright aka Sugar Weasel the Clown is also a prolific painter, sculptor and illustrator. In his “Texas Moonshiners” series Wright captures the evolution of time and nostalgia by creating unique artworks using sarcoptic colour palettes, natural patinas and weathering, while integrating elements from classic American westerns and low budget horror films.
In earlier works, Wright often mixed iconic religious symbols with bearded ladies, midget clowns and other sideshow performers from the late 1800s. Wright’s work is both technically proficient and darkly entertaining, his paintings have hung in galleries and fine retail establishments across the U.S. and has been prominently featured on Fox News and various other media outlets.
Self-taught or art school?
I’m entirely self-taught, they can’t teach this, it’s all me.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci, I would immediately put it up for auction and commission Mark Ryden to do a painting. I would use the remaining 439 million to fund various art programs for emerging young artists.
How would you describe your style?
If I had to put a label as such on my art I might call it Lowbrow Retro-Pop.
Is narrative important within your work?
My works all about the narrative, I’m currently working on a visual arts project called Storytime with Sugar Weasel the Clown, it’s a 10-part video series that combines performance art, old-time storytelling with a collection of paintings I’ve done over the last couple of years. It really showcases all of my abilities as an artist in a narrative fashion.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
A lot of them would probably be classified as yet to be discovered artists but at the moment Casanova Frankenstein from the US and EC Prince out of Copenhagen come to mind.
What or who inspires your art?
I’ve been inspired by artists like Robert Mapplethorpe and Roy Lichtenstein certainly, but I’m equally inspired by old westerns and b-movies.
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
It’s very tidy as it’s in our lounge, but it looks a bit like an American Talk-Show Studio set from the 1970s at the moment.
Do you have any studio rituals?
Yes, I clean my water and or Spirts regularly and have multiple pallets going at all times.
What are you working on currently?
The piece is titled ‘The Amazing Smoko’, it’s a chicken smoking a Camel.
Where can we buy your art?
My website is under heavy reconstruction at the moment but I do have some affordable prints available on Etsy and Instagram under @sugarweaseltheclown