Interview by Rachel Gottesman

Congratulations on your first print! It didn't take very long for you to be printed.

Your style has developed super quickly from the first submission to your current print. How did you discover the cut paper style and why do you prefer that to a drawing?

After searching through printed Threadless designs and seeing some made with photography and others made with just pen and pencil, I realized that it is possible to get printed without having Adobe Illustrator or other graphic design programs for the computer.  Threadless is open to new styles.



 So I started with actual paint, then moved to newspaper, and eventually came to colored paper.  Then Staffell (a blogger) recommended I make a design based off one of my slogans.  I chose the peacock slogan because I pictured an array of bright colors and lightning bolts.

After that it all fell together, and I was reading an email from Mimi.  I prefer this style over drawing because this is what makes me unique.  As a youngster I would love to make collages, and I have a framed picture of a boat made from ripped pieces of magazines in my room.  I find hands-on art more enjoyable then sitting in front of a screen the whole time.

Do you think that submitting to Threadless has helped you with your artistic skills?

 Submitting for Threadless has greatly helped my artistic skills.  Just a few weeks ago in art class, we were making colored pencil elements of art posters using a shape.  My shape was a turtle.  After I had it all colored in, I looked at the poster and thought, "What would make this more appealing?"  I grabbed a hole puncher to add bubbles around the turtles to show movement, and blue-papered waves in the corners of the poster.  Also, our Art Club is having a t-shirt contest.  



I made the design, of course, out of paper, and I presented it to my teacher with optional placements and mocked-up on people.  She was extremely impressed, but I have to thank Threadless and the bloggers who helped me learn how to do that.

What's been your favorite part about submitting to Threadless and getting feedback from other designers?

My favorite part about submitting to Threadless is everything that occurs before, during, and after I have a design.  Sometimes, I would post a blog with my idea, and other Threadless members would offer advice to fix it (I know there is a critique section, but I am more of a blog kind of guy).  Then when the design is being scored, I rush home from school and read the new comments on the page.  The final day is always exciting wondering what the score is.  After a rough day, Threadless always has a way to make it better one way or another.

What are your plans for the next few years? Do you plan on going to college? If so, what do you want to study?

My plans for the next two years during high school are to keep taking art and pottery classes; and hopefully, when I am a senior, I'll take AP studio.  I will keep submitting designs during that time also.  I do plan to go to college, but I am not sure where.  I will probably minor in art or take an art class or two during college for fun.  I am unsure of what I want to major in.



Who are some of your favorite artists?

To be honest, my favorite artists are some of those who design for Threadless.  I love scrolling through the pages and looking for their names.  It makes me really happy when I see their designs.  

The first designer whom I admire is TangYauHoong.  I own his design, "PEEP."  His optical illusions and overall style is very appealing to me.  Plus, we both had a print on the same week!  

Another designer whose work I adore that was printed on the same week as me is Ilovedoodle. Ilovedoodle makes me feel warm inside when I see his submissions.  I have checked the I'd buy it as a tee  box numerous times because I would really buy a lot of his work.  



The third designer whom I consider the master of color is mathiole.  His designs "Swing me higher" and "Unlimited thought" are so masterful, words cannot even explain.  

Lastly, buko makes my brain melt every time I see his work.  His colors are so bold and he is always pushing the envelope.  "Cacophony" will probably always be my favorite. These four and many others inspire me to be a better artist.



Would you jump out of an airplane while riding an elephant for $1,000?

I would most definitely jump out of an airplane riding an elephant for $1,000 when the plane is landed.  I have always liked money.  It is just good to have.


Interview by Rachel Gottesman

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