Philip Edward King, aka Neut.
Q What do you do?
“I’m an artist, and I make art through all sorts of modes and media, because the real material I work with in my art practice is the human spirit and sense of identity.”
Ideas are not only the currency of my work as an arts/cultural worker, but, in the same vein as conceptual artists active since the 1960s and 70s, in my individual practice as an artist, any given "idea" can be artwork itself. "The practice of learning" is the intended outcome of all my work. This way, I can paint images of flowers or dead things, dance, tell jokes, mourn publicly, photograph the world as I see it, critique gender & sexuality, revolt against oppressive systems in small ways continuously, play music, meditate, tend to my health, cook food with loved ones, write poetry, build imaginary worlds, worship divinity, compose storyboards for graphic novels, film & television, and live out my visions -- and let it all be a work of art.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I took baby steps, and committed myself to making choices from a place of love, rather than a place of fear, and trusting something larger than myself to help me along my way. Among these baby steps included graduating high school and attending Portland State University to study Art Practices in pursuit of acquiring a Bachelor of Fine Arts. I managed to do that in just over 4 years, which took a lot of perseverance for many reasons. A difficult domestic partnership, my estranged father's death from leukemia, exacerbation of my own disabilities, all while living in poverty, offered no shortage of obstacles and struggles. Amid constant political turmoil and a keen awareness of climate change. It was also a brilliant time. I studied Baroque and Renaissance art in Rome and Florence, shared my life with someone I cared about and who cared for me, saw some of my favorite musicians in concert, ate better and better food, survived past an age I never thought I'd live to see, and found a community that accepted me for everything that I am. Following my heart has led me to some incredible places and experiences, and I've made a lot of good art along the way. I've performed in the Time-Based Art Festival multiple times, at Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, as well as at other venues in Portland, Oregon. I've attended Arteles Creative Center in Finland as a resident artist and assistant, more than once. I've forged meaningful, long-term bonds with people all over the world, through social media and streaming, and the like.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
This might not be the answer you're looking for, but I really don't do much of anything specific. I suppose it comes down to my nature. I can't help but be myself, and standing outcomes naturally to me. It always has. I've had many experiences in life, which, individually, may not be all too unique or unheard of, but in combination, represent an intriguing web of a biography that tends to catch people by surprise, and most importantly, lends me a one-of-a-kind perspective. This sensibility tends to be self-evident in my work.
Q What are you working on right now?
I'm working on myself, of course! Leveling, expanding, seeking, opening, and blossoming. You know. But seriously, I have, like, three main projects at the moment. These include:
- Where the Fuck Is Boston, Oregon?! -- an urban fantasy-religious horror-corporate espionage thriller-queer punk comic set in an alternate universe where Portland, Oregon was named after Boston, Massachusetts instead of Portland, Maine -- oh, and magic is real. The story follows a cast of freaks, outcasts, weirdos, and underdogs as they fight against the forces of the shadowy Athena Corporation, a mega-conglomerate wielding gentrification, psy-ops, and chemical weapons in order to kickstart the apocalypse in Boston, Oregon.
- The Shattered Bloodstone Series -- a transhumanist saga for the 21st century set in the fictional world of Anteluria. This 4-book fantasy/scifi tale follows Valune Etari as she transforms from a world-weary pawn of colonial superpowers into a deified folk hero at the crux of the universe's continued existence. I've been working on it for like ten years. It's gonna be so sick when it's finished.
- Music! I've been playing music since I was 11 years old, or earlier. I suppose I started singing in church as a kid before I joined an orchestra in middle school. These days, I mostly make electronic music, because it doesn't require the same level of space and equipment. I'm learning guitar and piano at the moment, too.
Q What’s your style?
I'm an experimentalist, an outsider artist, a Renaissance spirit, a cybermystic, an indigenous rebel, and ultimately, unclassifiable. I like to create things that bear an aspect of "never been done before" while also drawing on clear references, which remain fluid in their temporal situation, because that's very much who I am -- never been before, zeitgeisty yet timeless, and certainly not done!
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Music videos!
Q What is frustrating you right now?
I have been more or less on my own since I was 18, in terms of my livelihood, and I don't come from money anyway. I've made some errors and faced many roadblocks, financially, due to unstable markets, substandard wages in certain industries, health issues disrupting my ability to work (and attend classes), and having no choice but to rely on credit cards from time to time. Part of my life's work involves dismantling silence and increasing transparency, around income and equity. I have faced housing instability for most of my life, despite working full-time, usually more than one job, and sharing housing. It's unsustainable, and I need more gainful employment that aligns with my values and my calling if I'm ever going to experience stability.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
I would have them help me cook and prep meals, first and foremost. I have severe allergies that require a lot of my energy to manage. I constantly wish I could just give someone a list of my triggers, and have them cook for me on the regular, so I could be certain to avoid being indisposed for days at a time, and not question where my meals are going to come from, or having to ask after what goes into them. Basically a personal prep cook. I love to cook, so I wouldn't even want them to do ALL of the work.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I genuinely don't have this wish. Every lesson I learned came to me in its own time, no matter how difficult, exactly when I needed to learn it. Plus I have always had a solid support system when times were tough, and even though I may have FELT alone sometimes, they reminded me that I WASN'T alone. But for the sake of entertaining the question, I'll say, I'd go back to my second year in college, and tell myself to enroll in a different class during winter term, so I could complete my Minor in Writing: I was only one course shy of getting that accreditation, and I would've preferred to take a technical writing course instead of the class that I took for digital painting & illustration.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
How can I get agent representation, with someone with whom I share values and good chemistry? The world of agents and editors continues to confuse me more than I'd like.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I'm looking for opportunities related to editorial work, copywriting, modeling, fashion design-tangential work, photography work, voiceover/voice acting, something related to music production… I have so many avenues to explore, and I'm even open to being an assistant or secretary or a paid intern, something along those lines. I just need to be immersed in a creative environment and get my foot further in the door.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
In the past, the experiences I've enjoyed most have involved direction in some capacity, because that role allows me to collaborate with many different departments and styles, and personalities, in pursuit of a cohesive vision. One such experience was a guerrilla performance art show, about an hour-long, involving Joanna Newsom's music, unbridled audience participation, and transgressive costuming referencing kink culture and queer cultural connections to animism. Most of the production was arranged by the primary performer, Grant Andros, but I was tasked with directing a cast of background actors, keeping time and making sure everyone hit their cues accurately, ensuring safety and accessibility guidelines were followed to the best of our ability given the venue's inherent restrictions and design flaws, and playing a small role in the performance itself. We brought in a ton of people from a few different local communities, and left a mark on the city's psychic landscape: people still mention this show to me, now three years later, and how much they loved it! A few of my strongest friendships formed during the course of the production. It was fully independent, self-funded, staged in an unorthodox space (one half of a plating factory that was converted into offices) to great effect, and we learned a lot while having good fun and giving back to our intersecting communities in ways that are still being metabolized and integrated.
Q: What is your rate?
Pricing depends on the product/project!
For editorial and design services, I charge $25/hour, with a three-hour minimum.
One-time gigs start at $150, + $25/hour.
For commissioned painting and illustration gigs, I charge $90 as a base price for a small-scale work (longest dimension under 16 inches), + $25/hour.
Anything large-scale (minimum dimension over 12 inches) starts at a $200 base price, + $25/hour.
For photography work, I shoot on 35mm film: I charge $200 as a base price, + $50/roll of film, + $25/hour, with a one-hour minimum.
For any other work, my time starts at a $25/hour pay rate!
For smaller clients, especially LGBTQIA+ & BIPOC sole proprietors, I am open to discussing a discounted rate.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
I prefer to be contacted via email (through my website's contact form or the link on my Instagram), or direct message on Instagram. I usually like to talk over the phone or Zoom or something, at some point after initial contact. The intro should include a credible proposition, budget, and some indication of personality! We can be professionals, and still relate as regular-ass people, too! I don't mind the use of adult language or Internet-isms, either lol
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Chanti Darling / instagram @vzlsno -- They're a creative powerhouse indispensable to Portland's Black community, especially when it comes to queer music, dance, and nightlife communities
Layne Boydston -- He's like a brother to me, and we've seen each other through so many phases of our lives, and he's a fantastic model who brings rare down-to-earth energy everywhere he goes. Plus he carries a deep love for the natural world and uses his platform to advocate for sustainability, environmental justice, and BIPOC people in general.
Emily Conlon / instagram @emicon -- She's a kindred spirit and one of the first artists I met in my early days of college. As a peer since then, she has empowered me to expand my practice, and her work constantly inspires and impresses me!
Lisa Jarrett -- She has been one of the most incredible educators I've ever had the pleasure of making friends with! I studied under her at PSU, and ended up showcasing work alongside her after finishing school, and eventually, she attended some performances I was in! She is also a key figure in Portland's art community who is particularly in touch with and advocates for the Black community there.
William Ylvisaker / instagram @williamylvisaker -- He leads with love and curiosity and does it well. I have watched this friend of friends over the years as he has evolved and made incredible strides in his professional life and career. Excited to continue watching him go far, and I'm hopeful for chances to collaborate in the very near future.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
I stay creative by following my instincts, loving God and myself, and sharing my gifts with the world.
This member profile was originally published in April 2022.