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eamon-saunders · 6 years

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ASK ME ANYTHING PART 3 - Final

This will basically be my only text post, it’s going to be the questions I asked my creative, my thoughts on them and his response to them.

What was your first made piece and what are your thoughts on it now?

Justin’s Response: It looks like what it is - something made by someone just starting out!

It definitely does! I wish people had more of this feeling for their first work, it doesn’t look like the most cohesive and understandble piece, but you can tell it’s art and it’s had work put into it, and isn’t that all that matters (maybe not but I hope it is).

This was one of my first chosen questions, I asked for this one as I know my first piece wasn’t that great, and probably no one’s is, but it makes an artist less intimidating when you see where they started off, just like you.

How is it being a freelance designer and creative director, what's your favourite parts/least favourite?

Justin’s Response: I'm actually now the CCO of deviantART, but have been freelancing for ten years. I loved the ability to build and shape my own career and manage my own time. The perpetual tlack of security was difficult to deal with.

I wasn’t actually aware that Justin had taken yet another very large step in his career and became the creative chief officer of DeviantART. I’ve been writing reports and trying to replicate his work since I first started desiging, so I’m surprised I missed this step, however I’m excited to see what this job oppurtunity will do for Justin’s work. The first time I ever really fully considered freelance design to be a real job was when I had done some real research on Justin Maller and how he grew his own brand. He started in Melbourne as well, working part time in a small convenience store, slowly growing his client base, he realised he didn’t have to struggle at his part time job to live, he could do what he wanted. After this he quit his part time job and put all his effort into his freelance work. Today he is well known for both is commercial and personal work, I hope after University I will be remotely like his story.

I chose this question as I wanted to know a little more about his thoughts on working as a creative, and I wanted to give a little insight into what Justin did as a living.

How often do you stuggle with self confidence issues in your work, how do you combat this?

Justin’s Response: I don't, honestly. Sorry I can't offer you more here.

I was so surprised to hear this. After talking to many of the creatives in my class, and even some of the teachers admitting that they have doubts about their work and have periods where they dislike what they’re desiging, I thought it was just common practise for designers to hate their own work and think negatively about them. It’s refreshing to here however that some people can be that confident in their work, it’s a lesson most should learn from Justin.

What's your favourite and least favourite software and why?

Justin’s Response: I love Photoshop and Cinema4D. They're my tools, I've learned to know and love them. I don't like Excel.

I can get the excel hate, I never got the love anyway. This is pretty non-surprising, as said in my earlier question, I’ve been following Jusin for about 5 or 6 years now, all of which his pieces have had 3D elements and defintely been retouched/edited in Photoshop.

I asked this question because I was curious as to whitch adobe programs Justin used, and what his favourite 3D tool was, learning about excel was just a bonus.

Do you do much original idea sketching, how important is it to you in your creative process?

Justin’s Response: I do not sketch and never have.

This was also super surprising. I get Justin’s work is pretty hard to sketch, but I’ve rarely come across a desinger/creative that has NEVER sketched their ideas. If only he told me this a couple years ago I might not have spent so much time trying to improve my illustrations.

What is your skill level now in the adobe programs compared to when you first seriously started working within the industry?

Justin’s Response: I'm better at Photoshop now in that I can do more, but I was already quite good when I began. I don't use other Adobe software much. I've improved significantly in 3D since I began in the industry.

Eventually there is a cutoff point to the ‘skill’ you gain through adobe and other design programs, however you have to learn what else you can ‘do’ in the programs, which is what I assume Justin is talking about here. Whether that be from learning the tools more or learning new tools.

Where do you do most of your client work?

Justin’s Response: In my home studio.

Not much to say here, I was hoping to get a photo of his workspace but he didn’t seem too keen to supply it, which isn’t a problem, but some of the questions weren’t really able to be put into the booklet if he didn’t provide it.

What is your setup like? (PC, tablets, books, stationary etc.)?

Justin’s Response: It's just an iMac with an extra monitor hooked up to it. Nothing fancy.

Again was hoping for a picture, but I ended up using a picture he put on his twitter of his new DeviantART office setup which pretty much fit the bill of the question.

I asked this question as I wanted a stretched image across my booklet, or across a couple of the squares anyway, I didn’t get that image but I was able to make it work anyway.

How would you say Depthcore has inspired or affected your work?

Justin’s Response: Hugely. I built Depthcore at the beginning of my journey as an artist, it's profoundly shaped my thinking and aesthetic.

I was really excited to ask this question, I wasn’t super sure what kind of interaction Justin Maller still had with Depthcore, as I remember reading about the art collective he built years ago but hadn’t heard anything new from him since, and expected him to have moved on, but it’s good to hear that it has very much been a large part of his journey towards becoming a creative. I hope that in similar fashion, the time I spend with my cohort in my higher education days will shape and mold how and why I design what I design.

This was a must ask question in my opinion, due to Justin’s huge influece towards Depthcore, I think it’s necessary to include so that people know what he is included in.

Is there any major artist you'd like to collaborate with and why?

Justin’s Response: Many! Beeple, KAWS, Gmunk. I just like the way their minds work. I think melding our styles would result in an interesting output.

I had never heard of any of these creatives but they all fit Justin’s style and would definitely result in an interesting piece. I’ve always loved the colours of Justin’s work, I’d describe them always as ‘eye-candy’, so I think combined with these artists it could really embrace their style.

What do you think all future designers should learn?

Justin’s Response: If they want to be freelance - how to manage and run a business from the ground up.

This is important advice, and that’s what I had hoped to get from this question. I think no matter what any graphic design or creative will do some kind freelance in their life, whether it be for a friend or for a professional client, however if you really want to BE a freelancer, you definitely need to learn to run a bussiness as that is what mainly being a freelance artist is.

What did you think your career would be before Digital Art?

Justin’s Response: I didn't have much of a plan to be honest. Figured I'd probably write or act as that's what I'd been doing the most of my life previously.

Don’t all of us. I can relate very much to this as before beginning my higher education I wasn’t sure of my plan at all, if it wasn’t design, it probably would have been writing, but I don’t think I have the same passion for writing as I do for my style of design, regardless of the quality of it, I don’t think I’d’ have as satisfying of a career or life if I didn’t follow some sort of creative outlet path.

This is the end of all my questions, I’m really happy I was able to snag Justin Maller, he’s always been a huge inspiration and I’ve loved his work for years, I’m only dissapointed I couldn’t make a booklet a little more centred around him and his life and a little more in depth. Oh well maybe next report!

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writewaystudio-blog · 6 years

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March 2018 Featured Creator

What is a Featured Creator?

Write Way Studio’s “Featured Creator” segment is my way of showing appreciation for the creators of the world. Creative outlets are limitless, because there is no end to human imagination. Every month shows the succeeding featured creator. If you would like to be a part of this collaborative project, contact me at [email protected]!

Introduction

Now, allow me to introduce you to him, the one and only The Kao. He is better known online by his brand and business under the same title. Under the mark of the lion, Leo, his birth-date falls on July 31st.

He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree of Fine Arts for Illustration of Columbia College, Chicago. That was back in 2015, a crazy three years ago. He currently creates illustrations and comics for a living.

What Sparked the Creator Passion?

When asked this particular question, The Kao mentioned how “[he] always had a passion for drawing since childhood.” Thanks to the two franchises Pokemon and Toy Story, his (sort of) first comic was born: “[he had drawn] in elementary school about [his] Pokemon plush and [the two of them] having adventures together.”

Then came the hard part of adulating: his future career. As he mentioned from his contemplation, “The difficult part was trying to find which artistic industry I wanted to go into and/or if I wanted to work for myself . . . [since] many options for an aspiring artist who loves creating characters and making stories [exist].” He listed storyboarding, visual development, comics and children books, all of which are just a few avenues he can explore. But even he admitted that there is only so much you can do for a career.

Eventually, he returned to his first comic book he ever made. He decided to focus on comics (for now).

The Kao’s Creation: Mondo Mango

How It All Began

Believe it or not, Mondo Mango started as a hobby! He had only been illustrating for class assignments and work. The series had been heavily influenced by the encouragement of friends and family. He always wanted to create a full-length manga, but his writing skills made him reluctant to start. Eventually, Mondo Mango came to be, a way to still make a comic strip with less perfectionist tendencies and more relaxation. The Kao acknowledged how “the series is a huge part of my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I thank my family, friends, and mentors that pushed me to continue making the series when I had my doubts.”

All about Mondo Mango

Mondo Mango is a slice-of-life story focused essentially on The Kao himself. Its main content zeroes in on the brighter aspects of his life as he highlights enjoying and appreciating the little things that go unnoticed. Although it may be mundane in subject matter at first glance, he manages to shine a funny and relatable light on everything as he hopes to bring joy to his audience.

His most recent work is pushing him towards fiction when he introduced the series’ new mascot, GoGo, the adorable mango dragon that continues to bring a positive outlook on life.

For the most part, his content is suitable for children. There are, however, sexuality explanations that are LGBT-friendly as well as life and school struggles. So his work also appeals to teens and young adults. The series is on the inter-webs via Tapas, Line Web Toons, and/or Instagram.

Future Projects

If you are interested in The Kao’s work, I suggest supporting his Kickstarter! There, a new Mondo Mango book called The Freckled Mango: A Mondo Mango Collection is now available! The book contains 130 pages of more than one hundred Mondo Mango strips, exclusives, manga specials and art tutorials. The Kickstarter is up now, so go check it out!

There is also the Tapas Incubator program with Tapas Media. The Kao was recently accepted into the program, which had been an open call for creators to work with Tapas Media for creating original content. In short, he is currently working on a new comic that will be released later this year! So be on the lookout!

Where to Find You? Support You?

The Kao is available on multiple outlets, some for his comics and others for his business associations. If you are interested, don’t hesitate to check the information below!

The Kao

o Website > thekao.net

o Book > thekao.net/book

o Patreon > https://www.patreon.com/thekao

The Kao Instagram > @thek40

Comics

o Website > mondomango.com

o Instagram > @thekao

Kickstarter > https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1554061715/the-freckled-mango-book

Tapas Media > https://tapas.io/series/MondoMango

Line Webtoons > http://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/mondo-mango/list?title_no=56963

Last Tidbits

As a nod to some of his most asked questions, Kao revealed this bullet list:

I use an intous 4 wacom tablet

I use Paint Tool Sai and Clip studio for my art programs

I prefer Digital art but don't mind traditional work once in a while.

I am Taiwanese American

Important Notice

Please understand that some information will not be shared by the creator’s request. If you cannot understand that, there is not much more I can do to help you. Safety is a top priority here, and I am here to help the creators, not instigate negative behavior.

Collaboration Disclaimer

The information provided in my Featured Creator articles is, in fact, from the real people, not some random Internet bot. I do not use random stock photos to fill an imaginary photo quota. Any photos in the Featured Creator segment are provided by the creators with permission to use them in this manner. I want to support the original person behind the work, not a random online copycat creeping around.

To The Kao,

Thank you very much for accepting my request to work on this! I know that you are super busy, especially with a special dragon and book of yours coming out, so I appreciate every bit of effort you’ve put into this collaboration. I love your art style, sense of humor and various messages that you provide in your comic. I wait in anticipation for what else you will create in the future.

Honestly, I was shell-shocked that you actually responded to my request, let alone accepted. You may not realize it, but you have helped me to see that I can do more than I thought previously possible with my writing.

I wish only the best for you, GoGo and CK in all your future endeavors!

Sincerely,

Jasmine Love

{Write Way Studio creator and blogger}

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