Brophy is best known for surfing big waves and painting surfboards. He is often credited with being the artist that changed the way surfboards were painted in the late 1990′s and has influenced an entire generation of artists with his distinct style. But there’s another side to him and that’s one of being in love with nature and gardening.

Drew Brophy’s newest Skinit designs are bright and cheerful and come from paintings he created in his San Clemente, California studio. Drew’s inspiration for the “Sun and Fun” collection was drawn from his lush backyard, which he has grown into a mini-jungle.

We caught up with Drew and asked him a few questions about being a surf artist, his life of travel and the “Sun and Fun” collection of paintings:

As a surf artist, many of your paintings depict the surf and beach life. But the six new paintings in your “Sun and Fun” collection are more playful and childlike. Why?

Most adults are oblivious to the fun that’s found in nature. If you really take the time to watch a ladybug, you’ll see a little personality that’s cruising around your garden in its own little universe. Kids see things that most adults miss. They are fascinated by any little thing that moves; a firefly, a stick bug blending into a tree trunk and bumble bees.

This art was painted from what I think is a child’s point of view, with the wonder of what’s unique about plants and little creatures that make you happy when you look at them. Reminds me of when I was a little kid.

Most of your paintings are big. Your “Sun and Fun” paintings are on 45″ x 24″ birch wood. Why do you prefer to paint big paintings over smaller ones?

I just like the way they look! And, it’s easier for me to get more detail on a big surface.

What medium did you use for these paintings?

Uni Posca paint pens and acrylics. I use Poscas for most of my art.

Do most of your paintings have some deep meaning?

No, I paint what I love, which is surfing, nature and simplicity. What can be simpler than a little shack on the beach in a warm place with great waves? It’s an idea that anyone who enjoys the coastline can relate to.

You often will paint an entire collection of large paintings in a week that would take some artists 6 months to do. How do you pull that off?

Sometimes I carry around ideas with me for years, and then I get the chance to paint them. I’m extremely focused and efficient. Once I get started on a painting, I keep going until it’s finished, often forgetting to stop to eat or go home.

You recently took a five month trip across country. How do you leave your studio and your business for that long?

My family and I take 2-3 months off every year to travel the world. This time, we decided to see the U.S. and took five months to explore 26 states and visit family on the East Coast. Though we were having fun, we also found business everywhere we went. Some of it was pre-planned, such as me painting a 61′ wall mural in South Carolina, and giving a painting workshop in Florida. But, with most of my work being licensed, as long as I have wifi, I can work from anywhere.

Gandhi said “My life is my message.” What’s the message you want to give the world with your art and your life?

I want to show people that they can live a great life making art. What I’ve been doing for the past 25 years is all pretty selfish – I want to surf and travel and make art, using the one thing that I’m good at.

My message is to take your strengths and passions and meld them together to make a nice life. That’s all.

Drew Brophy’s designs are available in a variety of skins. Check them out HERE.

Want to know more? You can view Drew Brophy’s artwork and biography at www.drewbrophy.com.

Gregg Visintainer, aka Viz, is a self taught artist. At age 18, after a pretty severe car accident that required 2 back surgerys, Viz moved from the Bay area to San Diego to be near his family. Following the accident, Visintainer stopped creating art for nearly six years as he struggled to overcome his own personal demons, which included drug and alcohol abuse, and getting kicked out of community college. Around age 24, a sequence of unfortunate events occurred that inspired him to turn his life around and really focus on his passion, drawing.

Viz’s artwork is hand drawn, using only pen and ink. His style is incredibly unique and meticulously detailed. Every drawing is made up of various hidden pictures, words, and messages – giving each piece their own distinctive meaning. Viz is inspired by his own personal life experiences, and by individuals who make a difference and are willing to take risks.

After going through some difficult times, you created your piece, “Lonely World.” There are far too many individual objects within the piece to identify them all, but as a whole, what does this particular work of art mean to you?

“Lonely World” was sort of my “enough is enough” moment. I was on this downward spiral and my girlfriend (at the time), and I had recently broken up. Amidst the break up she kind of pointed out my flaws and was like, ‘you never finish anything you start!’ That’s when my art really took off. I cooped myself up for 3 months after we broke up and just drew. I finally realized what I wanted to do all my life was always right in front of me.

Which of your artwork pieces is your favorite?

Well, “Lonely World” will always have the most meaning to me because it’s the one that got me back into my art, but Yosemite Falls is my most current one and my newest ones are always my favorite.

How do you feel when people interpret your artwork differently? Do you want people to interpret it in their own way, even though your vision/creation for it may have been founded on something completely different?

The frustrating thing about my art is that people don’t always understand all of the details. Everyone interprets things differently, if they want to see something in one of my drawings that isn’t really there I will never tell someone it’s not there. I let everyone interpret things their own way. The people that I dislike are the art critics who will come in and try and say what (I) or another artist was thinking or try to create a meaning that isn’t the real meaning.

One of your artworks that Skinit has available as a skin, is “Angela’s Bouquet.” In comparison to a lot of

your other work, Angela’s Bouquet has a much ‘softer’ vibe, and in addition, isn’t as abstract as some of your other pieces. It is clearly a bouquet of flowers. What inspired this piece and what is the meaning behind it?

Angela is my grandmother. The sweetest, most amazing, loving woman you will ever meet in your entire life. Angela’s Bouquet is actually the first greeting card I ever drew. She (Angela), is the reason why I even have greeting cards. She cut out a bouquet of flowers from the newspaper and gave it to me and said she wanted a picture like that drawn by me. She gave me a list of colors she wanted and everything, and she would always ask about how I was doing on it. So finally I made it for her for Christmas and turned them into greeting cards, because she also loves writing. Alex Gerard is the ‘original’ artist who drew a similar bouquet. All of the hidden items within the drawing are things about her – love, friendship, watering vase, a dove- which represents her spirituality, various animals and birds- because she loves animals, a cross – to represent her religious faith, and so on.

Do you think you will ever step outside of using gel pens to do your art? Are there any other mediums you use to create your art?

I will never switch from gel pens because then it wouldn’t be true to me. I literally do it all with pens because it’s therapeutic. It’s my way to get things out and clear my mind. Getting on a computer doesn’t excite me, and painting isn’t the same. With pens I have full line control… but the only place I mess up is with the spelling, and I will have to turn it into a design or something else so that it becomes undetectable. I just wouldn’t be doing it for me if I had to switch mediums.

What has been your favorite project to date?

DC shoes was my favorite project. They were my favorite company growing up – my shoes growing up were always DC, my first snowboard was DC. I just love their company, what they stand for, the look of the company, and how they sort of ‘took me in.’ I feel really blessed to have gotten that opportunity.

What has been your greatest accomplishment?

“Lonely World” – It represents getting past that stage of my life and getting past the bullshit and moving on. It was a time that was really made up of licking my own wounds, recognizing my own faults and flaws, and wanting to change that aspect of my life, find my passion, and just go after it.

Growing up, drawing and doodling started out as a hobby for you. Beyond just being something to distract you and fill your spare time, were you ever inspired or influenced by any artists or movements in particular?

No. I wasn’t interested in any of that as a child. Now, I’m obviously more aware. Shepherd Ferry is an artist who I admire and who inspires me. He changed the game in the art industry and didn’t have anyone point him in a certain direction, he just did it all on his own. I have a lot of respect for him because he did everything in his own way and on his own terms and not because he was handed everything with a golden spoon. He is making a living off of what he loves and what is natural to him. He’s who made me realize that I could do this as a living.

What is your biggest challenge personally as it pertains to making your work?

Time is always the biggest obstacle. I’ve lost a lot of projects because I haven’t gotten to do everything that I’ve wanted to do with it because there aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all. An artists lifestyle is hard. You don’t get regular paychecks, you’ve gotta keep working harder and hustle to make sure you can eat next week. Don’t get me wrong, they are good challenges, they are things that keep me going.

As an artist what do you feel the internet has done for you, both in a positive and negative sense?

Well, I only travel on the west coast, so the internet has opened up a much wider audience for me. Being able to have an online shopping cart as well as being able to connect with people directly through the use of social media and other forums, has allowed me to do a lot of stuff online that I would’ve otherwise had to drive around or run around for.

The negative thing about the internet is the fact that because my work is so detailed, it’s hard to see online. Sometimes people don’t really know what’s going on or understand what it’s all about because they can’t really see every single detail that goes into it. Seeing my work in person has a totally different impact than seeing it online, especially for the first time.

What are some of the most memorable responses have you had to your work?

The most memorable responses I’ve received were for “American Heroes.” People tear up when I go in to explain it. Mostly people who have lost people in war, etc. At the Carlsbad show a year ago, a dad told me it was the first military related piece that he and his wife had gotten to commemorate their son who had died 6 months prior in Iraq. Another guy bought a custom matted piece and told me that piece was going to hang in his office in the Pentagon. It made my year. It honestly gave me chills, I’m very patriotic. If I didn’t have my 2 back surgery’s I would’ve gone into the military…my brother is in the military.

What question do you hate being constantly asked about your work?

Everyone wants to put a label on my art, like it’s street art or fine art, etc. I don’t want to be categorized. I just look at it as my work, that’s it. I don’t care about the names, or labels, or genres, I just draw. I couldn’t spend 60-80 hours on something that I didn’t want to do, or something that everyone else is telling me to do. I have to do it the way that I want to.

Describe an insecurity you deal with in making art.

I won’t do journals or life stories about myself in my art work anymore. I don’t want everyone to know everything still. It’s kind of like, been there done that. I guess I am a little insecure about the way I think, because I feel like I view things differently than other people. But for the most part I don’t really have anything that is going to stop me or hold me back. I’m pretty much an open book.

Looking ahead, what are some things you hope to accomplish?

Well, professionally, I want to create my own pen line one day to make more colors. There isn’t a huge selection of pen and ink colors out there, and sometimes I need a particular color but it doesn’t exist. For instance, I can never use yellow because yellow pens do not turn out “yellow” on paper. I also really want to do an underwater piece, but I just have to wait until I find something that really inspires me to sit down and do it. I want to do all of the major cities too, but again, I just have to wait until I visit them and get inspired by them. It’ll happen.. one day..

***

Visintainer is not only a successful artist but also a motivational speaker. Every week he lectures for two classes at San Diego State University (SDSU) where he motivates youth to pursue their dreams, goals and artistic capabilities.

If you live in the San Diego area you can meet Viz, and check out some of his amazing work, in person, on Wednesdays at the Ocean Beach Farmer’s Market, and Thursdays at the Oceanside Sunset Market. You can also find him at the Huntington Beach Art-A-Faire.

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You’ve had quite the journey, and your personal story is quite inspiring. What has kept you continually inspired and always positive throughout all of life’s ordeals?

Every life has chapters. One night I went to sleep normal and woke up abnormal. My brain started to bleed from a lesion unbeknownst to me. I lost my sense of balance, my eyes crossed, I lost hearing in my left side, I got lockjaw and the left side of my face was numb. Basically, happy hour without the happy.

The neurosurgeon told me I was at risk of blindness, paralysis, coma and death, but the little voice in my head said “oh, no no no no no!” From the time I came out of surgery to today, I told myself I could beat the odds. Luckily with therapy, my first fix was getting the cross eyes to go back in place since I was not digging that look. And I’ve been working with a personal trainer to get my balance back. My hearing returned and I can get a fork in my mouth now. And the silver lining…I was able to work 2 months after surgery. Sitting in front of my computer designing and dreaming, leaving the world of ugly; hospitals, medicine and sadness and entering my world of beauty, art and happy. If I had had any other career I would probably still be laying in bed. My work brought me back to life and now I’m ready for the next chapter.

In addition to the brand Robin Zingone, you have three character brands: Cocomimilulu®, loveMe™ robinzingone®, and Girlygirl™ robin zingone®. What was the inspiration behind each one, and how do they define Robin Zingone as a whole?

Clients kept asking for more and more drawings of women. Women shopping. Women bathing. Women dining. Women dancing. With all the women drawings, I thought it could make a great licensed brand. I dressed them all in black and white patterned clothes and kept the color palette simple, but something was missing. It still did not feel cohesive. My designer Lydia suggested I create one face for all the girls. So back to the drawing table to find THE face. What do you think of this Lydia? No. What do you think of this Lydia? No. What do you think of this Lydia? Yes…thats it! And so Girlygirl™ robin zingone® was
conceived.

My beige cat Mayer has a funny flat head and in profile he almost looks like a straight line with a tiny bump for a nose. I started drawing cats to mimic him and designed them to be kawaii cute with a pastel palette. From my goofy cat to the drawing board was the inspiration for the loveMe™ robin zingone® collection.

Cocomimilulu® was developed on a whim. An illustration assignment to draw a girl riding a bike, a girl eating ice cream and a girl swimming made me start to think while I was doodling. What if I draw the girls to be hip enough for kids, but sweet enough for mom’s! Why don’t I make being smart cool! What if I fashion Coco after Claudia’s daughter who sports the chic bob! And design a cute curly haired girl like her sister Carly! I’ll have Nancy’s red-headed twins as the fabulous friends! And they’ll all have different careers! Cool careers! Chanteuse. ballerina, filmmaker, perfumier, swimmer, environmentalist, veterinarian, fashion designer, foreign correspondent! Scary but true…this is how my mind works.

What is the most unusual place you’ve found inspiration for one of your designs?

The colors of rocks on the beach, the pattern of leaves on a boxwood, the twist of a croissant, the architecture of a high heeled shoe, the hues in a bowl of jellybeans, the shadows on snow, the texture of cat fur, the sparkle of a diamond…

If you had to choose, what is your favorite design that you’ve created?

That question is like asking who your favorite child is…cannot go there.

What does a typical day in the office look like for you?

Being a morning person, after the java kicks in, I start replying to emails around 7am. My studio is in my home so next, feed the dogs, sit back at the computer and design, let the dogs out, sit back at the computer and dream, let the dogs in, sit back at the computer and draw, let the dogs out, go up to the second floor messy studio and paint or design jewelry or sew or make collages or…let the dogs in again.

You’ve done ad campaigns for American Express, Absolut Vodka, worked on Mattel Barbie styleguides, done illustrations in Vanity Fair and Seventeen Magazine..the list goes on. What has been your most exciting/memorable project to date?

This will probably sound predictable but the most exciting project for me is always the one I am working on at the moment. That said, I have had many memorable projects throughout my career.

My husband Peter and I visited the QVC headquarters in Pennsylvania, to check out a mural I had designed for them. When we arrived we discovered the only way to see it was to go on the guided tour. Finally reaching the mural the tour guide turned to the entire crowd and announced that I was the artist. Everyone turned, stared and started clapping. Red face. Oh yea.

During an Absolut vodka photo shoot, my brother co-ordinated with the photographer to have a male stripper dressed as a cop arrive for my birthday. Luckily for me, the clients enjoyed it even more than me! And the shoot went on without a hitch… just everything smelled of musk oil the rest of the day.

Sweet & Sassy is a chain of salons for girls. They hired me to create a fun image for their logo and signage thruout the store. It was a great job that I did years ago. So when I was watching The Real Housewives of New Jersey I couldn’t believe it when Gia climbed into the limousine sporting my logo! Wow! Then the following week, The Real Housewives of

Beverly Hills featured a birthday party with Barbie necklaces as the party favors. Guess who drew the Barbie silhouette! Lucky for me I like junk tv, or I never would have seen my fifteen minutes of fame!

What are your greatest challenges in terms of your job?

The challenge of my job is to answer the questions what, when, why, how and where. Every assignment needs a foundation to build from, and once the framework is done, the rest is a fun ride.

Who are some of your favorite designers and artists?

Rex Ray, Stuart Davis, David Hockney, Jim Flora, Jimi Hendricks, Helmut Newton, Giorgio Armani, Matisse, Richard Avedon, Egon Schiele, Andy Warhol, Jil Sander, Raymond Loewy, Francesco Clemente, Bjork, John D. MacDonald, Richard Neutra, Paul Rand, Vladimir Nabakov, Stan Getz, Mies van de Rohe, Joan Miro, Paul Cezanne, Ludwig Bemelmanns, Billie Holiday. Issey Miyake, Eva Zeisel, Mark Rothko, Stanley Kubrick, Alexander Calder…

We ask this to all of our designers, so it’s only right to ask you as well… It’s the year 2020, where are you and what are you doing?

In Recoleta doing the tango in the street, on a mountain top in Lugano sipping merlot from a clay cup, on a subway in New York swinging from the strap, swimming in the turquoise waters of Bora Bora, painting in my studio while listening to Miles Davis, eating a cheese crepe on Bou’ Miche, shoe shopping in Milan, and on my bed surrounded by my cats and dogs.

Click to view slideshow.

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You’ve been painting for most of your life. Growing up, were there any particular artists that inspired you or whose style you sought to emulate?

I grew up surfing in South Carolina as a young kid in the late 70’s and early 80’s. The art that I saw in surf magazines back then was really cool. Though I didn’t know who the artists were at the time, they were a strong influence on me; guys like Rick Griffin and Bill Ogden.

(Photo courtesy of Jason Wallis)

What has been your favorite project to date?

Whether I’m painting an 8’ fiberglass eagle in Canada or spray painting vans for Escape, they’re all fun. It’s hard to choose the best one – maybe my next?

What has been your greatest accomplishment?

Being able to create a life where my family and my business and surfing are all one. We travel together, work together, hang together.

Do you believe artistic creativity is innate, generally and personally?

I believe artists think differently. They see things that others don’t see and then through art, they show others.

What is the message you hope to convey through your artwork?

That life is to be enjoyed. I want to inspire people to do what they are good at and be happy doing what they’re doing. Don’t do something just to make money; do it because you love it.

Your works, “Volcano,” “Dragon Skull,” and “Tattoo,” are in black and white. This is a drastic step away from the usual bright and vibrant energy that your artwork has come to be known for. What inspired these paintings and what is the meaning behind them?

Every one of my paintings starts out as a pencil sketch. The three you mentioned were pencil sketches of ideas that I had, and I liked them so much I kept them like that.

What is your biggest challenge personally as it pertains to making your work?

There’s no getting around it; you have to put in the time to get the work done. There are no shortcuts. To do big things, you have to sit down and do it.

As an artist what do you feel the Internet has done for you, both in a positive and negative sense?

The internet is a window to the world. It’s allowed me, and everyone else, to have a platform for all to see. It’s given me independence. The downside? Having to keep up with technology!

One of your newest skins is named, “Tree of Life.” What inspired this particular painting, and what does it mean to you?

Tree of Life was originally a commissioned painting for a company called Hinano Tahiti.

The painting is based off of a story that Tahitian’s tell about a man who grew the bread-fruit tree to feed his family and how the Polynesians have cultivated this tree all throughout the South Pacific as one of their main sources of food.

I’ve been to Tahiti many times and I’m always impressed with the gardens filled with mangoes and taro root and coconut trees. The place is full of life.

The Tree of Life reminds me of my time spent there.

What are the most important influences that have moved you as an artist?

Surfing around the world and being with my family and raising my son.

When you get a new project or idea, what happens next? Walk me through the creative process, from start to finish.

I start with research on the project to get ideas. Then I begin a series of sketches to come up with the best composition and layout. If it’s for a client, the hardest part is pulling out of them what they want; often they don’t know. After the sketch process, then I begin the painting. That’s the easy part!

What is the most challenging aspect of what you do?

Running a business in today’s world. The art is easy; it’s all the other stuff that’s hard!

If you weren’t surfing and painting, what would you be doing?

Probably hiking mountains with my wife and kid.

Click to view slideshow.

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What prompted the move to the United States in 2000, and in what ways has American culture influenced your work since then?

I moved to the US because of my marriage. I was leading a typical Japanese life, but I ended up living here! Life brings lots of surprises.

Yes, American culture has influenced me a lot. I was a traditional calligrapher most of the time, but now I try to incorporate Japanese calligraphy with colors, acrylic, canvas, graphic, and fabric — anything interesting. When I first arrived here, I had to learn English and the culture. It was tough, but I can now say I learned a lot from that and I never gave up wanting to be an artist.

Your work primarily represents traditional Japanese calligraphy, or Kanji. What are the main differences between Chinese and Japanese Kanji?

Kanji and calligraphy originally are from China. Japan adopted both and created its own writing and reading system called hiragana and katakana, which is based on Chinese characters. When I started to learn calligraphy professionally at university in Hiroshima, we learned Chinese calligraphy art and history. They have a beautiful and rich culture. We also learned Japanese calligraphy, too. We share similar characters; however, pronunciation and meaning are sometimes the same and sometime different. Also, Chinese calligraphy uses only kanji characters and Japanese calligraphy uses kanji, hiragana and katakana. There are so many different forms and styles in Calligraphy. I have been doing calligraphy over 30 years, but still there are lots to learn.

In daily life, what are the types of things that inspire you personally?

Family, nature, personal experiences and feelings, photos, music and books.

What has been your biggest challenge as an artist/designer?

The biggest challenge has been learning the business side of the art world.

What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishment?

My biggest accomplishments are the many performances, workshops, and exhibitions I have participated in since coming to America in 2000. My art licensing agreement with Skinit was also a big accomplishment.

Of all the skins you’ve created, which is your favorite and why?

My favorite is the Japanese kanji for “dream” because it is simple yet powerful.

Besides creating art for Skinit, what other projects are you currently working on and/or looking forward to?

I am going to be a mom in November! So, I am looking forward to creating cool baby t-shirts with my designs.

It is the year 2020. Where are you, and what are you doing?

I will be in Washington, Oregon or Japan! I am sure I will be creating more Japanese calligraphy art and more art licensing with my designs!

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An Interview with Graphic Designer & Vinyl Artist, Jorge Oswaldo.

What has been your biggest challenge as an artist/designer?

My biggest challenge is balancing my time being both an artist & a designer. I think the best work I do usually involves handmade elements combined with good design. When you’re an “artist” it’s more about the expression and experimentation with different ideas and mediums. Whereas with design, it’s much more about consideration of a specific goal or audience and the execution so it has to be edited and reduced. To work as both a designer and artist efficiently, you have to focus and plan out a lot of your time.

What is the message that you hope to convey through your work?

I always wanted my work to connect to a broader audience no matter what the medium. Whether it’s through painting, sculpture or even through skins. I enjoy when people can connect with my ideas. Doing designs on skins has allowed me to reach a much broader audience.

How old were you when you first realized your artistic talent, and how long was it before you knew that this was what you wanted to do for a living?

I started drawing when I was about 10 years old, but it didn’t really get serious till I got into Mundelein High School. My school had a really great art department. The teachers there were all really amazing and they constantly pushed us to do more and seek out new opportunities. Pretty much after that, I really didn’t look back. Art became a part of who I was. It was in my DNA to make stuff. There was never a moment in my upbringing that I could ever see myself not doing something creative with my life.

Playing off of that last question, if you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?

Okay, so not as exciting as you would expect, but I’d be sitting in a room somewhere just thinking. Lately I’ve been doing a lot more thinking about what the next project or art piece might be. Some people call it meditation, I like to call it spacing out. I’m always one step ahead of myself. The artwork that results is just a tangible, visual expression of all the thoughts in my head. I like to think. I’d be sitting on a rock somewhere just sitting and thinking – but it would be a cool rock. So yeah, probably that, oh, and probably traveling the world. I’d be on an exotic rock, somewhere cool, thinking.

On your blog, www.jorgeoswaldo.com, you posted one of your more recent works; a ‘branded self-portrait.’ First, I’d like to mention that it’s awesome and I loved the colors you chose. But more importantly, what are the brands/logos you included, and why are they representative of you as a whole?

I decided to create a “self-portrait” using the brands that I associate with the most: Nike, Starbucks,Stüssy, Facebook, Redbull, Apple and Coca-Cola. I got to thinking about how people are so often defined by the clothes they wear, products they buy, foods they eat and brands they associate themselves with. I work for a street-wear company and it’s really interesting to see how the clothes and associations represent an image of who people are. In working with fashion, I get to see how fast we go through images and graphics, use and reuse them and then discard them so quickly. People are constantly searching for an identity. The brands that represent me in this piece tell my story. I am a young modern dude (Facebook), who probably works a lot (Stüssy) and burns through a lot of energy (Red Bull, Coca-Cola and Starbucks), and cares about fitness… or at least wants people to think that (Nike). You would also gather that I am probably into computers and more so, that I do some type of creative work (Apple). It’s an abstract representation of who I am, or portray myself to be. In reality, it’s simply abstract symbols – maybe even just a small corner or sliver of that symbol. Though somehow it’s remarkably recognizable and instantly defining.

Skins are just another extension of a similar kind of personal expression. It represents the kind of person they are or want to be. It’s the same way people say that T-shirts are walking billboards. Identity is everything.

In daily life, what are the types of things that inspire you?

The things that inspire me tend to be pretty basic; colors, music, pattern, rhythm.

What would you consider to be your biggest, most memorable and meaningful project, to date?

I’m always working bigger in idea and in scope. My latest work, “F U”, my most recent piece, is a 9-ft tall Facebook “F”. The giant logo sculpture is 1 inch taller than the tallest human being that ever lived and is both a representation and a warning. A Trojan horse of sorts, it encompasses all of the themes that I am currently working with: Identity in brands, seduction, social media and hyper-modernism, among others. It also has a sound element that further engages the viewer. The Social Network movie soundtrack is slowed down to 800% and is played from the inside of the “F”. The resulting sound is a loud, booming ethereal noise that is almost meditative. It’s a giant loud speaker that subliminally forces the viewer to slow down, look and listen and truly have an experience with the Facebook logo on a physical level. That being said, if anyone knows Mark Zuckerberg, tell him to call me – I have a sculpture for him!

How do you decide which designs you are going to turn into skins?

I try to create designs that my 11-year-old nephew and 8-year-old niece would think is cool. They are my best critics.

Depending on how detailed a particular design is the answer to this question will vary. But in general, how long would you say it takes to actually create and finalize a design once you’ve come up with a vision for it?

It really depends on how complicated it is. Sometimes it will take just a few hours or sometimes a few days at most. Some of my clusters, which originated from actual original artworks, are heavily layered and complex. Those I think took me the most time because I really think about the color ways and how the shapes play on each other.

Out of all the skins you’ve designed for Skinit, which is your favorite and why?

I haven’t made it yet. I’m always a work in progress.

It is the year 2020. Where are you and what are you doing?

Designing a skin for the 5^th generation hover-board, steadily working on my art, creating designs for personalized anything and everything. Cars, clothes and appliances now have personal on-demand customization. I’m in a world that is perfectly saturated with color and personality.

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Peter’s design work is built on the idea of simple order. His inspiration varies from fashion found at art gallery openings to art found at old hardware stores. He loves to pick up colors, textures, shapes and patterns from simple junk-shopping excursions or a casual day of people watching. Peter loves anything beautifully distressed and aged by time, and we love anything he creates..

What has been your most rewarding project thus far?

I had the great opportunity to illustrate the cover and inside cover for a Saks Fifth Avenue catalog. I feel that was some of my best illustration work; which also led to painting large commissioned oil paintings for some interesting patrons.

What are the most important influences that have moved you as an artist?

My dad. Growing up I would always see him painting and drawing, whether it was a small canvas or murals on the walls. I remember him painting a whole harbor scene on the length of our fence outside. He is a very solid man and artist.

If you weren’t an artist, what would you be doing?

I’d either be an architect or a FBI agent –– I’m a perfectionist and pay attention to the details in everything. I’m also very imaginative, inquisitive and love to learn. I taught design for a while, I miss it, it was very rewarding seeing the enthusiasm in the students. I suppose I hope to teach again.

When you get a new project or idea, what happens next? Walk me through the design process, from start to finish.

I usually go somewhere outside the studio –– a coffee house or the beach. I sketch and doodle a brain-dump of ideas, thoughts and possibilities I trend-spot. I have sketchbooks full of quirky to strong drawings. I’m now on my 22nd sketchbook, they are fun and very interesting to skim through. I try to keep my sketches loose and my concepts tight. From there ideas germinate and are refined into tighter drawings. Next, for most designs and illustrations, the art is scanned and manipulated and colored on my iMac.

What is the most challenging aspect of what you do?

The amount of work on the drawing table, sometimes there is too little and sometimes there is too much. Deadlines are tough and the endless opportunities sometimes overwhelm.

Which artists or designers, past or present, serve/have served as great inspiration to you and strongly influence your own work?

In the past I would say the painters Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Max Beckman, and the Illustrator Al Hirschfeld. Recently, I discovered Alice and Martin Provensen in an illustrated cookbook I found at a swap meet –– simply delightful, flat, decorative 50′s illustrations with exceptional concepts. I love these serendipitous findings. There are influences and inspirations all around us. You can find fashion at an art museum and art at a hardware store.

How do you decide which designs you are going to use, or create, for skins?

Whatever Skinit art directs me to undertake, or personally, with my own motivation, where I might see an area of opportunity.

It’s 2020, where are you and what are you doing?

Living in my self-designed and built home near the ocean or a river with a lovely wife-to-be and a labrador retriever-to-be working on a myriad of creative licensing projects.

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Born on the sunny streets of Miami, 2Kool 2B True aims to ‘spread the vibrating culture, impersonate street smarts and deliver bad-ass apparel.’ With influences from Miami, New York, and L.A., their mixture of fresh and unique styles combined with their astonishing attention to detail, bring an edgy, but realistic, urban street vibe to each design. Recently, skinit had the chance to get inside the mind of Art Director, Mariano Diaz, and as you will see, 2k2bt is undoubtedly Kreatively Kool. Read on…

what is true is the unique,   interpretative vision he brings to everything he makes.

Q:  What goes into the whole creative process behind any 2k2bt Design?

2k2bt: We’re always looking for inspiration from the artistic expressions that we see everyday in Tattoo Art, Graffiti, Industry Magazines and other sources that allow us to bring our ideas to life. Sometimes is just an idea that I start sketching and share with the team.

We get together with our team at points when we feel we have a few ideas that are ready to be shared.  Once we see something that’s special and it’s a go, we don’t stop until we feel we love it. We also throw some designs or ideas at our fans in FB to see what their reaction is. It’s a good indication of whether something is going to work or not. 

Q: What do you think is the overall message that 2k2bt – as a company – hopes to convey?

2k2bt: That people can find creativity everywhere. Our ideas sometimes come from a wall full of graffiti, or from a new friend in Facebook. So just let your mind run free and throw ideas onto a napkin or a piece of paper. You never know what’s gonna stick.

Q: Do you have any particular design that you’ve done that you would consider your favorite? If so, what is it and why is it your favorite?

2k2bt: Sorry to be a bit conventional, but it’s hard to pick a favorite. What I can say though, is that I love our “face” designs, because I love the expressions we can convey through them. We also have some “hot, sexy ladies” in our designs that I wish I could bring to life…

Q: What inspires you personally?

2k2bt: Funny, creative people. Think Howard Stern. The dude can capture an audience for hours by talking mostly about his life and experiences. Our friends from Miami Ink Chris Garver, James Hamilton, Darren Brass. We talk a lot about art and designs. 

Q: Who, in the art scene, are you a fan of? Why?

2k2bt: Nobody current. When it comes to art I like the dark mind of Dali. I enjoy reading and looking at books of his art. It makes you look deep into the details and create your own conclusions about what his art represents.

Q: To date, what has been your greatest/most memorable experience at 2k2bt?

2k2bt: The reaction I get from people when they see our designs. No matter where we go or where we show our designs, people seem to be amazed by the level of detail that we put into our artwork. They tell us to put them in art galleries and that’s very cool to hear…

Q: What has been one of your greatest achievements?

2k2bt: Personally being able to visit the Louvre in Paris and seeing so much art from so many incredible minds in one place. I could’ve been there for days just studying the detail that went into some of those paintings and sculptures. Working side by side with the Miami Ink crew and traveling around the globe.

Q: It’s 2020. What are you doing? Where are you?

2k2bt: Wow… 9 years from now… hopefully traveling around the world with no set place to live. Just experiencing different cultures and breathing life into my brain every day.

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Visit 2k2bt, and be sure to check out their exclusive line of Inked+2K2BT tees at InkedMag.

Here at Skinit we love to embrace the culture and character of each of our designs in order to truly discover what makes each brand unique. We had the amazing opportunity to sit down with Dersu Rhodes of Reef to uncover the art behind the brand.

What goes into the whole creative process behind any Reef Design?

It starts usually with an inspiration trip and some serious blog reading accompanied by some good meetings studying past successes we’ve had with sell in and sales. We also take a deep look into our competitors and how we can stay speak our voice distinctly.

I love heading to NYC, LA, or even San Fran or when we’re lucky, Europe or Australia and seeing what’s going on. You can get so many great ideas from watching people in a fashion forward district as well as cruising around to museums or fabric stores, or even a surf trip can be that perfect spark to your imagination and creativity. Its crazy how many ideas can come when you get out of the office and soak everything in. Then it goes to the drawing board, lots of sketches and collages, and some painting, I usually try to stay away from the computer initially, that thing can sometimes be a creative blocker.

What do you think is the overall message that Reef- as a company – hopes to convey?

I think Reef is about surf, travel, connecting with the ocean whether it is with surf, or just being around it. We are exotic, our roots are in Latin America and we make sure to keep that in mind when we are designing. We hope to spread the message of eco conscious, “redemptive” lifestyle while keeping people who wear our apparel or sandals feeling ridiculously comfortable, technologically on point and on trend! We have so much fun creating the product that comes out of the brand and we want to keep that aspect infused into everything we create. I see so much value in having someone grab their reef sandals or shoes, or throw on their favorite reef boardies or tees, and be reminded of an amazing trip they took or that feeling of being in an exotic location or at the beach even if they are in the city heading to work.

Reef’s most recent campaign is called “Modern Gypsy.” What was the inspiration and vision behind it?

The Path of The Modern Gypsy is really the idea of not calling one place home; instead their home is on the road, in an airplane, on a boat travelling to exotic locations in search of cultural experiences and perfect surf. It’s about inspiring the surfer in all of us. On the apparel side we are so focused on making sure we speak to the guy who loves to travel, and be on vacation, and the idea that you can live out of one bag but still be extremely functional, comfortable and fashionable. We have spent some valuable time with our surf team and really picked their brains on what works for them on a performance and function aspect. On the other side, seeing that a lot of our team comes from places like Australia etc, we know that they really pay attention to fashion. We want them to feel confident that they look good!

Reef Hard Sun Skin for iPhone 4

What inspires you personally?

I love traveling as well, so I think really living that lifestyle is a huge inspiration. I look to architecture, museums, boutiques, even nature for inspiration. There are so many cool prints and patterns that have evolved from sand, or tree trunks etc. I have to say a lot of inspiration comes from the Reef girls as well. I’ve had the opportunity to help creative direct a couple of the shoots with the girls and they are really easy to work with, are from all over the world, and of course are really beautiful! haha

Reef Arabian Nights Skin for iPod Touch (2nd & 3rd gen.)

To date, what has been your greatest or most memorable experience at Reef?

I had an opportunity to go to The North Shore of Oahu last year for the Reef Hawaiian Pro. It was a lot of work setting up the event, but it was my first time to Hawaii, and to sit on the beach and watch one of the biggest swells of the winter hit the north shore and see the our team riders dropping into massive pipeline barrels was so amazing. Helping to produce our apparel Spring 12 line in Bali was amazing as well. The people there are so friendly and welcoming.

Reef Life is Too Short Skin for iPhone 4

It’s 2020. What are you doing? Where are you?

I’m working as hard as I possibly can. I’m full steam ahead with Reef and also trying to get some more traveling in. I’m also working on a blog with some fellow “creatives” and friends called Witness This (www.witness-this.com) it’s a great creative outlet with where we are helping to promote our friends, and share amazing music design and art. I’m also designing the album cover for Xavier Rudd’s new album coming out this year. So yeah! lots of exciting stuff and I feel really fortunate to be where I am working for a company like Reef and being able to be paid for being creative and do what I love.

Related articles

• Surfing Kauai (sergededina.com)
• Best Surfing Spots in the world – France – Costa Rica – Australia – Indonesia – Hawaii (surfencinitas.wordpress.com)