1. When was the moment you realized you were capable of doing this for a living?

I realized i was capable when my work started looking good :) Up until then it was a crap shoot. Seriously though, I turned a corner in 2000 when i left Fossil (Apparel & Accessory Company.). They pushed style above all, so i tried to take what i had learned from that experience and apply it forward. That attention to style has served me well.


2. Would you say there are any musical influences in your art?

I enjoy lots of music, and yes it influences my art, but not in any specific way. I like to have music playing while i work, but it's more of a motivational force than an influence. I'm currently listening to - amongst other things - Cat Power, David Bowie (Ziggy Stardust), and the Toadies.


3. What is one of your favorite pieces?

Well a painting that i am particularly fond of is "Take the Wheel". One of the first paintings i completed after getting out into the working world. I stretched the canvas back in college, and then it traveled with me through various moves untouched for over 5 years. When i finally got around to painting again, i went back to this canvas. i painted a 4'x5.5' black 1959 cadillac with flames in the background and a skeleton in the passenger seat. It hangs in my office today right next to my desk. I like it because it reminds me to be creative, keep things fresh, and have fun.

4. What genre would you place yourself in?

De-Luxe!  I draw influences from many sources, and i have many interests. I like the idea of my work being a bit whimsical, but totally accessible to the viewer. Kitschy, american and slightly retro. I want people to make connections with the subject matter. Basically i want it to be cool. I want the viewer to have an immediate response.


5. Do you ever experience a sort of 'writer's block'? What usually remedies this?

Finding inspiration is key. I am an avid book collector. I have a great love of books and if i find myself stuck, i look for books i think will help inspire me, or just pick them randomly off the bookcases as a diversion. I have to stay away from book stores unless i am ready to spend some cash, because i can never just buy one book.


6. I know Trapdoor Studio's work was recently featured in Popular Science Magazine - of all illustrations, which piece were you especially proud of? The Body Farm illustration had me cracking up!

I LOVED this poster project.  the vintage travel poster was a wonderful theme for the Article. The article was about summer travel getaways. All of the destinations were scientifically minded, and all within driving distance. I enjoyed creating them all, and they work well as a group. I think my favorite would have to be JPL poster. the happy space helmeted kids and the motion of the custom typography really work for me on a few levels.

7. Where should we look for your work next? From your site (trapdoorstudio.com), I see you're delving into wood carving and letter press.

In addition to new illustration and design, I am in the middle of completing a new series of paintings. These new painted works have a modern feel to them, but incorporate a bit of Tiki style, and relate to some of the new large-scale tikis i hand-carved earlier this year.

I have also recently acquired a nice gordon-style platen letterpress from the late 1800's, and have been doing some hobby & commercial printing on it to great effect. I love the tactile quality of hand printing, to me it makes all the difference.