Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you and what is your background?
I’m a painter, illustrator, and cartoonist from California with no formal art training. Having worked professionally in all three areas, I can safely say that this is possible!
Your current job:
I’m working on an illustrated memoir about my years growing up in a hippie commune in Northern California in the 1970s, and have an exhibition of paintings coming up.
In which city:
Vienna! For the past 8 years, it has been voted the best city in the world to live in. I have to agree with the Austrian government sponsors the arts, even American artists living abroad!
How did you discover kombucha?
I received an email from Kombucha. Before that, I had never heard of it.
What prompted you to start your company?
One project led to another and now here I am.
What makes your product unique?
It has my signature on it.
What do you want to convey through your brand image?
That depends on the project. But mostly I want to create indelible images. I like to convey a sense of calm, and evoke memories of the past when life was seemingly much simpler.
What are the main challenges in your company?
That I have too little time. That life is finite!
What tools are essential for your work (app, software)?
Photoshop on my laptop and Behance on my phone. iTunes for buying songs for my playlists.
A word to define what type of worker you are:
Obsessive. Sometimes I have to force myself to take bathroom breaks.
What does your office space look like?
Neat and tidy. Friendly and colorful.
Do you have a way to organize your days to optimize your work?
I always enter the studio with a plan and do the most important things first. I put in the hours. I don’t wait for a muse. You have to start drawing or painting in order for the inspiration to start flowing.
What tips would you give to improve productivity?
Ha! Don’t get married or have kids! And don’t get a “real” job to pay the bills. Jokes aside, work fast and try not to be too perfect otherwise nothing will ever get finished.
What is the best advice you have been given?
Sabina Smiljanic, my former muralist partner, said all art must begin with the right measurement. (I think she meant the golden rule.) But also to keep in mind the balance as well: light/dark, warm/cold, full space/negative space and all those other crucial elements of good design.
What are your end-of-day and early-day routine?
Coffee in the morning, Netflix, or books at night. Right now I’m reading Lynda Barry’s books on drawing and writing. When you read her books, you want to grab some drawing things…
Apart from your computer and your phone, what gadget cannot you do without?
Electronic: My Huion lightbox for tracing. Analog: My favorite Rapidograph pen.
Upcoming products or projects?
Upcoming exhibition in Vienna’s 18th district (paintings from the last 10 years), and my graphic memoir. My goal is to have all the drawings finished by the end of 2018.
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