Interview by Rachel Gottesman

Congratulations on your very first Threadless print! I hope this means that you'll be submitting more in the future.

So tell us... What's your number one influence?

I’m probably going to go with the usual “well, I couldn’t possibly name a single influence, I draw my inspiration from many sources and what goes on around me.” Yeah, that sounds good.



Alright, then what's your favorite subject matter? (Is it skulls? Skulls are pretty cool...)

I know there are lots of haters (I used to be one too) but I’ve come to love skulls! There’s just something about them that makes them so fun to draw. I also enjoy doing portraits, along with old-style flourishes, and I enjoy drawing on simplistic Swiss design styles as well from time to time.

Tell us a little about art in the Sunshine State.

Man, if I went to college somewhere around Orlando I could probably say a lot already. After getting involved in t-shirt design, it seems like tons of those artists are around there. But, I’m in Gainesville now!

I haven’t yet gotten too involved in the local art scene around here, but I’ve heard lots of good things about Store101, and I will be getting involved in the planning and execution of Ligature 2009, the University of Florida’s yearly Graphic Design show. Hopefully I can get some stuff in there too!



From the first shirt you've ever designed to now, what's the biggest thing that's changed for you?

I’m definitely illustrating a lot more. I used to use acquired bits and pieces (though I still do from time to time) from photos, old illustrations, and free use vectors and piece them together all collage-style. Though collage with digital and photographic elements can turn out amazing (like Elektrik Suicide, for example), I feel like illustration is working pretty well for my t-shirt designs right now.

What was your biggest challenge?

I would say the major thing many people get stuck in early on in digital design is ending up with a cluttered, flat design. Design vomit, if you will. I feel like expressing a sense of depth and movement in design is very important, and sets the greatest apart from the greats.



Do you design things outside of the t-shirt world? What's been your favorite project outside of clothing design?

Nothing on a commercial level yet, really, no, but I am going for a major in Graphic Design in school, and I have had some pretty fun class projects. My favorite so far would probably be a poster series with secret, glow-in-the-dark ink images screenprinted over each. Those came out pretty neat.

Ah yes, glow in the dark. Always popular. Now let me break away from art a little bit...
Biggest debate of all time: Pie or cake? I'm dead serious, this is a very important question.



Well, I actually did some research on this. When considering cheesecake-the best dessert ever- there is a hot debate over which category it best fits in. After reading Wikipedia, I’d consider it a cake, and since this would also include carrot cake and ice cream cake, cake wins, hands down.

Boo. Everybody knows pie is the best!

Is there anything else you'd like to say? Now's your chance!

Hmm, I can’t think of anything super awesome to say here, so I’ll just thank you guys at Threadless for giving me the opportunity and exposure!

Interview by Rachel Gottesman

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