1. Why did you choose this particular name for your deviantArt identity?

At the time I started to get into bondage, pre internet days, a lot of the art that I gravitated to was from the artist Robert Bishop. His vision of what bondage looks like in art form inspired me to start drawing it myself. Sadly, he died a long time ago. Fast forward to me creating a DA account. I knew I couldn’t use my real name. I had to keep my identity secret. I needed a pseudonym and I thought I’d like to choose a name that would honor the artist who inspired me. So I choose Rook. Bishop, Rook, both chess pieces.

2. Last year, you posted the Journal series titled “Life Changing Art Events” here on DA. What prompted you to “bare it all” in those Journals?

I feel like there are a lot of other artists out there who have probably gone though the same shit I have, and like me, they probably feel alone and lost. I thought maybe people would read them and realize that they are not alone. I hope they read them and understand that they can overcome whatever it is that is knocking them down.

3. What has been the most bizarre commission request that you’ve drawn? What has been the most bizarre request that you declined to draw?

That is a tough question! So many of you out there have such great imaginations. Boy, if I had to pick, I’d go with Bunnytam carrot dip. Not because of the position, but because it was my first furry attempt. I had never drawn a furry before so it was a challenge. But I was very excited to use her bunny ears against her!

Decline a commission? I don’t remember specifics, but I think I had to turn down a drawing that was too close to snuff. I know this might sound strange, but I don’t mind a sense of impending peril. But at some point the peril can be taken too far, and that is where I have to draw the line. I do find it very interesting that a lot of us have these “lines” we don’t like to cross, and everyone’s line is in a different spot. Honestly, you could write a really good article on the subject of how different everyone’s kinks are and how they overlap and crisscross.

4. How did you develop your particular – and very distinct – style of art here on DA?

First of all, thank you. It’s really important to me that you think my art is distinct. I take a lot of pride in making my art instantly recognizable.

Let’s see. It all started with Derek Riggs, who did most of the Iron Maiden album covers. As a young teen, I loved his work and thought to myself that I would love to do this kind of thing for a job. His art inspired me to think of drawing as a career. Patrick Nagel would be my most influential artist when it comes to my style. His work strives on being a very sexy, stylized and simplistic form of art. I started to emulate his work, even tracing some of his stuff using a light board, and then adding my own versions of bathing suits or lingerie at a young age. I posted an influence map in my “Other” gallery. I suggest you take a look at that and I think you’ll see a correlation between my art and those artists that have influenced me throughout the years.

5. What do you like most and least about the creative process?

I love creating unique ideas that no one has thought of yet. I’m always on the lookout for items and scenarios that I could possibly apply to my art. Sometimes, you have to look outside of the world of bondage. For example, in an interview of a model you did in the past, she talked about being tied up in the ball return area of a bowling alley. After reading that, I spent like an hour learning about the machines and the room they are in just to spark some ideas. Or, like the transport vehicle in the movie Tron: Legacy. I did a piece based on that a couple of years ago. If you keep an open mind, you can find ideas almost anywhere.

I don’t like the fear that I will one day run out of ideas. That is terrifying to me. My self-esteem can really bring me down sometimes and the idea that I can lose my creativity because of that concerns me.

6. What do you find most challenging about drawing the contortion-like style of bondage you share most often on DA? Can you show us an example of your bondage art that was particularly challenging?

I’m a very visual type of person. The biggest challenge for me is how to draw the female form in a contortion and still keep it sexy visually. I won’t draw something for the sake of making it tight or for the contortion. My first goal in drawing is to make it sexy. That can be very difficult when drawing a female who looks like she’s been tied in a knot (pun intended).

White Mantis in Shibari was very challenging because of the nature of the OC I had to draw. Not only did she have this peculiar tail, but she had four arms! And on top of that, I had to pick some crazy angle in which to view the whole thing! I really liked how it turned out in the end but trying to tie up four arms into a compact tie like that was difficult.


 7. Did any bondage photographers or artists inspire or influence you to try your hand at drawing bondage art? If so, who are they and how were you inspired by their work?

Well, hands down, like I said before, Robert Bishop was definitely the catalyst. His work inspires me to this day. Also, there are countless artists here on DA that I follow who also inspire me. Much too lengthy a list to mention here. Just go to my favorites to see who they are.

As for photographers, I love Jim Weathers for his unsurpassed quality of photography and his super shiny outfits. Lew Rubens inspires me with his creativity. And the couple over at Restricted Senses crazy hogties are legendary!

8. What determines whether someone’s art gets into your Favorites folder?

Several things will get you into my Favorites. But you only need one of them. 1. Style, if you have a interesting style I like, I’ll add it. 2. Creativity: You don’t have to be a great artist. If your concepts are unique and interesting, I’ll add it so I can go back if I’m looking for inspiration. 3. Sexy: If you’ve created something that I feel is sexy, I’ll add it.

9. What do you do when you’re not browsing deviantArt or drawing something for DA? Do you post on other sites/forums when a particular drawing is not safe for DA?

My full time job is a Graphic Designer. I also have a family, so those two things take up the majority of my time. I love movies and reading. I also play video games on the PS4, but I try to keep that to a minimum because I find them addicting. I also play bass and guitar on occasion. I have a bass Marshall full stack that could shatter the house windows at full volume (sigh, I miss playing in a band).

I don’t have a lot of NSFDA work. But when I do, you can find them on Tumblr, Fetlife, Hentai Foundry, Pixiv and Patreon.

10. What are your thoughts on whether artists should be able to post anything they like in the name of artistic expression?

I knew you’d ask me this question, and just like I thought it would, I’m dreading trying to answer it. In a nut shell, yes, I believe you should give artists the artistic freedom that you’d think they deserve. Notice, the words I put in there “you’d think”. Then someone decides that taking a shit into a mason jar is art. It’s not art… Its shit in a jar. I guess you could say I’m not the best one to ask that question. There are a lot of things people try to do in the name of “artistic expression” and I just think they are using it as an excuse to get away with something they shouldn’t. My friends who know what I draw don’t consider it art; they consider it wrong and wish I didn’t draw it. Now I’m just ranting, so I’ll stop.

Wait, I’m not done, one more thing… One of my opinions is that art is how much work you put into it. If it took you two minutes to create it, it’s not art. It’s the time, sweat, tears and effort you poured into a piece that makes it art. That’s just my opinion, which means a whole lot of nothing. That being said, one could argue that my art is simplistic and doesn’t take a lot of time. Of course they’d be wrong. I’m pretty fast, but you have to take into account the thought process. For example, The Shi piece I did. I researched the character and finally decided to incorporate her weapon into the bondage. Same goes for my Stephanie Brown, Batgrapple mishap piece.

11. What do you think are the best and worst aspects of deviantArt? And, if you could make one change to the site, what would it be?

The community is the best! I have met so many great people who share my love for bondage. I struggled for years thinking my desire to look at women tied up was wrong. The people here have shown me that it is okay to like bondage and that I am not alone.

The worst is in the very title of the website. Deviant. Deviantart will not allow adult art. I could draw two drawings, one of a woman tied up having sex and one with a woman tied up being shot in the head. And for some inexplicable reason, the sex one would get me banned. WTF?

One change, loosen up the adult art. Let us post the naughty stuff already.

12. Tell us your favorites: movie, TV show, book, music, food, color, animal, type of bondage restraint, type of gag.

All time favorite movie: Army of Darkness, hail to the king baby!
Favorite TV show: Hmmm, right now I’d say Archer. It’s really funny and the art style is similar to mine.
Favorite book: Dracula. I’ve read it like 5 times.
Favorite music: I like a lot of different styles of music, but my all time favorite is Alice Cooper.
Favorite color: Green.
Favorite animal: I’m not sure. Bear maybe?
Favorite bondage: Probably rope, but I have to say, I feel there is not enough zip tie bondage out there to satisfy my needs.
Favorite gag: Really? Sigh, I thought I’ve been absolutely transparent about this. But okay, okay, you’re going to make me say it. Ring gag. I love ring gags. And not because of the drooling like some of you might think. It’s the fact that the mouth is open and there is no way you can prevent something from entering. Like a marshmallow, or chicken.
 

 13. What drawing of yours are you most proud of?

Man, these are tough questions! I tend to dislike my work after about 6 months. After 6 months, I look at it and think to myself “I could do better than that now”. But if I had to pick… I’d go with my Harley Quinn Suicide Squad Goat Roped one. It’s got most of what I like, sexy female, ring gag, hogtie, reverse prayer, contortion and a little peril.

14. Why don't you like spiders?

Ahhhh! *Smashes the word “spiders” with shoe*. When I was a little kid, I spent the night at a friend’s house and we slept on the floor. It rained heavily that night, and evidently when it rains, this house would get filled with daddy long legs (yes, I know they are not technically spiders). I woke up several times that night from them crawling over my face. I became hysterical and eventually slept in his bed with a blanket over my face. *shudders*

15. What else do you want people on DA to know about you and your art?

Gee, I don’t know. That is a good question. I guess I’d like people to know that I’m a nice guy. I suppose I could use this opportunity to say I do commissions, support me on Patreon, blah, blah, blah. But I won’t. Wait, I just did. Darn it! Stop! Oh for Pete’s sake! Sigh…