Death Becomes Fabulous: Inside the World of Bill Crisafi.

Interview by Miguel Ortuno, Grab Magazine

With the release of The Glam Reaper’s Guide to Slaying, we wanted to take a moment to catch up with artist, illustrator, and author Bill Crisafi about the wonderfully weird, wickedly funny, and unapologetically queer world he has created. We talked about everything from fashion and finding his artistic voice to the influence of his mother, the power of humor, queer-coded villains, and, of course, the stiletto-wearing personification of death at the center of it all. Welcome to the fabulously strange world of Bill Crisafi.

Miguel: First things first: Who is Bill Crisafi when he’s not hanging out with a stiletto-wearing personification of death?

BC: I’m a bitch, I’m a lover, I’m a child—but most of all, I’m a mother.

But really, I’m pretty boring. Most days are spent either filling orders for my online shop, drawing or sculpting something, and hanging with my husband and two cats.

Miguel: You originally imagined yourself working in fashion. How did a would-be couturier become an illustrator, writer, and creator of one very glamorous Grim Reaper?

BC: I was always an illustrator first. I needed to go to school for fashion design for me to realize I was drawn to world-building rather than just making clothes for that world. Fashion absolutely still influences my work, though, which is shown through the lack of continuity in the book: The Glam Reaper’s outfit, shoes, and nails change basically from page to page, making it appear like her garment either morphs on its own or she takes time for a costume change while on the journey.

Also, Slut the Frog’s witch-hat bikini was absolutely inspired by the great Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra.

Miguel: The Glam Reaper is spooky, glamorous, funny, and more than a little fabulous. How much of Bill Crisafi is hiding underneath that fabulous cloak?

BC: I think Glam and a lot of my characters are based on the energy I want to put out in the world. For example, the Reaper has a no-nonsense approach to life, my demon character is sexy and self-confident—even if negative thoughts invade her mind sometimes—and Slut the Frog takes risks with fashion, for better or for worse. These are all things I try to remind myself that I am or can be, even if bad thoughts or insecurity seep in.

They represent idealized versions of me. But in the book, they lay their problems out on the table, which was a fun way to look at them. Before the book, I would just draw them to be almost like amulets of power that I could use to feel their positive attributes myself.

Miguel: Your new book, The Glam Reaper’s Guide to Slaying, is about self-love and self-acceptance, but without the usual overly earnest self-help vibe. Why was humor so important in telling that story?

BC: Humor is how I move through the world. Maybe sometimes it’s a defense mechanism, but I really love making people laugh. When I was approached to make the book, I already knew I wasn’t interested in an instructional guide to “slay.” I don’t find that interesting, so I made it more like a twisted, queer(er) Wizard of Oz-type journey.

I wanted the reader to laugh because the problems each character has are negative and, I think, pretty relatable. Adding humor takes the power away from the sad stuff.

Miguel: You completed the book while grieving the loss of your mother, who was a major inspiration for Glam and her friends. What pieces of your mom—her personality, humor, wisdom, or attitude—live on through these characters?

BC: My mom was the coolest—a tough-as-nails Massachusetts broad. She came off like she wasn’t afraid of anything or anyone. I love that about her so much because I’m not like that.

The Glam Reaper herself has her energy. She’s not afraid to speak hard truths to people, whether she comes off in a positive way or not. My mom also had all of these crazy sayings—old regional New England things like, “The name’s Tucka, not Sucka,” “No shit, Sherlock,” “Piss in your shoe and float,” etc. So, of course, I had to honor her by peppering one of those in.

Miguel: There’s something wonderfully queer about taking things people might consider dark, strange, macabre, or “too much” and turning them into something beautiful. Has queerness influenced the way you approach your art?

BC: Queerness has definitely influenced the way I approach my art. This question brings me back to childhood and the characters in Disney movies I was drawn to the most—hello, Ursula—and how all of the villains in those movies were queer-coded. I think I related to them more, and that definitely shaped me as an artist.

Also, these characters in particular have a lot more direct queer ties to them than some of my other work. Miss Phillip is based on the goat in Robert Eggers’ The VVitch. One day I was drawing and thought to myself, “What if Black Phillip did drag?” And that birthed Miss Phillip.

Miguel: Your work has such a recognizable visual personality. How did you find your artistic voice, and was there a moment when you stopped worrying about what you were “supposed” to create and started making what actually felt like you?

BC: To be honest, not really. I oftentimes suffer from imposter syndrome, but one thing I am very confident about is my point of view. I have always known what I am going for when creating. Sometimes it takes a little longer to get the result I want if I am learning a new skill, but I can see a world beyond this one where everything I make or imagine lives.

I actually got in trouble at FIT when I was in a fashion illustration class because I wanted my drawings to be more exaggerated than what the professor was teaching. Joke’s on him because I was clearly onto something!

Miguel: For someone reading the book who is struggling with confidence or feeling like they don’t quite fit the mold, what do you hope Glam whispers—or screams—in their ear?

BC: GET IT TOGETHER, BITCH.

Miguel: Glam has the book. She has the heels. She has the attitude. What’s next? Where do you want to take The Glam Reaper—and Bill Crisafi—from here?

BC: I think my next venture is merging my more whimsical, surreal artwork with this campy, unserious side of me and creating a tarot deck with it. A little erotic, a little spooky, and a lot of weird. We will see how it goes.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bill Crisafi is an artist and costume designer. Originally from Salem, Massachusetts, his work is influenced by the occult, drag, and fashion. His illustrations explore themes of magic and folklore, merged with camp and humor. Crisafi holds a Fashion Design degree from The Fashion Institute of Technology, as well as a Fine Arts degree from the School for the Museum of Fine Arts & Tufts University. The Glam Reaper’s Guide to Slaying is his first book. For more information, find him here: https://www.instagram.com/billsafi/?hl=en

Get the book today on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0063480794?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback