Interview by Shondi Nickell

Why hello there, how are you doing today?
Hello back. Oh, I'm good enough. You?

I am doing super fantastic, thanks for asking. Did you go to school? Where at and what for!?
Yea, though I found if fairly useless. Don't get me wrong, the degree came in handy; got me in the door and all - but the act of "learning" how to be an artist-slash-designer was all done post-college. Not for a lack of trying mind you, you just can't beat the "real world" as an instruction tool. Oh, I went to the University of Louisiana, Monroe. I majored in art with a focus in graphic design.

After reading that I'm sure most of our young readers will be like "Well why go to school then?!" Any advice if they try to make it on their own without the school degree getting them in the door?
Without seeing every individual’s portfolio, my broad advice is to get the degree. The “opening-doors” benefit is a good one, especially if the plan is to go the commercial-design route. If they’re like me, I always felt like a fine-artist in a commercial world. The goal is (and has always been) to use advertising as the steady income while constantly looking for other avenues of creative expression that are more geared to my inner-artist. The theory is that, eventually, if my work is good-enough, the world will notice and I can one day create my own artwork without compromise.


How'd you get your start in design?
I freelanced for a while but that didn't last due to my need to eat. Then I worked for a company that designed baby-product labels (nearly got fired for my complete lack of enthusiasm). And finally, I entered the world of advertising. It has slowly eaten my soul everyday since. That was 8 years ago.

Eating is good. Advertising must keep you pretty happily fed, if you've been there 8 years. Can you describe your job, your normal day, any interesting clients?
Hmm, my job is spent in front of a huge monitor and my Mac. Mostly doing page-layout stuff, working with photographs that I usually have to improve or change in photoshop. An occasional illustration here and there breaks up the monotony. I do designs for billboards and catalogs. I also write and direct radio and tv spots, probably 8 to 10 a year, which can be fun depending on the client. The bigger the client, the bigger the board of directors, which always means a case of too many cooks in the kitchen. But the bigger clients have bigger budgets which usually allows for more creative options. I do work for one of the biggest sink manufacturers in the world as well as a little company called Volvo. Plus a few local companies ranging from clothing to healthcare.


What was your 'big break'?
Still waiting on that one. Though the production of my threadless design has been very beneficial in getting my name "out there."

Radical! Flowers in the Attic is a very popular tee. Any other submissions in the works for us?
Very few of my submissions were designed with a tee in mind. Normally, it’s work that I’ve done for other projects that, for one reason or another, didn’t get used so I tweak them a little and place it on the threadless shirt template. If it works, I submit it – if not, it lies dormant in the vast space of my hard drive until I eventually find a use for it. I’m sure there will be more submissions in the future. However, my success rate isn’t the best – I’ve submitted over 30 designs with only one “winner” so far. It’s cool though, I get a lot of work from people who stumble upon my threadless gallery.

What inspired your work?
Oh, probably something new everyday. I need inspirationS badly. Without it, I hit major creative blocks. Luckily, I dabble in other mediums so I usually have a creative safety-net to fall into. But the easy answer: other artists. Specifically Shepard Fairey, James O'Barr, Banksy, Mark Ryden, Jamie Hewlett, and Berkeley Breathed.

So... painting, graffiti, comics - there is definitely alot of inspiration to be found there! What's your favorite medium to work in?
I’m not sure I have a favorite, but some mediums are definitely more comfortable for me than others. For instance, I can’t paint to save my life. That is, painting in the traditional sense. Now give me a spray-can and a stencil and it’s on. Really though, my process is usually to sketch out an idea, scan it, and redraw it in the computer adding all the appropriate bells & whistles. When I think I have the skill-level to transfer a digital piece onto a canvas – I do, with mixed results. I’m updating my website now to show-off some of these “results.”


What do you do to get past creative blocks?
Music always helps but I guess that's a pretty generic answer. I guess ultimately, I just wait it out. The blocks have yet to be permanent so far. I'm sure I just jinxed myself for life by typing that.

I don't think music is a generic answer - there's so much creativity to be found in music that it is inspirational and can definitely get you out of a funk. Any genre or artist that always gets your creative juices flowing?
I listen to a lot of trip-hop. And a lot of rock that has a slight electronic or hip hop flourish like Soulwax, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Unkle and most recently – Team Sleep.

What's the most played song on your iPod?
Oh how I love my Ipod. Uh, most played song? - It would probably be "Reign" by Unkle or maybe "Save You" by Something Corporate. Ooh wait - lately, it has been that Gorillaz track, "feel good." Or maybe...

How has Threadless helped you?
Exposure. Exposure. Exposure.

And through that exposure, any interesting contacts or jobs or stories? I've heard that some people get some booty by being a Threadless designer, can you vouch for that?
Definitely. Probably all the freelance I do for bands is filtered through the Threadless site. Like I said before, they see my gallery and contact me about doing some original work. I haven’t turned down anyone yet.


How and when did you hear about Threadless?
I have no idea. Probably a design-related publication like Communicative Arts or something. A little over 2 years ago.

Do you think that Threadless helps designers?
The forum alone helps designers. It's good that we can feed off each others' creative sensibilities. The site as a whole gives a voice to designers that would otherwise have none. Plus, it's a great time-waster at work to scroll through the countless submissions.

Agreed. Threadless is great. And you're great man! Keep on rocking and being great!

Interview by Shondi Nickell

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