Steve Rack - Promising new Illustrator/Designer
I came across Steve Rack’s eye catching artwork on myspace and I couldn’t help smiling at his fascinating little characters. Its feel good factor is the reason why, I’ve decided to feature his work, and spread this great feeling to everyone.
Angel: Tell me a bit about your creative background, how did you became interested in illustration?
Steve Rack: Back in the late 80’s, while my older brother made skateboard ramps at the front of the house, and my two younger brothers occupied themselves with Transformers and Lego, there was one place I could almost always be found; my bedroom, and it was there that I would spend many hours at a time sat at my wooden desk drawing comic book covers for my imaginary universe of characters.
Looking back, I can’t really pinpoint a time when I developed my interest in illustration. It’s something that I feel has always been there. It wasn’t really a case of ‘I want to be an artist when I grow up’, and more a case of ‘I need more pencils!’
A: Did you study art at college?
SR: Yes. I gained a BTEC 1st in Design at Cirencester College. I then went on to study for a further four years at what was known as the Swindon School of Art (It’s now replaced by an apartment complex.). And it was there that I gained an Advanced GNVQ in Art Design, an Art Foundation Diploma, and a HND in Illustration.
I really enjoyed it and I am real glad that I was fortunate enough to have the experience. As well as learning a great deal, I made some really good friends. It’s the memories of the good times that I had with my friends that I value the most when I look back at my college years.
A: What creative people have inspired you?
SR: Japanese Pop Art inspires me a great deal. I’m also a fan of Hayao Miyazaki’s stories and animation.
At the moment though, I’m really into the art of Jeff Soto, Eric Feng and Belgium street artist, Bue.
A: What is it about these particular artists work that you like so much?
SR: I love the simplicity, and the ability to inspire imagination.
A: Do you do art full time?
SR: As much as I am endeavoring to find my place as a full-time payed artist, I currently work in a customer services based business centre, even though I spend most of my time their doodling! In fact, some of my favourite character designs have manifested themselves onto a piece of scrap paper, while I’m chatting away on the phone to some disgruntled customer.
A: Tell me more about your characters?, do you imagine the environments they would live?
SR: I think my characters evolve as kind of an extension of my personality. Sometimes they just appear on a shopping list or a gas bill.
Most of my character’s come from the same place, and I guess that the only way I can describe it is as a colourful world of infinite possibility. It’s a place where striped animals with long unicorn horns and puffy candy floss tails gallop through forests full of tree spirits and friendly critters.
“Haphaps” probably capture the essence of the land most of all. They are tiny, bright yellow, glow-in-the-dark, flickering, fluttering balls of pure, positive energy, and they have the power to heal. But If they use too much of their positive energy and power to heal, which is often the case when they come across dead trees, they disperse into thousands of little star dust particles that disappear into the cosmos. They live in clusters in secret places deep within forest land. If you call for them, they might come. And with a sprinkle of their static dust, your dream will come true.
A: What mediums do you like to use and why?(as in crayon not spiritual guides)
SR: I like to use coloured pencil and crayons. This is mainly because when I drew as a kid, I relied heavily on the colour labels that coloured pencils and crayons normally carry (I’m red/green colour-blind, which means that I’m not that good at distinguishing any colour that has either red or green in it.), and so I became became very comfortable and confident with that medium. I also like to use acrylic paint.
A: Your blog has received a lot of attention, what commissions/work have you got from it?
SR: Well, I created my ‘daily picture’ MySpace blog as a sort of new years resolution and for two main reasons. One, to keep an online log of my character designs, and two, to share my work with others.
And, yes, I am really excited about the positive response that my blog has generated. Within the past two weeks I have had requests from four different independent bands to design album ! covers, and/or promotional artwork. I’m also working on some artwork for an American zine. I’m always looking for ways to explore my art, so I am real glad to have been given these opportunities.
A: Do you have any projects coming up that you would like to tell us about?
SR: Yes! I am working on putting together a series of large acrylic paintings on wood. They will follow a theme/story from within the world that my characters reside. When I’m done, and once I’ve got a venue confirmed, I’ll post an update on my MySpace page.
I’m also expecting some blank skateboard decks in the post any day now, and I can’t wait to let loose on them!
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