Tell us a little bit about your background. Where did it all begin?

I’ve had a profound interest in anything creative ever since I was a child. In school I would draw on whatever I had in front of me and probably spent more time sketching than I did listening to the teacher.





I’ve always found it much easier to pick up a pen and just start drawing rather than trying to write a sentence or take down notes. You could say creative expression is my preferred form of communication. It’s how I talk to the world and voice my feelings.

I began to focus on digital art and design around the time I turned fifteen. I became more and more interested in the field and turned to the web for my inspiration. I started experimenting with programs like Photoshop, Flash and Bryce 3d and got lost just exploring the possibilities.

As time went on my thirst for creativity grew and I began to expand my skills and experience over a range of different applications, disciplines and styles.

Out of high school I completed a short course in multimedia then with a friend started up a design business in the lounge room of his house. The business never really took off but the experience and practical lessons it taught me were very valuable in my growth as a designer.

At the beginning of this year I decided to go freelance and launched my personal portfolio. The response and feedback I received from the site was overwhelming and took me completely by surprise.

This is only the beginning for me and I'm very much looking forward to what the future has in store.



How would you describe your work?

I get asked this question fairly often and I never quite know how to answer it. I find it difficult to analysis my own work most of the time, so I’m not really sure how to describe it. I’d prefer it if people viewed my works for themselves without any preconceptions or expectations and find their own description.

I try to keep an open mind when it comes to developing a new concepts or themes and don’t like to be boxed in or limited by any labels or fixed ideas. I would like to think the style of my work is as broad and diverse as my many interests and that each individual piece represents a completely new set of rules and ideas. A less romantic response however, might be that my illustrative works share some similarities and are all very bright, colorful, busy, paint splattered compositions with beautiful half naked women standing around without much expression on their faces.



What kind of formal education, training or experience do you have?

I have a Diploma of Multimedia and Certificate IV in IT from TAFE but I would say most of my skills have been self taught.

In the creative industries I don’t think having an extensive formal education to stand behind is really necessary or helpful even. People are usually a lot more interested to see examples of your previous work and also how much practical experience you’ve had in the field.



What materials/programs do you use to produce your work?

I’m always experimenting with new ways to produce my work and try not to use the same procedures or techniques over and over again, however there are some common methods and applications I use.

These include:

Wacom tablet, camera, stock photos, scanner + pen, paper, ink, paint, textures, etc. Photoshop, Illustrator, 3D Studio Max, Cinema 4d, Zbrush, Painter, Flash, AfterEffects, Dreamweaver, and a few other plug-ins, etc.







What would you consider to be your most valuable skill?

I think my most valued skill might be just having a creative mind.
Being able to apply my creativity in everything I do, whether that’s making an image or developing an original concept. I think being creative is just what I do best.

In practical terms it allows me to extend my experience over a number of different fields and disciplines to give me a broad and flexible range of abilities to stand behind. I think it’s important when a client looks to you for work, they can see examples from your portfolio that show a diversity and fluid collection of skills.

My second most valued skill or attribute would probably be my determination and ambition to succeed as an artist and professional. I believe being driven and passionate is an essential key to moving forward.



I notice that you have experiments with music on your site, is this something you think you will ever pursue further?
I definitely hope so! Music is another great love of mine and I would to find the time to explore it more often.

It’s also untainted from the hassles and pressure of having to do it for a living. I enjoy making my art and graphics but it kind of takes away the fun when you’re on contract from a client or have creative restrictions and deadlines choking you.

One day I hope. I have to keep reminding myself that there’s always plenty of time to do the things I love. I just have to be patient I suppose.



What have you found to be the most effective way of getting a new brief?

Usually a new client will contact me. I’ve been lucky enough to receive some decent exposure in the last few months and have seen a fair amount of work come from it.

I think the best way to get work is to establish a good reputation, try your very best and let word of mouth do the rest.



Do you have a typical starting place for each new job, a point you launch from?

I have a process that I try to stick to whenever I receive a new contract.

First I try to understand what is my ultimate goal and what I need to do to complete the project successfully. This will all depend on the type of project and the clients needs.

Before I start developing any ideas I try to have an awareness about the target audience as well as my client. Find out who they are, what they’re about and what they expect.

I think it’s important to have a good overall understanding about the project in general. This is essential to be able to make any confident decisions when it comes to the planning and development stages of the project.

After this I like to look around for similar examples of work or anything that might give me an idea or inspiration. Start brainstorming and look for things that might ignite my imagination. This is probably the part of the job I love the most.  If I’m stuck for ideas I like to get off the computer for a bit, go for a walk, lie in bed, have a shower and usually ideas will come to me.

After this I try to build a concept design for the final product. I string together all the best ideas I had and then make a final decision, settling on a single direction. Then I break down the project into smaller tasks and work through each of them so I know exactly what needs to be done.

I like to have a solid direction and a realistic plan in place before I open any programs, just so I don’t waste anytime getting confused and going around in circles. If you don’t have a clear vision or strategy to work with and if you’re confused about any of the tasks, the project can easily lead to disaster.

Most of the time the client will have already given you a starting point to work from, but it’s up to you to elaborate on that point and mould it into a workable strategy.





I try to give the client a range of options and variations to choose from with my designs. They usually like this type of input because it gives them a chance to have some sort of control over the project. Don’t put in any designs you hate or that will require too much work however, because the majority of the time they will choose these.

It’s important to keep a good stream of communication between you and your client through out the duration of the project, to make sure they understand what you’re doing and what’s going on. To avoid any confusions or miscommunication I’ve found it’s more often helpful to use illustration and examples of work to make a point rather than trying to explain it to them.

Once you have approval on a design or concept from the source, you can begin development and construction.

What you would say inspires your work? What would you say are your major influences?

I think my influences and inspiration are separate and come in different ways.

My inspiration usually comes in sporadic bursts and is more about the moment. I start getting ideas and begin to feel very ambitious. It just takes a hold of me and I can’t help to shift my attention. The is no specific cause or action that sets off these outburst, it can be anything from a song I’m listening to or some graffite I see on the train.

I am more influenced by other artists through the way I produce a piece and the technical construction of a composition.

Some of the artists who have influenced me and that I admire:

Maxfield Parrish, William Bouguereau, Gustav Klimt, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, Edgar Degas, Damien Hirst, Joshua Davis, Kustaa Saksi, Chuck Anderson, Ian Francis, David LaChapelle, Nigel Evan Dennis, Jens Karlsson, James Widegren, Nathan Flood, Saiman Chow







Do you have any local suppliers that you use on a regular basis ie Printers, web hosting, etc?

Not really. Still looking around. If anyone knows a place that offers a quality printing service and can do prints in gold and silver at a reasonable price Id be happy to hear from them.



How did you first begin to sell/market your work?

I only really began my freelance career in March of this year. I was lucky enough to get my URL posted on a couple of major design news portals. I got my first taste of publicity and made a decision to spend the rest of the week going around to all the design news sites and submitting my link. I started emailing art directors and people with influence in design scene and set out to make to build a reputation.

It worked well and in a short time I was getting over a thousand hits a day. It become addictive and I was playing it like a game. Seeing how many hits I could get a day or counting my emails

The hype has since died down but the opportunities and that presented themselves during that time where awesome.







If your not working, where are you most likely to be?

Lying in bed thinking about work or doing some personal projects. It’s becoming harder to distinguish the differences between work and pleasure these days. If I get any spare time I’ll usually spend it working on some artwork or trying to catch up with friends I’ve been neglecting.



What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do? The most frustrating?

The most rewarding aspect of the job for me is probably being able to bring my visions to life. Being able to start with an idea and turn it into a reality. It’s very satisfying to see a project grow from the initial designs through to the final product.

Being able to make something that can inspire people is also very rewarding. I feel very encouraged every time I get an email from someone, saying they enjoyed my work.

The most frustrating part of the job is probably when your ideas clash with a client’s.



Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

I don’t really make plans that far ahead in the future. I just hope I’m still alive. I was offered a Job with a reputable firm in New York only yesterday, so I’m still considering that opportunity. There are a million things I want to do in this life and a million pathways I want to explore. I have no idea where I’m going to whined up in this crazy world.

“if all goes to plan I could be in rehab next Thursday, Tuesday week I'll be living on an island with a small Indian boy.”  (Vince; The Mighty Boosh – season 1, episode 7)



Any hot design tips, sites or words of wisdom you care to share for those pursuing similar creative goals?

I'd say just go for it, you’ll never fail if you never try. Don’t think about it for too long and never say ‘but what if’. Just pick up a pen and start drawing, typing, clicking or whatever it takes to turn your dreams and ambitions into a reality. Keep dreaming, you can only go as far as your dreams can reach in the end.

Get your work out there and make yourself known. Start a campaign and make some noise. Don’t just sit by passively and wonder what could have been. Be aggressive and shameless when marketing yourself. There is nothing wrong with letting people know who you are and what you do. Make a plan and never let anything get in your way.

Find people with similar interests who can help you reach your goals. Get involved in the scene and create opportunities for yourself. Join an online community or web forum and get active. Participate in competitions and collaborate with other people in your field. Look to others for inspiration and motivation but also be original with your work.





Look to the future but learn from the past. If you make a mistake don’t dwell on it but instead try to understand what went wrong and how you can learn from that. Be patient. Time is important so cherish it.

Embrace new opportunities and work feverously to get them. Remember to make a commitment you have to be willing to make a sacrifice.

“Either you decide to stay in the shallow end of the pool or you go out in the ocean.” (Christopher Reeve)

Some links:

For design news.
www.designiskinky.com
www.cpluv.com
www.digitalabstracts.com

Some good sites for career opportunities..
www.newstoday.com
www.ycnonline.com
www.designtaxi.com