Heavy Weight Champion: THE PLUS SIZE ARTIST YOU NEED TO KNOW: STEVE COFFIN

A few years back I had the pleasure of being etched in time by Steve Coffin, not once but three different times. Steve is a comic book creator, artist extraordinaire, lover of the plus size physique, and all around kick ass dude. Ever since learning of his existence, I have been obsessed with his art work in all forms. I often tell my friends (like I'm telling you) to seek him out. According to Steve, he has always loved drawing from a very young age and loves writing comic book stories.

STEVE: "I loved the Asterix comic book and, being a bigger kid, Obelix was my Hero."

In 2000, Steve moved from Portsmouth, England, and began working in multimedia. It was here in Canada that Steve fully utilized his art skills. Steve is the creator of the independent comic book "Lutu Warrior of the North" which features a plus size barbarian woman as the lead character. (How kick ass is that?!) "Lutu Warrior of the North" began as a simple conversation with Steve's wife, and has since turned into a full fledged comic book brand.

STEVE: "We were looking at all the sword and sorcery comics, with semi-clothed women in them and thought, why couldn’t there be a plus sized comic book hero? She would go out into this world, of swords and sorcery, and it wouldn't matter that she wasn`t an amazon woman or a fashion model."

"Lutu Warrior of the North", strikes a bit of a resemblance to yours truly, Doesn't she? Or am I just a narcissist?

STEVE: Originally, Lutu came about as a parody of the sword and sorcery comics back in 2008 so it was a little bit before I knew you, Sheena. But it is awesome that you identify with her. That is a great compliment!

It is clear in your art work that you trend towards more voluptuous Ladies. What is your inspiration for doing that? Are you a chubby chaser or what?

STEVE: Haha! Chubby Chaser! Well, I did run a half marathon once... does that count? As an artist it is more interesting to draw shapes and curves. Straight lines are much less interesting. If I want to draw a straight line I can go get get a ruler and the job's done. Also, I really love to draw hair with all it's curves and twists, so I guess maybe it is a theme.Personally, a woman doesn't have to be curvy to be beautiful, but I do prefer curvy women. Do you feel that you inspire the "Gen Pop" to be more excepting of the plus body image?

STEVE: I certainly did not set out to inspire. I believe that it`s important to be happy with who you are and how you look. I think being healthy and happy is really what everyone should aspire to. :-) Who is your favorite plus size individual to model for your craft?

STEVE: I don't generally get someone to model for me unless I am doing some life drawing. Often I see someone do a gesture, or a pose, and it translates into my art. As an artist I am always soaking in images of how people move and interact with the environment. Recently I have been researching dance, yoga and life drawing to add to my new art series. Ultimately, it is my wife Allyson that comes through in my art. Are there any plus ladies that you have on your radar to draw? Personally would love to see you cartoon-ize Kathy Bates!

STEVE: I did Khaleesi as a little person cartoon (not a plus-size, I know), Super Fun Night (Rebel Wilson) and a Sara Rue recently but I think that I could do Kathy Bates as a cartoon.

Steve is currently working on a new painting series called "Stirring the Brew". This series features scenes and plus size women painted using coffee and tea as a medium.

STEVE: "The title of this exhibition is about "stirring" things up in general and that the image of feminine beauty does not have to be what the media sells us. I think that it is important that we show beauty in a more plus size way and that it is better to chose and lead yourself than it is to be lead by another."

I have noticed two distinct styles with plus women as a theme, in your art, one being very Cartoonish such as the "Lutu in the Warrior of the North" series and one being more free flowing like your "Stirring the Brew" series. How do you switch gears between the two?

STEVE: Good question, actually how do I do it? I guess it is a situational thing. Lutu happens mainly on a laptop wherever the kids are (they always need watching) and the "Stirring the Brew" art happens more in my basement Art studio. I do have an underlying cartoon style in my art that people have picked up on and I guess I just dial it down and go with the flow.
A lot of the Ladies in "Stirring the Brew" are nudes... Got a problem with plus Fashion?

It was initially a choice between making the statement and the technical issue of exploring a new very wet and unpredictable medium i.e. the coffee and tea doesn't quite obey as regular paint would. Yo! Can I pose naked for you?

STEVE: Sure, if that is something you would like to do. What direction do you see yourself going in the future in regards to your plus inspiration? Maybe Sculpting?

STEVE: Oh, the future has already started. I am going BIG, in canvas sizes, and I am working in new textures. I have been painting with everything from paper towels to doilies and any object that can make a texture or a mark. I have tried sculpting before and I did a Fimo Lutu and a Munny Lutu. Actually sculpting is very hard to do because the art has to be viewed on all sides and there is no hiding anything. I was so happy to feature Steve as one of my first interviews on "Heavy Weight Champion". Lets take the time to support this amazing Canadian artist.