Interview by Rachel Gottesman

Congratulations on another print! It's been quite some time since "Work Sucks" was printed. You're one of the original bloggers! Isn't it amazing how much the community has changed in the past few years?

Thanks!! I just worked out its been 6 years, I guess I'm just a slow worker! I remember getting my first design jobs off the back of my Threadless submissions, I was working in a warehouse and ducking out at lunchtime to play with flash on the office computers. Ultimately it convinced me to go back to Art School where I met loads of hot Norwegians, so major props to Threadless.



Its definitely staggering how much it has evolved over the years, there is an amazing community here now which is so supportive of new artists.

I have to ask this question because I think everyone who knows your work is thinking it. Why do you work backwards? And by backwards I mean starting with a dark mass and then erasing out parts until you've got a beautiful image... Which I suppose technically isn't backwards for you, but most people work the other way around.

I cant stand staring at a blank page/canvas so the natural solution for me is to cover it up right from the start. I kinda like the randomness of pulling objects from abstract shapes, a bit like how people see objects in clouds. I wanted a way of working where I didn't have to rely on a sketch, just work something up from scratch and let it evolve naturally around a central idea or narrative.



Like most people your work has obviously evolved from one style to another. What do you suppose caused this change? (I'm assuming you used to work building up shapes as opposed to erasing them out...)

When I first started to draw things 100% digitally I found that drawing in a conventional way as I would on paper just didn't do it for me on the computer, it all felt slightly forced and stiff. So I experimented with some of the painting techniques I was using in my non-digital work at the time and it just seemed to evolve from there.

With regards to style, I tend to switch techniques pretty frequently, so much so I would say I don't really have a consistant style at the moment with the exception of my Threadless submissions.

I gather you also do some painting. Do you consider yourself more of a designer or a painter? Or illustrator? Or...?

Which is your favorite medium and what do you consider yourself to be?

I'm learning actionscript 3 at the moment so I just don't know how to answer this question anymore.

I prefer Webillustradesignypainterer but that looked really bad on my business cards and no-one wanted to hire me :(. I do love painting though, my favourite medium being acrylics with a spot of retarding gel :o)



What's your favorite recently printed Threadless shirt and what's so great about it?

I loved 'The Last Feckin' Unicorn' it just cracks me up every time I look at it and read the submission comments page!

Which was a greater testament to Kid 'n Play's acting skills: House Party or House Party 2?

Oh man, what was the one with Bernie Mac and TLC in it?

It was one of them.

If there' anything else you'd like to add, now is your chance!

Big thanks to the people that vote and comment on my work!

Thanks for chatting!

Interview by Rachel Gottesman

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