Simon Tosky:
There is an element of almost reading a diary with the work in this exhibition - How does the work reflect your thoughts?

Elijah McMilan:

Pretty much when I'm making anything or decide to make anything it's based on what I'm experiencing or looking at at the time. They mostly start as little sketchbook thoughts.

Even a painting usually starts from the small idea" I want to capture this experience" or "I like this sketch I did while I was out and saw someone on the subway" so I feel like it's apt to call it a diary in a way.

Simon Tosky:

I love the variety of voices in the work. The different levels of rendering. How do your different styles allow you to communicate more fully?

Elijah McMilan:

I'm always trying to figure out different ways to achieve a result I like. I'm always learning and being influenced by different artists and ways of working. So I'm almost always trying something new to improve my art. I also think about how much finish do I need, to convey something clearly. Like if I need to render a very detailed piece in order to get my idea across, then I'll opt for it, or if I just need a few lines and some shading then that works too.

Working at a nursing home, running their art programs helped me also get into this way of thinking about it. Early into my tenure I would make and prepare images that were extremely detailed with many lines, only for the residents who participated to get confused and not be able to read the artwork and subjects clearly. When I simplified it all and left in the most important details, some character, and a flourish here and there; they were very receptive and were able to get it. It made me realize that the amount of time and lines doesn't always dictate the quality.

So usually when it's just the idea of something I need to get out there, I try to make it as clear as I can in the ways that I want. Instead of assuming everything needs to be rendered all of the time.

Simon Tosky:

The work is definitely playful and has a light touch which is evident from your experiences. I’d like to ask, where do you get your sense of humor from?

Elijah McMilan:

I feel like a lot of my humor just comes from years of being on the internet and viewing that sort of content from a young age. I like really absurd humor or things that make you go "What?" or double take when you view it. Things that subvert your expectations, which is all very prominent in internet humor. The mixing and matching of different tones, like a Yakuza walking around smoking in Animal Crossing makes me laugh.

Simon Tosky:

You're very prolific, what keeps you motivated to keep creating?

Elijah McMilan:

I'm constantly asking myself this question honestly. I'd say my main motivation for constantly making things is my want to improve. I have a tendency to love to grind things when it comes to levels in a video game, a riff on guitar, or my own artwork. I'm always in the mindset of doing lots of studies and practicing what I learned to the point of muscle memory and comfort so I feel like that's a main motivation for making so many pieces - And in turn getting better also helps me convey a lot of the random thoughts I have.