www.4vs5.com

Art Director, Designer, Illustrator | Chicago, IL

Brief Resume
I grew up in the midwest and somehow always knew that I wanted to do something with art…Except for a short period of time when I thought being a truck-driver would have probably been the sweetest job in the world. So growing up, I focused mostly on my art classes and hoped someday it would eventually lead to something that I could do everyday. Since I studied illustration in school, I really didn’t know much about graphic design until after college when it came time to get a job, which was as a graphic designer. That experience had a huge impact on me and really opened my eyes as to how powerful visual communication and graphic design could be. From then on I was hooked, and have been doing design, illustration, branding and web development in freelance and fulltime positions. When it comes down to it, I just really enjoy creating and mixing things up. Why do the same thing twice, you know.

Projects
This winter is going to be incredibly productive. My sketchbook is full of things I’ve been itching to create. I’ve decided to turn down most of the freelance projects that have been coming my way and focusing more on my personal work and personal projects. Treating myself like the client and giving myself assignments. Its interesting how much you can actually inspire yourself to create once you dedicate the time to do them for yourself. I’m a huge fan of the do-it-yourself attitude. I could see myself making my own office furniture some day. I’ve always wanted to make a coffee-table / sandbox combination. How cool would it be to build sandcastles in your living room?! Okay, maybe not if you have cats…that could get messy.

Inspiration
Hmmm…well, I know a lot of people say that music is a big source of inspiration, but I don’t really think that music inspires me to create. I think it helps to keep me going while I’m designing, but I usually find inspiration at odd times. I usually become accidently inspired by something while doing something else completely unrelated. Its weird, but it works. And I just keep several different sketchbooks of ideas and write them down as they come.

Favourite url’s for inspirations
wwww.readymademag.com (forums), www.newstoday.com, www.delphicollective.com, www.alistapart.com.

My Toolbox
Coffee and plenty of refills, lots of moleskine sketchbooks, scrap wood from the hardware store, canvas, apple / mac things, and comfortable shoes.