Do any metal band names shock you anymore or are you completely desensitized?
I’m fairly desensitized to the names bands come up with although every once and a while I’ll happen upon one that’s shocking or in poor taste.

What do you love about working exclusively in black and white?
Working in black and white is a holdover from when I got my start illustrating in the early 90s; the only affordable means to reproduce demo covers, flyers, and fanzines, etc. was via a black and white photocopier. I’ve continued in this direction because one of the goals of my artistic approach is to capture the essence of the early 90s underground metal scene. Staying with black and white has allowed me to preserve the nostalgia of old school death metal as well as build a visual brand and language around it.

Do you approach an illustration for a band any differently than a streetwear collaboration or a book cover, etc?
I usually treat all of my projects the same despite who the customer is or what the end product might be. Like most artists, I act as a filter; information comes in and then goes out in a way that’s translated through my own distinct creative vision. In terms of the outcome, some customers have a very clear idea of what they want and include meticulous instructions, others offer minimal guidance, and some allow me free reign. I typically work best from minimal guidance as it provides a starting point and then allows me enough room to add my own creative input.

What have you been listening to and watching the last few months? Or reading?
I haven’t done much reading this year, save for news articles. I believe the last few books I read included This is Not a T-Shirt, by Bobby Hundreds, and Outgrowing God by Richard Dawkins. I typically seek out nonfiction, particularly books about religion and philosophy. In regard to television, I recently binge-watched every season of The Big Bang Theory and I’m currently hooked on The Boys and the 2020 NFL season; the last film I watched was Mandy. I usually seek out comedy, independent films, documentaries, and competition shows related to design and creativity. In terms of music, some of the bands I’ve been listening to a lot lately include Worm, Skeletal Remains, Sovereign, Zealot Cult, Penthos, Undeath, Infected Religion, Aseptic, Fleshrot, Dodskvad, Spesimin, Question, and Mental Casket.

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