I first noticed Chadillac Green’s work in May 2013 when his mural entitled “Life is a Voyage” went up in the Funk Zone on the side of Reds Bar. Painted in an aggressive street art-style with lyrical colors, his work depicted an elderly couple so buoyantly and bluntly that it was both joyful and sobering. A few months later, a DJ at EOS lounge inspired the late night crowd by “slaying that jungle” with his turntables, and I soon found out it was the same Chadillac.
This young Renaissance man, whose real name is Chad Westmoreland, was born in Kansas City and is also a popular tattoo artist at 805 Ink on State Street. He’s had several art exhibits of his paintings hang in Santa Barbara, and it’s quite exciting to see this young man’s technique mature with every new work. His latest pieces can be seen at Fuzion Gallery, and he has an upcoming show on Saturday, October 11, at the Gone Gallery, 219 Gray Avenue in the Funk Zone.
Chadillac stopped his artistic pursuits to reflect on the Proust Questionnaire.
What is your most treasured possession?
My turntables.
What do you like most about your job?
I love that I get to do art daily.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
That I have a career in art, living in California, loving life to its fullest.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Rent in beautiful Santa Barbara.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
I don’t know what perfect happiness is. I just know I’m happy with life now.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I love myself the way I am.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I already do everything I want to do. I just want Spiderman powers.
Who do you most admire and why?
I admire my parents the most. They were the ones who pushed me to do what makes me happy and supported me with all my decisions. Without them, I wouldn’t try harder daily.
What is your current state of mind?
I’m in a creative state of mind right now.
What is the quality you most like in people?
Honesty.
What is the quality you most dislike in people?
Dishonesty.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Blunt and honest.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Try harder.
Where would you most like to live?
I haven’t visited enough places to know where I would most like to live. As of now. I’m loving S.B.
Who makes you laugh the most?
Jake Vantiger [another 805 Ink tattoo artist] makes me laugh the most.
What is your motto?
Try harder.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Abe Lincoln.
On what occasion do you lie?
Not really sure when I lie. I just know I’m not good at it so I don’t. Except when a lady asks if she’s fat.