CherryGunk: Horror, Horses, and No Alter Ego
In a bid to go viral or even get seen by a small number of followers, we see creatives create content that is identical to the ones before and after, or try to be too creative where the content seems less about the artwork and more about the ego.
This is where CHERRYGUNK (Mabry Anderson) stands out from the masses. Her content on social media delves into the real minds and workflows of artists. She depicts the procrastinator in all of us and the acceptance of things not always going according to plan. A humorous diary and note to self.
Now on to her artwork. The oil paintings are horrifyingly glamorous with enough detail to render the subject in view. A play with surrealism gives the body of work a subtle unsettling quality, yet inviting enough for the viewer to continue looking. Her work could be described as that one weird-as-fuck dream that leaves you questioning the real world but also brought you joy.
Yee//haw (2020)
Long Horse Thoughts (2024)
Do you recall the first time you painted a horror/goth piece? What inspired you to paint it?
2015 I believe? There were two paintings, one of Jason and one of Michael Meyers. Both are done with absolutely ancient crayola watercolors. I’ve always been a huge horror fan and I hadn’t really got into painting at that time so I figured those would be a fun place to start.
Is there a specific reason you paint/draw horses?
When I was a kid (I started probably at 6 or 7) I taught myself how to draw by just drawing horses over and over. I just loved them and it brought me so much peace. So when I think of horses I think back to that innocence of my childhood. bringing them back into my work as an adult has brought me a lot of comfort honestly.
What is your ideal subject matter or commission to work on?
Oh this is such a toss-up, I would say I specialize in portraits and really enjoy those, but I LOVE when I get asked to do something ridiculous or funny. Like a dumb meme or really obscure character. I love it when a commission makes me laugh while I’m trying to work on it.
Does your alter-ego come into play when creating?
Unfortunately, there’s no alter ego for me! I am exactly who I am at all times. Maybe I should create someone else to delegate tasks to occasionally though.
What do you think is the biggest obstacle for new and younger artists?
Oh god, social media for sure. Creating art feels like it isn’t enough anymore. You also have to be a marketing team, come up with video ideas, film and edit everything, while somehow finding what works for you. It’s exhausting. I feel really lucky that I got it to work for me but it definitely took a few years to figure out.
Masked (2022)
Asexpected (2022)
What helps you overcome creative blocks?
The first thing is just accepting when you’re in one and know that it is totally normal. You can’t just mass-produce work all the time, eventually you have to rest. When I know I’m in a block, I’ll just jot down anything that comes across my mind even if it kinda sucks. Sometimes a bad idea will lead to a better idea later!
SlimeyCharles (2021)