TheRootPress

This is an interview done by Melissa Randall of James Stirling about the Root Press:

BLOG ARTICLE

Blog Article Questions:

How long have you been an artist?

* I've done art ever since I can remember. I really started getting into it when I was about 6, and I would draw superheros and Disney characters I loved. It was a great way to harness my overactive imagination and direct my obsessive thinking. Since then art has been in my life to one degree or another. Through good times and bad

Briefly describe your experience with art, illustrating, and graphic design.

* I really started experimenting with my style when I was in high-school. I was in a power-violence band at the time and would design all of our flyers, t-shirts, and our website. Through that experience I developed a strange and unique style that was heavily influenced by the music I play and listen to.

What inspired you start designing your own tees?

* As an artist I need a purpose to my creations otherwise they are just strange doodles and then I won't spend the time to complete them. The t-shirts are a way to give my illustrations direction.

Is there any special significance about your drawings- the octopus, tree, skull, etc.?

* There's really not. The main reason I do art is because I find it incredibly therapeutic. I draw to quite my mind and stretch my imagination. I'll brainstorm on an idea, pick something I'd like to see, and do it. Part of my enjoyment in the process is watching things change into something completely different then what I imagined.

Do you have any special attachment to t-shirts or fashion in particular?

* I've always had a fondness for t-shirts. Going to punk shows growing up I would always get a shirt of the band I saw, and it would always be my favorite part of the evening. When you put on a t-shirt, you are making a statement about yourself: "This is what I like. This is who I am."

Describe the technique you use in your illustrations (I think it's called stipling, but it's been a long time since I was in an art class):

* I do a lot of cross-hatching. It's a technique using many, many parallel and intersecting lines to create a shadowing effect. This is the way I escape reality these days.

Which of your tees is your favorite?

* Probably "Call Me 'Lhu" (the squid). I did this piece in a real interesting period in my life and it evokes a lot of negative and positive emotions for me. Also, it took me the longest out of any of the designs so I feel the closest connection to it.

What encouraged you to exhibit and sell your t-shirts?

* My art is for me. However, I can't deny that I feel good when people appreciate my art. I do art to keep from going insane, getting my stuff noticed is just a bonus.