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AoM: Anthony Kinney

They say time flies when you're having fun. I say it flies when some a-hole from history decides to knock a whole 4 days off of a month. Alas, February, I hardly knew ye.. and now ye're gone. Which isn't to say that it wasn't fun! But.. well, whatever. My point is, March is all up on us! Spring time will be here soon (hopefully, at least), I think there's some sort of sporting event where grown men run around for hours at a time attempting to toss a ball into a small basket that has been suspended from a pole (madness, indeed!) and last but most certainly not least, it's time for a new Artist of the Month here at Bored in the Basement! And we've manged to steer away from the freaky tattooed types, going instead for the geeky super-nerd type. Birds of a feather, and whatnot.

Our very own Tom Velure met this month's artist Tony Kinney sometime last year during a convention at which other geeky super-nerd types had gathered. When approached with the possibility of designing some shirts for BitB, Tony says he jumped on the opportunity. Ok so really he says he jumped AT it, but let's not split hairs here. Other than designs he has created with the intention of submitting them to another t-shirt site that shall remain unnamed here, Mr. Kinney says he's never designed art for clothing. We consider ourselves lucky to be the first ever to actually get to print his work on t-shirts. As Tony pointed out, an added bonus of Bored in the Basement is that once we pick an artist, they're it for the month! There is no voting or screening process that the art goes through to decide which submissions get accepted.. the artist basically gets to simply say "Dude, you know what would make a bad-ass shirt?!" and then.. we make a shirt out of it. But, I digress. It's understandable that Tony hasn't ever really designed art for clothing before, being that the bulk of his experience and work is in HTML/CSS, but he says he enjoys the challenge of using Photoshop and Illustrator to create.

Of course, we didn't always have things like fancy computers and picture drawin' programs and the interwebs and the like. (Not until Al Gore invented it, at least. The interwebs, that is.) Why, back in my day we had to chisel our art into stone walls, and color it with crushed berries and buffalo blood. And we LIKED IT. I didn't get around to asking if Tony had ever had to kill a wild animal in order to create any of his art, but he did say that he got into it as a child-- getting started with Ed Emberley books, later graduating to copying the art from comic books, on and on and so forth. He did at some point take actual art classes, including some digital design courses to help hone his Photoshop skills. He says that he'd like to do more commissioned art as opposed to just hobbying around with it, but that he really doesn't have the time between working, drinking beer, and playing Minecraft-- All admirable pursuits, in my opinion.

And because there are the requisite ridiculous and completely (well, only slightly so this time) irrelevant questions in every interview, I figure this time I'll give you the words straight from the horse's mouth. After all, who better to hear it from?

What one person, alive or dead, would it be your dream to do a commissioned piece for? And let's pretend they basically say 'Here is a wad of cash, I just want you to make something awesome for me.' What would you make? And why, for that person?

I think it would be cool if Chuck Palahniuk, Cory Doctorow or Douglas Coupland (two of my favorite authors) commissioned me for their new book jacket design.

Do you have a favorite quote pertaining to art? What is it, and why?

There's a long ass quote by Jim Jarmusch that begins "Nothing is original." So many critics decry literature, music, films for being derivative of something else, but that's the point! We're constantly building new and greater things based on the work of our predecessors.

Favorite movie of all time, and why?

Star Wars Episode 4, A New Hope is my favorite. Well, I love the original trilogy can quote the entire film.

And last, but certainly not least.. You're on your deathbed. You have the presence of mind to say something coherent at your final moments on this earth. Famous last words?  

"I shoulda fucked old what's-her-name" c. George Carlin.

Tony currently works part time in a bookstore and does some independent work for a web design company, in addition to the aforementioned beer and Minecraft related activities. In addition to his offerings as March's Artist of the Month, he can also be found on the aforementioned interwebs at his portfolio site: http://sotd.us/anthonykinney/

We'd like to thank Mr. Kinney for taking time out of his busy beering-gaming-working schedule to create some kick ass art for this month's shirts, and we leave you with his own personal tag-line: "I'm a full-time nerd, part-time geek and volunteer weirdo."

Damn. Wish I'd thought of that one..

Until next time,
-RR

Bored in Wisconsin

Well, it's a new month and a new year. What better way to bring it in with an ode to Wisconsin! The Rose Bowl and Beer. That's the way it's done!

Bored in the Basement proudly presents Jeff R. as January’s featured artist.  We are grateful to Jeff, as he has played a very important role in helping Bored in the Basement develop as a company. After much anticipation, here is Jeff’s interview:

BitB: Tell us about your background, most importantly your art background and your love for the state of Wisconsin.
Jeff: I grew up coloring and drawing a lot. When I was younger, I wanted to be a “commercial artist”. That job evolved into a Graphic Designer in the real world. I studied Graphic Design in college. I have never regretted my decision to pursue art as a career.

Wisconsin…I have lived in several major areas of Wisconsin. I have also lived in Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa. I have never felt more at home and more friendship than in Wisconsin…how can you not love this place?!?

BitB: When did you decide art was something you wanted to pursue, or more appropriately when did you start in the trade?

Jeff: I won a coloring contest at the local Super America when I was in 2^nd grade. I won a $20 gift certificate. That was my first payoff from my art skills.

BitB: Very interesting! Where do you get most of your inspiration?

Jeff: Pop culture. I continue to be amazed with the things people find amazing. Andy Warhol has been a huge inspiration to me since I first saw his work in 3^rd grade.

BitB: How about other inspirations such as music, photography, monkeys with coconuts, etc.?

Jeff: I am heavy into music, but visual art and music go hand-in-hand, in my opinion. Movies like 2001, Fight Club and others which make you think, inspire me.

BitB: How would you describe your style?

Jeff: An aftershock of the Warhol Effect on the globalization of techno America…2.0.

BitB: I understand that you went to school at UW-Whitewater. Did you plan on going to school for graphic design?

Jeff: It was always the plan. Although making the transition to web design only came on in my final semester, as web design was just merging as an offshoot of Graphic Design. I designed my first web page in Netscape Composer.

BitB: Pick an animal-which one would you like to be and why?

Jeff: A badger…that is the correct answer, right?

BitB: We are featuring many Wisconsin themed designs for your featured month. What is your inspiration behind these designs-a love for Wisconsin or to help promote your site, or both?

Jeff: Both, but my site promotes Wisconsin, it is a cyclical thing.

BitB: Tell us about your site, AsSeenInWisconsin.com.

Jeff: The site is dedicated to hyper-local news and sightings in Wisconsin. The idea of the site came from a neighbor who had “fixed” their broken basketball rim by replacing it with a five gallon bucket. I thought this is what many of my fellow Wisconsinites see everyday. This is something others can relate to. From this, As Seen In Wisconsin was born.

BitB: Given the chance to be a super hero or a folk hero, which would you choose?

Jeff: Super hero…like Batman.

BitB: Aside from your work with the As Seen In Wisconsin crew, you also do web design and site creation. Tell us about some of your other projects.

Jeff: I have worked on branding and identity for major national organizations and websites which help people get their businesses jump-started.

BitB: You have had a very important part in the creation of BitB. Without your knowledge and skill, BitB would have not had a functioning site until this past November. Do you plan on sticking around and being a continued support and help through design, art submission, and general tom-foolery?

Jeff: Definitely. I really respect what the BitB guys are doing. They are super cool and fun to hang out with. Hoping I’ll be adopted into the family sometime soon!... as long as they stop trying to stab me...

BitB: This is Wisconsin, so you obviously need to answer a drinking question. You have been selected to go on an all expense paid drinking binge for three days with three people-a historical figure, an artist, a writer, and one free choice. Who are your drinking buddies and what are you going to do?

Jeff: Andy Warhol, Stephen King, and Walt Disney. We will crush a cup and discuss the internet, guilty pleasure movies, and takeout.

BitB: How do you bridge between the business side of designing and your artistic side?

Jeff: It is really about realizing who you are working for. You have to remain true to yourself, but also realize you are working for a client. At some point, you need to bend. If it is work what is coming directly from me and straight to the masses, then everything is fair game.

BitB: Favorite curse word?

Jeff: Farve.

BitB: What have you stolen/learned from another artist lately?

Jeff: Copy>Paste behind>Stroke

ON WISCONSIN!

We hope everyone enjoys the new year and the new designs,

as always,

Love,

Tom and Ant

BitB Crew