What clients/projects are you currently working on?

At the moment, I am working with DDB Canada to create a library of photographs to be used for the marketing of the new 1.2 million sq/ft expansion of the Vancouver Convention Center. It's been a great project, DDB is a dream client and the building is quite inspiring - it has the one of the largest green rooftops - over 2 hectares  and has it's own bees colony to pollenate the flowers. It will serve as the media broadcast headquarters for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Also working on a personal project which will incorporate painting w/ light + reiki symbolism.

How did you get into photography?

Well, thats a bit of long story but I suppose it's a unique one.
I had a slight interest interest in photography during high school but nothing was able to compete with my obsession for skateboarding. Living on a farm in the Canadian prairies (which is under snow for 5 months of the year) was not ideal for skateboarding so after graduation I worked in a local hardware store to save money so that I could move to Vancouver and skate the streets of the big city all year long. When I gave my 2 week notice to my superior at the hardware store, she of course asked my why I was moving to Vancouver; because I didn't want to come off as being slightly irresponsible saying that I was going there to skateboard, my mind raced to find an answer and in a split second I responded that I was going there to study photography. "That sounds interesting, good luck and don't forget about us when you become a famous photographer!" That was that and I never thought of it again until over a year later -in Vancouver my obsession with skateboarding was subsiding and it seemed like it was time to decide on a career - although working as a door to door vacuum salesman was actually quite a good experience,I knew that it was not my mission in life. So.. I went to the public library and found a book that listed every possible occupation in the English language. It took a few hours of scanning and daydreaming  to get to P's and then I saw Photographer - and immediately remembered what I said a year earlier. So I signed up to a basic photography class the next day - was totally inspired by my teacher - researched the different College programs available and decided on Langara College which has a very technical 2 year photography program. Applyed, was accepted and it's been photography every since. Graduated, worked with an architectural photographer full-time for a year and then went out on my own to start my own commercial photography business - GRUNERT IMAGING. I create architectural/industrial + landscape photographs for a selection of amazing clients and continue to produce personal work that serves as the foundation of my style.

 
What do you think your style/theme says about you?

Lines, atmosphere, movement + light. I think it speaks of my curiousity, appreciation for this world around us.
I credit the prairies landscape for developing the way that I see. The vast sky, linear landscape and straight endless roads seemed to burned a sort of grid into my vision which I use to compose a photograph. It helped me developed a spatial sense as well as a connection to the Earth and it's natural cycles.
In the off season of farming, my father used to work as a boiler engineer at the local Federal building; I recall those times as a young child when he would take me to work.I quickly became fascinated with the vast array of the pipes, valves lights + switches that he controlled and an interest in manmade systems and structures grew from there.I see a connection between these two opposing worlds- man and nature - and it's found in it's simple/complex beauty. To be me the placement of street lights are as magnificent as a constellation of stars.


What do you enjoy most about your career?

I love learning about how things work, how they are made or where they come from.  Photography allows me to constantly explore and share my findings. I get step inside of other people's shoes for a short period of time and visit places not seen by most. I am truly blessed.


What would you do if you could'nt take pictures ever again?

There are not a lot of things out there that could stop me. Funny...I've thought about what would happen if for some reason I went blind...
and answered to myself that I would continue to take photographs; I think I could pull it off. Quite often when I am taking photographs it seems as though I am visualizing the light more so than seeing it anyhow.
besides a blind photographer; I'm sure the art dealers and collectors would love the spin...


Is your plan to stay freelancing & why?

Yes, I don't think there are many full time photography positions left anymore. If the downturn in the economy continues for an extended period of time, I wouldn't be surprised if the concept comes back as a result of companies tightening their expendatures and fighting for control of their own fate. Could be interesting. There are a handful of design firms and ad agencies that I would be happy to work for exclusively as long as I was compensated fairly  and able to hold onto the copyright of the work I did for them.

 
View more photography from Kristopher Grunert

How are things for you right now and how busy are you?

Change has come my way big time recently. Since 2000, over 3/4 of my income came from a design retainer with a marketing company, and that was all but cut off in late January. So, I'm busier than ever, with my remaining clients and the remainder of my time looking for new work.


Does the state of the economy have any effect on you as an artist?

Absolutely (see above!). Since my "layoff", I've plunged more deeply into finding new clients. Most of my projects have been word-of-mouth, and my reputation and portfolio has grown solidly as a result. Now, reaching beyond my known realms of clients has shown just how stiff the competition is for design jobs. I'm confident I'll get my work out there enough so that those who can use my talents will see what I can create for them.


What do you enjoy most about your career?

The sheer variety—the richness of visual language—that I am able to use in my work. My training as a fine artist informs so much of my design work, and helps me to add depth and cohesion to most any project. Likewise, my design experience has given me a more economical and graphic approach to my drawing and painting, so there's lots of room for overlap between the two sisterly worlds.

Have you had any horror stories with clients as an artist?

Thankfully, no. The beauty of word-of-mouth marketing is that—more often that not—the integrity and respect of a known client is an intrinsic part of their relationships with others. I have had some disappointments....projects wherein the client took shortcuts on the production/printing end, so that my work did not shine as brightly as it could have, but no real horror stories to speak of.


Where will you be hopefully in 5 years?

Fully self-employed with a full roster of musicians, creating CD covers and selling my paintings and drawings as well.

View Bryan's full print/design portfolio 

What clients/projects are you guys currently working on?

Currently, we're working on some motion graphics pieces to promote Nueva Forma /  www.nuevaforma.com, and another for the up-and-coming apparel company, Defeat The Monkey. We were also invited to design a few t-shirts for Carrot Clothing, a streetwear company based in Serbia. In addition to those projects, we're under retainer with a couple of our other clients. Those particular relationships are great, because it allows us to allocate our time efficiently, so we can concentrate on our own personal projects, i.e. The Color Bureau (Colorcubic's online shop), as well as redesigning the Colorcubic website; both of which are coming along nicely.

So, I guess we have a lot on our plate at the moment. :)

Your work is very powerful, have you won any awards, or is that not important to you?

Honestly, it's not really important to us. Our objective isn't to win anything, because this isn't a race or a competition for us. We've received several awards for being a sustainable company in Portland, (which helps keep us in check as an environmentally conscious business) but as far as design awards go, we haven't received any. Ultimately, people will remember us by the work we've done and how it impacted them; not by how many awards are sitting on a shelf (or in a refrigerator).

What do you think your style/theme says about you as a team?

Well, it probably says that we care about aesthetics and functionality, but we also care about conveying a strong message. We're not designing for "flash in the pan" trends, (at least we'd like to think we're not). We're designing with the key goal to have our messages and work transcend time. Hopefully in fifty years, our designs will speak to people just as strongly as it does now.

Has the state of the economy affected you as a business?

Fortunately, no, although I will admit that we were a little concerned at first. I suppose the reason the economy hasn't affected us is because we've fortified long term relationships with clients under retainers. We've been working with some of the same clients since we started Colorcubic two years ago, which have afforded us the opportunities to explore our own personal projects.

What advice would you have for newcomers in the industry trying to make it?

As strange as this explanation may sound, it's relevant to the question.

We recently went to see the new movie, the Watchmen (which, if I might add, was a beautiful adaptation of the comic). One of our favorite characters in the movie was the character, Rorschach. Near the end of the movie, he says "Never compromise, not even in the face of armageddon."  Don't worry, that won't spoil anything if you haven't seen it. ;)

If we were to offer up advice for newcomers in this industry, I think that would be the best advice we could give (or borrow).

A lot of designers we see tend to compromise their work, because they're under a tight deadline, or they're just tired of working on the same project (whatever it may be). We understand that sometimes clients can be difficult, and demand results immediately, but it's your job as a designer to educate your clients, to help them understand that quality is  more important than quantity, and that can't be rushed. If you're just taking a project on for money, then you're immediately compromising the end result. If you don't feel passionate about a project you take on, then don't take it on, otherwise you run the risk of not only wasting your own time and money, but your clients time and money as well.

Don't get us wrong, we understand that people need to pay the bills and put food on their plate, but if you're just in this industry to win trophies, awards, or money, then go join the Olympics, or go work on Wall Street, (although I think everyone can see how well that is working out).

This industry, (in our humble opinion) is meant to communicate truth, spread awareness, and make huge environmental / social changes. But like any tool that has the potential to do good, also has equal potential to do bad. It's up to the individual designer to decide why they're in this industry, and what kind of impact they want to have on societies.

Is the plan to grow into a full scale agency with many employees in the future?

Well... we've certainly thought about it. We can see how that would be the goal for some design groups / agencies just starting out. There's certainly a lot of appeal to have a full scale agency. Makes you feel big and strong,  but for us it would be a nightmare. We really love being involved with every single project we take on; whether it's storyboarding, creating typefaces, post production, etc... we're passionate about our personal contributions to every project. If we were to turn into a full scale agency with 100+ employees, we feel that we would lose that personal touch that people have come to recognize in our work. We're not interested in just being Creative Directors, or Art Directors, delegating authority, and then tacking our name onto the finished piece. We're interested in getting our feet wet, and being involved with the creative process from start to finish. I guess our current plan is to build a small team of like minded individuals, who feel just as passionate as we do about making a positive impact in the world through our work.

View Colorcubic's new media/graphic & web design portfolio

What projects are you currently working on?

I'm currently working on the sleeve design for the rock band Hannibal. They have a new CD that's out shortly. I have done quite a lot of design work for various independent record labels, and for some great music artists. It's fantastic to get projects such as these, where a designer can be really imaginative and creative. Very often I have had free reign to design something that suits the look and feel of the band. I'm also working on some POS designs for a major fashion company.

What do you think your style/theme says about you?

I don't know if I have a particular style! I try not to be too influenced by design fashion and do my own thing. I feel that as a freelance artist, it's often important to try to be as diverse as possible. If a client wants to see a particular design style, I feel that one should try to deliver what the client wants. I think that my work reflects the need as an artist to be as flexible as possible - do vector, do photo manipulation, do illustration - the more skills you posses the more marketable you are as a designer. Especially at the moment, when designers (including myself) are looking to get freelance work or hired on permanently.

What do you enjoy most about your career?

I love the creative process. Taking something from a thought to a reality is such a buzz! The way that ideas evolve on the page or onscreen is so rewarding for me. I think that all artists are a bit insecure and desperate for recognition - for people to love their work. There's nothing more joyous than creating something that people love. Although design is subjective, it's often disheartening to receive negative feedback. No one wants to design something that is not well received.

What would you like to contribute to your field?

Although I'm fairly new to the design industry (having worked as a copywriter for a number of years before becoming a design professional) I want to eventually be a respected designer. Even though every piece of work I do is a good indication of my upward design progression, I still have a hell of a lot to learn and it bothers me that I'm not at the level of many other designers in the same field. I want to contribute  designs that are well recognized and respected within the industry.

Where will you be hopefully in five years?

In 5 years time, I'd like to have secured a permanent and long-lasting position at a major design firm or ad agency. But as long as I'm making a good living from designing and doing what I love, I'll be happy.

View Ben's graphic/illustration design portfolio

What clients/projects are you currently working on?

    My main project right now is a website redesign for Kenbrook. They are a camp and retreat center in central PA. I designed a site for their summer camp last year, which they were please with, so they brought me back to work on their main site. I'm doing alot of the front end design; all the graphics, site layout and information architecture. I'm having alot of fun with this project. I'm working with their web developer who will build the actual site, so I'm free to focus on the aestheics and user experience. We hope to go live with the redesign by June 1st, but that is a flexible date.
    Other than that I'm also working on a branding project for a non-profit ministry that I'm very close with, Hope Minsitries International. I've also got a few projects going for pitch-work, which I like to do with local businesses. Then there's plenty of personal projects, too. I try not to take on too many tasks, but I always seem to stretch myself.

Does your faith have a big influence on your work, if so, why?

    Absolutely. Well for one my whole philosophy on creativity is based in my faith. My opinion is that God has given me (each person) talents and abilities to be used for His honor, not just for selfish motives or wasted. So that always motivates me to do my very best at whatever I do. Also I have a conviction about doing work for certain clients and having certain components appear in my work or not appear. Industries I don't support, such as alcohol or tobacco, I would not take those businesses for client work. Likewise, you won't see alot of elements in my work that reflect things like sex and drugs.
    One other way my faith has influenced my business is through the work I've gotten from organizations that I believe in, such as Christian camps and other non-profits. I enjoy building working relationships especially with clients when I really believe in what they're doing. It makes the project feel alot more meaninful, ya know?

What do you enjoy most about your career?

    Well I'm very passionate about how my work can add value to my clients. I love seeing clients who are satisfied with a project and knowing that their business really benefited from what they hired me to do. I'm also really enjoying being self-employed. There's alot of freedom with that. Even though there are plenty of challenges, too. You have to have alot of confidence and guts to try to make a living via freelance. Not saying that I have that all the time but it sure does stretch me knowing that my business is going to succeed directly propotionate to the amount of effort that I put into it. My faith comes into play there alot too, because I believe being stretched is always positive, so long as you respond positively.

What would you like to contribute to your field?

    I'm very interested in pushing the level of design forward and inspiring others to progress. I see so many designers who are incredibly advanced in their skills, and I'm deeply inspired by how they approach their art. That motivates me to push the envelope everyday and develop my own skill level further. I hope to contribute the same thing to others in the design industry.

Has the state of the economy affected you?

    It is obviously affecting everyone. I don't think I can fully appreciate it's impact, though, since my business is relatively young and I still have to really work to find new clients and keep business coming in. But I have noticed my clients having tighter budgets and beginning to negotiate on terms, things I don't think some of them really needed to do until now.
    Also, I'm trying to respond to it positively by being proactive about how it affects my business. What I mean is, instead of say, just being hurt for business because of the economy, I'm trying to allow this to be a continuous reminder of how much I really need to push myself to be marketing all the time and networking. Hopefully that way I can make this an opportunity for growth rather than just an economic depression for my business. Also it has touched me in that I realize what my clients and even prospective clients are facing. They can't just throw money away and every purchase they make has to give them alot of assurance of ROI. That in mind it helps me to be more flexible to meet their needs, whether it be with flexing on payment terms or something else.

Where will you be hopefully in 5 years?

    I have alot of goals. Hopefully doing the best work of my career, maybe not getting rich but at least building a business that can support my family and stand the test of time. I have a lot of personal goals too, but I'll spare you. But seriously the one place that I want to be in 5 years is right in the center of God's will for my life. Like I said I have alot of goals, many even written down, but God may have a different plan for me than I do. And that's OK, because I trust His ability to guide me through the future alot more than my ability to forsee it!

View Joel's full design/illustration portfolio

What clients/projects are you currently working on?
 
I've not got any jobs on at the moment! I'm currently doing a bit of drawing in the city of London. I'm going back to doing ink drawings, which I haven't done for a few years. It's important to try and keep your work on the boil in between jobs!

Is your work mainly digital or traditional, what do you prefer?
 
For me, it's definately traditional. I've found using computers fun, but ultimately, your work can completely lose it's vitality and direction.  I think you have a lot more chance of producing something original and 'honest' if you stick with traditional media. We should be wary of digital media really..

What do you enjoy most about your career?
 
The thing I enjoy most, is that i'm still here, I haven't given up, even though it can be tough.

Who are your favorite illustrators?
 
Jason Ford, Sara Fanelli, Stephen Cartwright, Herge, Feliks Topolski, Stephen Appleby, Quentin Blake, Tony Ross...

Top 5 Favorite Things in Life?
 
having a laugh, Losely yoghurts, furry animals, bonfires, indoor remote controlled helicopters.

View David's full design/illustration portfolio

How Busy are you at the moment ?

I had been very busy through the first quarter of 2008, then as the economy downturn started, the projects were fewer and fewer until hitting a low point from November through February of this year. Since March things have steadily been picking up, but still not up to the level I’m used to having.

Has your work always evolved around 3D visuals ?

I’m proud to say you can’t tell it by my work, but I’m 65 years old. I’ve been in advertising for 44 years starting in art studios in Detroit, as an art director and associate creative director at Campbell/Ewald (Detroit) on Chevrolet, Saatchi and Saatchi (NYC) where eventually I was asked to start the consumer division at Saatchi Healthcare—launching the consumer, medical, and international campaign for Rogaine. In 1994, I started my company, Boundless Creativity—initially thinking of working as a freelance A.D., but quickly found I could do more on the computer than most because of my drawing ability and wealth of experience. I could always draw realistically, so Photoshop and Illustrator were easy to transition into because they emulated traditional tools. With my emphasis on photorealistic illustration, 3D was the next logical step.

What do you enjoy most about your career?

I have always enjoyed being creative—as an art director or an illustrator and retoucher. Every project is a new problem to solve. Every 3D project gives you a chance to explore more deeply the various 3D software programs. What I do in the 3D virtual world is essentially what a photographer does in the real world—I position a camera, pick a lens, stage the set or location, and light the subject. Some props I purchase, some I make. If it’s a location, I create the entire scene, populate it with trees, flowers, lakes, clouds, and never have to worry about bad weather because I control it all—right down to the amount of lens flare from the sun. I have never lost enthusiasm for what I do.

Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?

My dad told me as a preschooler that whatever I do get a job that I enjoy. I was 4 when I decided I wanted to do full color ad spreads in Life Magazine. I was able to accomplish that dream. My second piece of advice is to keep in mind that you are not just an artist—you are a business person. You may have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t know how to sell it, or don’t produce art that sells, you may never be successful. That applies to staff positions as well as freelance. Finally, always keep exploring.

Top 5 Favorite Things in Life?

Not because it is politically correct to say this, but because it’s true—my favorite thing is being with my wife who has been a wonderful partner and best friend for 41 years.

My next favorite thing is actually 6 favorite things and counting—I am most complete when I’m with my six sons, their wives, and growing families (8 grandkids so far!).

I like jazz music, playing my accordion, and the fact that I have a job that I do well, enjoy, and can continue doing as long as I want to do so. I have much to be thankful about.

View Gary's full design/illustration portfolio

What clients/projects are you currently working on?

Business to business promotional material for a local company and
greetings cards characters.

Who inspired you when you were studying illustration at the Oxford
School and College of Art?

I've always appreciated a really wide range of work, but two of my
favorite illustrators since I was a child are Edward Ardizzone and Quentin
Blake; I love a lot of work spanning the 1940s - 60s: Warner Bros.
cartoons, delightful little line illustrations I remember from old cookery
and travel books and the work of Norman Rockwell.

What do you enjoy most about your career?

I love creating: drawing, painting, illustrating. Part of me wakes up and
comes alive when I do this stuff.

What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

Persevere; don't lose hope; try everything 'til you find your niche;
believe in yourself; keep one foot on the ground and one way up in the
clouds.

Where will you be hopefully in 5 years?

I want to expand my very small studio to include space for painting,
printing and photography; I'd also like to move into children's book
illustration.

View David's full design/illustration portfolio

 

What clients/projects are you currently working on?

A bunch of stuff! I'm doing another Lego Club magazine cover promoting one of their new playsets, also illustrations for a kid's bike helmet box for Easton-Bell Sports, some animation and character designs for a Wii-ware videogame for Vogster Entertainment, and I'm about to start on a monthly 2-page educational comic strip project for Scholastic over the next year. I'm also exploring some new licensing opportunities for some of my own existing characters and artwork.


Do you prefer 2d design or animation?

I love them both and I'm glad that I manage to get work doing both things - I'm heavily influenced by comic book art and printed cartoon illustration as well as animated cartoons, so I draw equally from both (no pun intended).


What do you enjoy most about your career?

The biggest thing is that I (for the most part) get to do stuff that I think is really cool, and that it enables me to build skills that I'd want to develop whether I got paid for it or not, know what I mean? I've always loved to draw and always had a huge admiration for people I thought were really good artists - I will say that it's really long hours, but my opinion is that if you can make your living doing something that you're already intrinsically motivated to get better at, you're doing the right thing and you've got a good gig!


You have worked for many large companies, what advice do you have for aspiring artists?

Put in the extra effort to deliver your best work; it's worth it, because then they're more likely to call you again. Be reliable and deliver as promised and on time. Also, and this is very important: part of the job is staying cool and professional, even if the client or the project becomes difficult; it happens occasionally. If you're solid and handle things professionally, they'll remember that and will pass your name on to other people. If you freak out, they'll remember that, too.


Where will you be hopefully in 5 years?

My primary goal would be to expand my licensing program to other products and merchandise, games and animation, and further develop the character lines I already have, while continuing to create new ones. But I also want to continue with bigger commercial illustration and animation gigs - I still get a kick out of seeing my stuff in print or on the store shelf somewhere, so I still enjoy all that stuff!

View Kenny's full design/illustration portfolio