Jeff Soto has published two beautifully illustrated books; “Potato Stamp Dreams” and “Storm Clouds”. His artwork has been featured in top art magazines like; Juxtapoz, Giant Robot, Hi-Fructose, Art Prostitute, Lodown Magazine, Art Week, and Clutter. He’s also worked with some impressive clients including; Sony Music, Warner Bros, Nickelodeon, Disney, Apple and Critterbox toys.

But even successful artists like Jeff experience creative blocks, read on to discover how he conquers them by imagining he’s having a conversation with fictional character Tyler Durdan and find out how he kicks him into shape.

Sun and Moon

Jeff you’re the author of two books, your work has been featured in many top art magazines and you have exhibited extensively across America. Many people tell us they struggle staying motivated and often experience creative blocks, as an establish artist how do you handle these issues?

This is a subject that I’ve talked about in my book, let me tell you how I handle it. After a solo exhibit I often feel used and abused, beat up, defeated. The months of sitting hunched over paintings working feverishly to bring life to the ideas in my head always seems to take it’s toll. The adrenaline surge of the opening and after party quickly fade and before I know it I’m on a flight home. And I’m always ready. I’m ready to abandon art for a while and hang out with my girls. I’m ready to tend to the neglected cacti garden, and in fact everything else I’ve neglected in the name of art.

Fuzzy Friend

It’s time to relax and get back to feeling normal again. And I do. But after a few weeks, post show depression kicks in and I start wondering if I’ve used up all my good ideas. I picture Brad Pitt (as Tyler Durden) telling me, “Well Jeffy boy, you had a good run but you’ve used up all your ideas man. You got nothing. Get the fuck off my porch!”. I always feel like that after a show. I’m done. Burnt out. Guess it’s time to start looking for a new profession.

“It sparks something in my brain and new ideas start…”

But experience has (so far) shown me that this is just an important part of my creative cycle. I’ve learned to just accept it and go with it. Before I know it, I am back drawing and something tiny yet powerful happens. It sparks something in my brain and new ideas start to filter out. Some are straight awful, but I explore them anyways. Slowly I start gaining confidence and begin to experiment. I draw a lot and make notes. As I go I pin the drawings (successful or not) onto my wall so new ideas can be interwoven and built upon them.

Jeff in his studio

To my surprise I soon have the makings for a new body of work on my wall and the cycle has started again. As I write this I am in mid-cycle. The after show bummer has been replaced with the pre-show “man, I better get painting!”. This time it was collaborations with my daughter Shannon that lifted me out of the doldrums. We’ve been working on watercolor paintings together- sometimes collaborating, sometimes working separately. Painting with a child really opened me up to the happy accidents and playfulness that I’ve forgotten about.

Most importantly though, it’s just fun. Making art for no other purpose than to make each other laugh or to tell a story feels great. It’s art at it’s purest. This book (Storm Clouds) contains work from three years and three solo shows- three cycles of ups and downs and the experiments in between. enjoy.

Jeff’s studio

You mention pinning up work successful or not, how often do you find yourself failing at something or abandoning a piece of work?

All the time, most of my work starts out looking like shit. I usually keep working through it until it works out. If that means repainting it, then so be it. Failing is part of my process.

Jeff Soto with fans Cassady and Jesse Kloo, Photo by Lord Jim

That’s true however, a lot of people still struggle with failure, so its good to have people spur you on. Did you have anyone that encouraged your career choice?

My parents were always pretty supportive, and for the most part my teachers were too. I was lucky for that, but also I really enjoyed making art my entire life so I was driven to do it for myself. I think my own desire to be an artist is the reason I’ve had some success.

Unknown Soldier

You say that you had the drive which is a key factor, but did you always feel like you could make a living out of it?

It has always been hard, and I still see it as a difficult profession. Maybe in a naive way I never really questioned it, I just went for it and didn’t let rejections get in the way. Even now, I feel pretty good about what I’ve accomplished so far but I am looking to the future. I feel I’m still in the beginning to mid stages in my career, and it’s tough sometimes to move forward.

Fly Away

Did you set yourself a plan at the beginning of what you wanted to achieve?

When I got out of high school I didn’t have a plan at all. I had pretty horrible grades so college would have to wait. I did 6-7 years of community college which was what I needed at the time.

I never really made goals, until I decided I wanted to go to art college when I was 24. After that I would jot down ideas, plans, maybe they were goals. I used to write a lot of that stuff in my sketchbook, but last few years I’ve been keeping track of my to-do list with the computer. Other than that, I just try to make good work and keep a clear head about what I’m doing. I need to make a new list of goals… it’s on my to-do list.

Click here for Part 2 Of This Interview where Jeff tells us about the sacrifices he’s made for his long term goals. He also reveals how to handle negative feedback and the type of attitude he’s developed in order to gain respect. You’ll also discover what Jeff was like at school and the obstacles he’s had to overcome.

Check out Part 2 Now…

Tim Tsui in front of Bling canvas

Interview by Angel Greenham:
Tim Tsui is one of the top players in the designer toy industry (a term used to describe toys and other collectibles that are produced in limited editions), his figures decked out in cool street wear and influenced by Hip-Hop, are extremely popular with collectors all around the world.

Tim has worked with huge clients like Coca Cola, Adidas, Nike and Royal Elastics and is a prominent attraction at all the leading toy fairs. Read on to find out how his experimental attitude has led to his success and what helps him boost his energy.

Bling by Tim Tsui

You’re always traveling around the world to different exhibitions and trade shows, tell me how do you cope with the fast paced lifestyle of being a high profile artist?

I really enjoy meeting my fans during events, Like SDCC (San Diego Comic Con), TTF (Taipei Toy Festival), and at some of my own exhibitions. Every time I go to these events, I have fun and take time to relax. I enjoy going swimming and when the sun is shining, I chill out at the pool side. Its great having drinks with my artist friends and meeting all my fans, all these things allow me to re-charge my energy and bring me great joy and happiness.

After having a few days holiday I get back to my base, then I start again creating my characters and sorting out some paper work. So, friends and fans are my energy, please don’t be shy when you see me at an event, just come and try to talk with me, I would really enjoy it so much.

Photo of Tim Tsui and Alice Chan by Ramond Kan

What other big toy fairs or events have you shown your work?

I had been invited to show my work at events around the world like, in the USA, France, UK, Japan and Taiwan for several years, and I’ve had a touring exhibition in LA, London and Paris. Apart from that, I’ve participated in live paintings at famous dept stores and Galleries like Lafayette in Paris.

Now I know you have a huge fan base yourself, but who are your hero’s?

No, I don’t have anyone special, I liked to explore things by myself, just like what the Salvador Dali said.” An artist is not one who is inspired, but one who can inspire others”

Da Minci GID by Tim Tsui photo by Lin Ping Kuang/Amon

Tell me when you first set out on this creative path, did you have a strategy of how you were going to achieve success?

I don’t think becoming an artist is an easy path, I think mostly artists have a very hard life or have worked hard before they gain success, many people see others being successful and think its easy but they never hear how hard it is behind the scenes.

For me, I learned all the stuff myself by reading books or by experimenting, since I think you can only learn the best things by exploring them yourself, rather then just asking people how to make it or how to do it. I was lucky that, finally I did succeed, but I did spend a lot of time testing different things instead of enjoying myself, like going to the movies or to a concert or hanging out with friends.

I didn’t set any goals for myself, I just worked on the things which I liked to create or on expressing myself through my thoughts. I enjoy creating things which are surreal with a mix of lifestyle thrown in, that’s why I created an ape wearing hip hop clothes, which make him look almost human. I like to make things crazy but meaningful, that’s why I came up with the series Da Fighter, to tell people fight for your dreams, with respect and love.

Da Fighter by Tim Tsui

How do you think people view designer toys?

I hope people look at other artist’s characters and study the background of the figure instead of just looking at the price. Sometimes I see people get annoyed with artist’s work and they don’t seem to get their point of view, they don’t know the story behind it or understand the meaning the artist intended. I hope Art Toys can be respected and appreciated as a piece of art.

Click here for Part 2 Of This Interview where Tim describes what he was like as a child and how he did at school. He also shares his advice for problem solving and how he handles negative criticism. Plus don’t miss hearing about guns, giant wrestlers, and working with multi billion dollar brands.

Check out Part 2 Now…

Do you tell yourself that there’s no way you can succeed without a wadge of cash, all the best equipment and a bunch of top business people in tow? Well Jon Burgerman is an internationally successful illustrator and he’s here to tell you that you don’t need any of that stuff in order to be successful.

Read on to discover how Jon’s succeeding in a competitive industry.

Jon has exhibited in galleries around the world including; Japan, Hamburg, Beijing, Barcelona and Singapore. He’s published two books “Hello Duudle” and “Pens are My Friends”. Plus his illustrations have been featured in Clutter Magazine, Computer Arts and “Vinyl Will Kill”. He’s designed a range of Ripcurl clothing, a series of soya surfboards, and top fashion house Miss Sixty commissioned him to doodle all over the walls of their swanky Hotel in Italy, not bad for someone who claims “I’m the King of Wing-ing it”

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Fav-cheese

“Your body, whilst hurting and hating you for making it sweat also releases tiny pellets of golden happiness”