Seeing my artwork blazed across a billboard on Sunset Boulevard and in Times Square was surreal as fuck.
The Sexual Psyche of Pierre Schmidt
Pierre Schmidt, more commonly known as drømsjel, is a digital collage artist and illustrator, living and working in Berlin. Viewing his work feels like watching vintage porn on acid. Mind-bending psychedelia and erotic imagery combine with graphic illustrations and traditional collage techniques. And like classic surrealistic artists’ creations, Schmidt’s work is always open to the viewer’s interpretation.
Where did the name “drømsjel” come from?
It’s two Norwegian words merged together, meaning “dream soul.”
What draws you to creating surreal and erotic artworks?
Eroticism is not my main objective when creating the works. It’s more about capturing the feeling, the awe one feels in seeing something beautiful or grotesque for the first time — in the world, in a person, in dreams. It’s a feeling I look to capture.
Where does the inspiration for Pierre Schmidt come from?
I am inspired all the time by the past. Vintage publications, such as Penthouse, have always been a great source for inspiration. The color palettes, the grain of the paper at the time the image went to print, the fashion, the lighting. These elements play a huge part in inspiring me to create a new artwork. I would say my main inspiration is the past and the evolution of society. All those dreams of a 1950s man or woman, materializing through the next wave of liberation, and so it goes into the next decade.
As for being inspired by specific people, there are too many to mention. I created a series of works based off Nietzsche’s theories of morality at one time, yet I am equally inspired by musicians, films, documentaries and other artists such as Dalí or David Hockney. There are many of their influences in my works. David Lynch is a great inspiration, then so is Beethoven, Stanley Kubrick, Wes Anderson, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, metal bands such as The Black Dahlia Murder and documentaries by Adam Curtis. I could go on …
Where do you source the images that appear in your collages?
I find them on the internet or scan actual physical copies of vintage publications, magazines, catalogs or scour antique bookstores and flea markets for original photos.
What’s been your favorite image or bank of images find?
I have a huge library of digital images; I couldn’t tell you where one came from the next. I see and store clippings from modern backgrounds used on takeaway menus posted through my letterbox every week, right down to the shape of a petal on a flower from a children’s storybook that could’ve been published in 1935.
What tools do you use to create your pieces?
A computer, the internet, Photoshop, a scanner and a top-dollar printer.
My wife calls my studio setup “Mission Control.” Sadly for her, though, I have not perfected my setup. I could always add on more! As I’m always looking for new technical ways to create and make my workflow more comfortable. Like I said, now with my interest in programming and having the ability to create my own digital brushes, it is something I could and will probably do forever.
What’s your relationship with Instagram like?
It’s been great. Instagram is kind of an invaluable platform to see an artist’s works. I mean, nobody can just jump on a plane to Japan at the drop of a hat and walk into a gallery to see works by an artist they’ve heard is putting on a great show. Instagram is an accessible 24/7 gallery. I love that.
You have more than 150,000 followers on Instagram. Has it been a steady climb or was there a moment it spiked?
It’s always been gradual, but there were a few points where it did explode. I manage my account myself, reply myself and say hi myself. There’s no magic behind it for me in gaining followers, but having people like Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, Miley Cyrus, members of the Gorillaz and Lady Gaga having shared or liked my works has helped hugely. Once they did that then, yeah, my phone was buzzing for days!
What was it like being asked to create the promotional artwork for Lady Gaga’s 2017 Netflix documentary Five Foot Two?
Crazy. I’m really proud they chose me to produce the artwork. The filmmaker and director, Chris Moukarbel, contacted me directly on Instagram and had chosen me specifically to create the cover and promo work. This was unusual for Netflix to say yes to, as they have great talent there, so I was really thrilled to be working with them, too.
It was a dream gig. The director is such a great guy, hugely talented. He had a vision but gave me space and trusted me to do what I do. Netflix was amazing and hugely supportive throughout the process, also. Lady Gaga, her manager, her team who shot the image I worked with, were all just really positive, easy to discuss creative processes with and were all thrilled with the outcome. Seeing my artwork blazed across a billboard on Sunset Boulevard and in Times Square was surreal as fuck. Clicking on Netflix and watching the documentary for the first time was really emotional, too.
Is art a full-time gig for you now?
Yeah, it is now. But three years ago — in fact, just before the Lady Gaga job — I was also washing pots in a restaurant to get by. When my co-workers saw my artworks for the first time they were like “Why are you here?”
I’ve also been a bicycle repairman, post office sorter and a graphic designer in an ad agency. I liked washing pots the most. But I don’t make art for money. I make art because, well, I couldn’t stop if I tried.
Who would your dream client be?
My dream client would be the Berlin Symphony Orchestra and creating artworks for the Beethoven anniversary concert celebrations. They’ve been postponed until next year. So you know, I’m just throwing it out there in case someone over there is reading Penthouse.
What are you working on right now?
I’m reworking/upgrading artworks to higher resolutions for my store and actually in the process of creating some huge custom pieces for a well-known actor. Can’t share who. Can’t share what, but you never know … they might.
Sadly we could not show much of it here, what with the nudity prohibition and all, but as you may have guessed, dromsjel.com will get you where you need to go, should you wish to see more Pierre Schmidt art. We have no one with an art degree handy around here, but clearly faces — and particularly eyes — have some special significance in the Pierre Schmidt world. … Oddly enough, Wikipedia shows a picture of the Lady Gaga image (as of this writing), should you have an interest, and it simply would not do to skip the obligatore Instagram link. (We accidentally do a lot of things we should not do. We endeavor not to do them on purpose.
