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CONTENTS TEAM 1 CONTRIBUTORS 3 JOSH BROWN 5 DAN LYNCH 11 CREATIVE THINKING EXERCISES 17 NICK NOLAN 19 JEN CUENCO 23 BEN ADAMS 27 JAMIE DELA ROSA 33 NATHAN HYRATT 37 KEENAN ALEXANDER 43 TAYLOR BLAND 47
1
THE TEAM
AARON MAXWELL ANNA KOVESI BRYCE ELLIS KATE MORRISON
What did you do in the last twenty-four hours? process by doing some watercolours and We created a zine. A zine based on pushing drawings outside whilst it was still light and our design skills to absolute breaking point then got cracking on all the amazing artists we through army-style sleep deprivation tactics. feature in this zine. What amazing talent we Our day began somewhere around 8am found! To do their work justice, we’ve worked (probably like yours). Some had to travel two the best part of the whole night on their hours
on public transport to our meeting articles. Many layout options, and plenty of
destination (with a printer/scanner in arms), coffees later, we’re almost done (but actually others didn’t actually need to leave the house. not really). We have just decided Bryce must We
started
our
twenty-four
hours
of have been sleep talking this whole night, which
deprivation at 12pm. A lot of planning and makes more sense than thinking he was awake concepting had to be done so that our future this whole time. Aaron is the consummate selves could just work and not worry about professional, painstakingly putting everyone’s how it would all come together in the end. We layouts into the one zine layout, Kate’s getting wanted our future selves not to be too pissed some zzz’s from a big night and Anna’s writing off at our cocky and spritely past selves too the editor’s letter even though she’s not the much, you know? A major late pub lunch was editor. Tummies are grumbling, yawns all round also in order... with a few cheeky ciders to get and its a waiting game until somewhere opens the creative juices going. And then a shop and lets our tired asses in to get a massive run for coffee and lollies, which as my future breakfast. We’re also getting ready for our self, I’m hating my past self for those rookie sexy contributor photos in our sleepy states. decisions. It’s 5am currently and all I want is some proper, semi-decent food. Oh yeah and sleep. Tonnes of sleep. We eased into the zine
Don’t judge us.
3
CONTRIBUTORS
JOSH BROWN DAN LYNCH NICK NOLAN JEN CUENCO TAYLOR BLAND JAMIE DELA ROSA BEN ADAMS KEENAN ALEXANDER NATHAN HYRATT
5
JOSH BROWN ILLUSTRATOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER 10-12-87
Man your illustrations are insane! I have to ask, how long have you been Illustrating? Thanks dude, I have been drawing my whole life. My folks sent me off to drawing classes at about 7 - 8yrs. I guess they saw some kind of talent at a young age. I’ve been at it ever since. It seems that your parents were right! You have previously done work with Insight. Tell us a bit about that. Yeah just before I started The Snake Hole I spent 2 years living in Sydney working as an artist & design assistant for Insight, mainly focusing on the men’s range. I juggled doing artwork for the men’s clothing alongside designing the boardshorts - this involved designing cuts, trims, fabrics, colourways etc. They were great times at Insight, we worked alongside the crew at ‘Ksubi’ and ‘Something Else’ in a warehouse just outside of the Sydney CBD. I learnt a lot during my time there, working under guys like Robbie Russo & Jodia Natapradja really helped me develop my skills and progress in my career.
Amazing dude! There are so many young artists / designers out there that would love to have that sort of experience. What exactly is ‘The Snake Hole’ and where has the name come from? ‘The Snake Hole’ is my studio / gallery. Monday - Friday I work as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator and once a month, I basically gut the studio so its a clean space and run monthly exhibitions in there. Growing up on the Mornington Peninsula, an hour out of Melbourne, I experienced the difficulty of finding a space for a young emerging artist to exhibit work. Creating The Snake Hole was a way to fill the gap. My aim is to support young emerging artists and provide an accessible space for them to exhibit artwork and get exposure in industry. I am also passionate about bringing great artists from around Australia to exhibit on the Mornington Peninsula. The Snake Hole name comes from ‘Brownsnake’ a nickname that I was given whilst at Insight by a mate of mine. Apparently I have no shoulders haha.
Man that is so great. It’s always nice to see people helping out emerging artist getting their work recognized. Your piece ‘Doom’ is dope as fuck. What inspired you to create this illustration? The ‘Doom’ piece was for our ‘Gangsters Paradise’ Exhibition at The Snake Hole, which I had pleasure of working alongside one of my best mates Josh Meyer. We are both really into hip hop music, so we based the entire show around the genre. It was a tongue-in-cheek ode to rappers and hip hop culture. We wanted to take a light and somewhat contradictory approach to represent a culture that is quite often feared and seen by society as being wrong. That exhibition was sick! To round it up man we have to ask, what is your worst habit? Oh man there is so many... You should probably direct this question to my wife, I’m sure she could answer it pretty quickly haha. I think my worst habit is not being able to focus on only one job at a time. I chop and change onto so many different little projects, I just get too stoked! If I could put all my focus into one thing at a time I’d get so much more done in a days work! Thanks for all your time with us Josh! It has sure been enlightening and not to mention inspiring. Thanks Legend!
11
DAN LYNCH PHOTOGRAPHER 06-09-94
What got you into photography and what are you main influence? Growing up, I spent a lot of time skateboarding with a close group of friends and in which I did a lot of filming. One day I saw the perfect photo opportunity and it kinda dawned on me that I would enjoy shooting photos rather than filming the tricks. After that, my main influence was largely based around my brother who is a graphic designer as well as some other friends who shoot. They have spent some time teaching me the ins and outs of it all.
Sweet dude, you have a creative family by the sounds of
Besides photography and of course skating, what are some
things.. I hear you’re also trying to get more involved in
of your other pleasures?
surf photography is that right?
Yeah it has been pretty helpful. Well besides those, there isn’t
Yeah I do. My one of my brother is currently working in New
much else, though as a 20 year old I do party and drink a lot
York, so having him around to help is quite beneficial to say the
though. I also work at a local night club which can be pretty
least. My whole family has grown up surfing, though I personally
awesome from time to time... Apart from those thing
have never been to good at it, which is why I chose the
I tend to just spend my free time hanging with friends.
skateboard over the surfboard. Nevertheless it has been apart of my life since day one and some of my friends are professional
Haha, living it up as much a possible! If you could be
surfers so recently I have been trying to capitalise on that and
any fictional character who would it be?
get more involved with shoot them. Also a large portion of my
Being a comic book fan this question is kinda a hard question,
portfolio is based on a photo documentary I did with a friend
but I say if it came down to the wire I would have to go with
of mine, Ryan Callinan.
either ‘Gambit’ from the X-men or ‘Spider-man’.
Well you are well on your way man. It’s a bonus that you
Take it easy man, good luck with the shooting.
have had the surfing culture instilled in you from a young age.
Thanks!
are you interested in becoming a creative genius? feel like you look at yourself in the mirror and see unfulfilled greatness? have a box of shitty drawings you can never show anyone? well, rest your head child, Anna Kovesi has scoured the internet and found some exercises to help you improve your creativity.
17
2 minutes errrryday... the key here is to produce quality and
that shoe is not for your foot.
quantity. over a short amount of time you’ll be able to see
pick an everyday item and come up with as many different and
how much quicker and creative your brain will become after
creative functions for it. this challenges your brain to see
performing these simple exercises.
everyday things (and perhaps problems you’ve been working on too) in a new light.
scribble drawings. it’s like mr. squiggle but without an annoying, grumpy black
de-construct objects.
board to tell you to hurry up. do some squiggles (or better
again, this re-jigs your noggin to view very mundane objects
yet, ask someone else to draw squiggles for you) and then
in a new and exciting way. look around you. a tree is not a
create weird and wonderful pictures from them.
tree. it’s roots, leaves, bark, twigs, a small ecosystem of insects and animals.
free-association. open the dictionary to a random word and write down anything
learn a new skill.
it makes you think of (however random or serious).
you know those annoying people who can play guitar, know two
surprisingly, freedom can actually inhibit creativity; a
languages other than English and can illustrate? that’s no
little restriction (like focusing on just one word) lets you
accident. your brain is a sponge, a really nerdy sponge,that
think more freely and creatively.
wants to learn new things constantly. so why not take this opportunity to start learning something you’ve always wanted
try something new.
to? you’ll find you pick up other things easier and quicker
doing things out of habit or routine puts your brain into
the more you do.
auto-pilot. yep, you’re actually boring your own brain. new experiences (whether its trying a new food or just walking
host a deadline party.
home from work a different way) gets your brain firing.
send an email round to your mates with a due date for when
novelty-seeking is associated with creativity and your brain
they must present a new project or skill to everyone that’s
is desperately crying out for it.
invited. having deadlines keeps you motivated and on track.
NICK NOLAN/ILLUSTRATOR/18-02-93
Did you spring forth from the womb with pencil in hand? Not exactly, but from a very young age (around 3 years old I think) a lot of my time was taken up by drawing. My mum is the one to thank for that as she was really into art. Pretend you find yourself in the type of situation where you’re at a bus stop or a bar or whatever and some babe wants you know about your work. How do you describe it? Recently I threw together the term "an elaborate, intricately drawn gross-fest of bright coloured, sexually explicit muscular nude lumpy male on male violence" as a way to describe my work, that probably doesn't make sense to anyone but me though. Alternatively something like 'gross surreal cartoons' could work just as well, or I could just show them a sketch book, let them figure it out for themselves!
What do you say your biggest influences are?
drawing and also to familiarise myself with
I'd have to say Keaton Henson and Michael
everything on there because I'm a bit
Shantz were my two biggest influences a few
clueless when it comes to using Photoshop.
years back, without them I don't think my
How do you feel about working digitally?
work would have turned out quite the way it
I've always preferred traditional hand drawn
did. Brian Chippendale's visual art and music
stuff over digital but like I said above it's
has been a huge inspiration to me lately as well.
something I'm interested in looking further
The internet says you’ve got nice knees. Tell
into and giving it more of a chance, because
us about that.
there's a lot of benefits to working digitally
Hahah oh man, I don't even know where that
over traditionally, especially when it comes
came from. It's basically this long running
to doing illustration type of work for clients.
inside joke caused by drunken antics between
So doing more digital work is definitely a
some friends and myself a few years back. It's
goal of mine to accomplish in the near future.
a joke that's given me a lot of confidence in my
What does your work space look like?
knees though so I guess if the art thing doesn't
It's nothing too special, just a hefty sized desk
work out I can always use them to try and get
crammed into the corner of my bedroom. It's
into a knee modeling career. That's probably a
a cosy and comfortable working space
thing, right?
though so I can't complain, I wouldn't have it
I saw on your blog that you’re new to
any other way!
Photoshop, tell us about that?
What’s your favourite medium?
Kind of! I use Photoshop all the time for
Definitely black Biro pens and fine liner pens
colouring my work and I have used it a lot
on paper, they'll always be my favourites.
throughout school for various projects, but
What’s with all the dicks?
honestly I need to start using it more for
I think it stems from that obsession some
people get in high school where they waste time in classes doing crude dick drawings (for reference watch that scene from Superbad). But really I just enjoy drawing them in the same way that I enjoy drawing hands, feet and faces, it's just another part of the human body that I think is fun to draw. Lastly, we put this zine together within a 24 hour period. What’s the dumbest shit you’ve ever done in 24 hours? Ooooh this is a tough question, I feel like I’ve done way too much dumb shit in my life so far. I think one of my favorite dumbest moments would have been from when I was 17. I got really drunk with a bunch of mates and for some reason picked up a possum not realising that it was a possum, then moments later realising it was, in fact, a possum and gently underarm throwing it to a friend for them to deal with it. Yeah, I don't know how that happened, or why that happened, being 17 was a weird time. For more of Nick Nolan’s work, check out: http://nicknolansdrawings.tumblr.com
23
JEN CUENCO GRAPHIC DESIGNER 23-06-87
How did these Illustrations come about?
You have recently finished studying, what was that
In high school I would get a piping bag and fill it with
like and what are your future plans?
paint, then illustrate on a canvas. I guess now these
College was great! I loved being taught by lecturers
illustration are simply to digital version of how I use
who are amazing and passionate about what they do. I
to paint.
love studying so I plan on getting my Bachelor Degree.
That’s really cool. You don’t just focus on Illustration
Yeah nice, What and who are your main influences?
though, you are also a Graphic Designer right?
I’m influenced by French designer Nicolas Bonté, the
Yes. That’s right, although I do prefer fine art, there’s just
amazing Kenya Hara who is the master of Japanese
something about Graphic Design (commercial art) that I
minimalism and of course Peter Saville for his timeless
find rewarding yet challenging which I love!
album cover art for likes of Joy Division and New Order.
That’s an interesting selection of designers. What is one random fact that you can tell us about yourself? I collect socks and cameras. HA! Haha that’s awesome! Do you have a favourite pair? My Virgin Mary ones are pretty comfortable. They sound dope! Thanks Jen, It’s been a pleasure. I’m sure we will be seeing you around. Thanks. This was a lot of fun!
27
ILLUSTRATOR 03-04-91
ben adams
These Illustrations are trippy as. What inspires you to draw like this? So many goddamn things man. Other artists work is a huge one. Books, music, funny things that my friends say and do. Lately it’s been a lot of real old horror movies and monsters and aliens saying things that I find funny. Other times it’s just crap that builds up in my head, frustrations over things in life that I think would be pretty funny to draw. It’s all over the place. I think that’s the beauty about your work man. Where has your Illustration taken you in the past year? Aw man, it’s a slow process eh. I’ve kinda been travelling around a fair bit since I finished my degree a few years ago and haven’t really been stationary enough to start to settle down and get my name out and build up on. So I’m looking forward to moving to Sydney soon and just finally trying to establish some ground work for it all. But it’s going well, I’ve had a few little interviews and designing some skateboard graphics, a lot of freelance work lately, which is real fun.
Man by the sounds of things you are having a shit load of fun and keeping yourself super busy. When you say ‘travel’ do you mean within Australia or overseas? Yeah I just try to keep happy. A bit of both, spent about six months travelling round Europe and a few months travelling the west coast of the U.S, which was fucking amazing, and real soon a few of us are heading to Nepal, so that’ll be interesting. In Aus I’ve been living down in Victoria working on a vineyard with a few friends, spent some time driving round Tasmania in my van, working in the country on a cattle farm, and the rest of the time living up in Brisbane and slaving away for the good ol’ Bottlemart. But I’ve always been drawing during those times, ya get a lot of inspiration from that kinda shit I think, meeting new people and seeing insane things.
Man that seriously sounds amazing! Where was your favourite place in europe? Aw man I don’t even know, Budapest was probably the greatest city for sure, met some real cool people and the bridges that run along the Danube river are sick, but Prague was good with friends, we’d just buy cheap fireworks from the supermarket and run around drunk in the snow at night and light them up and shoot em out of our hands, hell of a lot of fun.
How did the name ‘WEIRDYBEARD’ come about? When I was in high school I used to be able to grow this disgusting beard on one half of my face, it just never grew on the other side, so I’d rock it in year 11 and felt like the coolest person in the world, even though I probably looked like a fucking idiot. I think then I just started having an infatuation with beards cause I felt like I was the only kid in the world who could grow any kinda facial hair. over time it grew evenly and i kept having a beard and doing a lot of drawings of weird characters with weird facial hair, and that’s how the name kinda came about, to be honest. I’ve shaved recently but i think I’ll always have some kinda hair on my face. Half beard! that’s actually too funny.. Thanks for speaking with us man. Good luck with what’s to come. Thanks a lot! take it easy.
33
JAMIE DELA ROSA PHOTOGRAPHER 06-01-93
How long have you been shooting? I’ve only actually started shooting in year 10 high school when I purchased my first DSLR which is about 5 years ago, but I’ve been making art since primary. Making mostly illustrations and collage work. From then, I later fell in love with photography. So we paint a better picture of you. Can you tell us very briefly about your lifestyle? As a freelance photographer my day to day varies. No day is the same. For example: I’m currently interning for photographer Juliet Taylor and one day we are shooting in a studio in Rosebery and the next day we are shooting in the Blue Mountains with a video crew. Or when I’m undergoing personal projects like the Mardi Gras project that I did, taking portraits of actors for their program and poster. Keeping up with a busy schedule by the sounds of things. It’s great to see. What are you plans after you finish your intern with Juliet Taylor? Yeah I always need to be active or it drives me crazy. Oh actually I’ve just told Juliet that I cannot continue the internship for any longer because I’ve accepted my offer for University, that will start next week. So that is the plan for the next three years really.
That’s commitment! What exactly will you be doing there? I will be undergoing a Bachelor of Visual Arts where I hope to better my practice as an artist and also to broaden my knowledge of the art world. You have such a broad skill set, it’s rad! What’s your favourite movie of all time? Oh, thanks. Hopefully I can master them! Ahh, one of the hardest questions to ask a human being haha. Ahm, well french horror movie Martyrs hit me in a huge way the way it hit me when I first watched it. I connected it to it way too deeply. I would watch it to calm me as weird as that sounds. To calm you? Horror movies scare the shit outta me haha! It has been great to speak with you and learn your interesting and quirky ways. Haha!! Yeah people who have conversations with me about movies get a bit weirded out. It’s been fun!
Follow Jamie on http://jamiedelarosa.tumblr.com/
Your collage and photography blend together so well. We are intrigued by the piece ‘Screams’, can you tell us a bit about it? The series is about the body, emotions and the world. These elements are symbolic throughout each image. Screams in particular is about the overload of information the world lays out on an individual.
37
NATHAN HYRATT
PHOTOGRAPHER 09-02-96
You have some really dope skating photography, Are you a skater yourself? Thanks dude! And yes, I am also a skater. I’ve probably been rolling for about 5 or 6 years now. That’s sick dude. What’s the fattest trick you have pulled off? Probably a noseslide to manual on the ledge and manny pad at Cammeray Skatepark.
Nice man, You have recently finished studying right? Yeah, I just graduated my Diploma of Photo Imaging about a month ago. I’m so glad that I did that course, but also glad it’s over. It was very intense, which meant I learnt a lot but now I’m keen to just get out there and do it. Yeah totally man, So what’s the plan now? I actually have no idea. Just try to get my name out there and find a job I guess. I haven’t put too much thought into it, I’ve just been relaxing for the last few weeks.
What’s your strangest obsession? I don’t think I have any strange obsessions. That’s fair.. What’s your ideal job man? To work as a photographer for a skateboarding company and travel around the world shooting their team. Keep shooting like you are and hopefully you’ll be there soon! Cheers for speaking with us, see you around man. I will! Peace.
43
KEENAN ALEXANDER ILLUSTRATOR 07-07-94
Illustrator, Skater and weed smoker... Would that sum up your
Yeah that does blow man. You seem to draw a lot of skulls and
lifestyle in just a few words?
skeletons. Tell us a bit about your work?
Nah I’d describe it more like “Unemployed with bad ankles and a
When you put it like that I guess my work is pretty cliche. It’s all inspired
prescription.” But if we’re getting technical, I guess you’d be right.
by skateboarding I guess. I started being a kook when the first tony hawk games were put out, so I was reading comics, listening to punk shit and
I have to ask what’s your favourite trick and who are your main
hip hop when I wasn’t out rolling my ankles and having a bad time. Haha,
skate influences?
it’s been about 8-9 years since that stage though, and nothing was really
I think a favourite trick is a difficult question, kinda depends on where its
a phase. Primary school teachers would always make us paint trees and
done. But in general, a really nice ollie never fails. I think Shane Cross would
shit for art sessions, they always encouraged me to draw and paint so
be the all time favourite, but nothing gets me more stoked then seeing all the
I never really dropped it. The whole idea of discussing art and writing
aussie rippers in Sydney. Dean Palmer and the 99 dudes all kill it.
essays bored the shit out of me through high school and the teachers who did it preached bible quotes at the same time. All that really did
You are currently studying Graphic Design. How’s that all going
was make me do little satanic scribbles for fun haha. I guess that might
for you?
be where skulls come in. Not to mention I grew up and still live in the
It’s pretty stressful. I’ve done what ever I could to make every piece fun
northern suburbs, which sucks and has nothing interesting about it so
for myself but there’s just too much shit to do, I ended up ditching 2
I have nothing better to do than smoke a joint, draw and spin records
classes for this trimester just so i could have at least 1 chill day every
sometimes when I’m not stuck inside a graphic design lecture. Otherwise
week. Illustrating for fun has become pretty rare which really blows. I
I guess you’ll find me rapping, dancing, or playing basketball somewhere
guess full time study is like a job you don’t get paid for. I sound pretty
in the Hornsby area with my white friends.
negative but fuck, its definitely worth it.
Rapping hey? What would be your favourite rap artists that you sing along too? I don’t rap, but yeah I don’t know, maybe Wu-Tang, Shyheim or something haha. Happy to hear wu tang is being pumped through your ears! What’s the plan after you graduate? Probably just bum around and freelance till I get a paid internship or a portfolio I like enough. I’ll probably be sending my work to heaps of brands and shit. Well good luck with it, Thanks for chatting with us. Cheers.
TAYLOR BLAND/PHOTOGRAPHER/29.04.93
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What is it you love about photography?
Carboard boxes? That's so bizarre! How would
I love the notion that I can recreate part of my
you describe your lifestyle?
being in my images, signifying my perceptions
Haha I suppose it is a little bit. My lifestyle is pretty
of time, place, culture and style. I also thoroughly
relaxed at the moment, I work part time at a
enjoy using a combination of film and digital.
Jewellery store so between that and sleeping
Experimentation is also a big part of my process
I enjoy, eating out, taking photos, walking the
and something i really love.
outdoors and hanging out with pals.
That's super interesting. Who is your favourite
Being a recent 'Photo Imaging' graduate, what
photographer and what are your main influences?
are your next steps?
Two of my favourite photographers, would have to
My next steps are to take more photos, assist in
be Dina Goldstein and Terry Richardson. Their work
shoots, post on my blog, researching techniques
is definitely a source of inspiration for me along with
and just keep on keeping on. As long as I'm
my 'healthy' obsession of collecting. I find lots of
creating I am happy but I am also considering
inspiration in collecting things, displaying them
furthering my education.
and photographing them. Sounds like a perfect plan! Thanks for speaking A collector hey? What is something you, let’s say
with us Taylor. Hopefully we see more of you in
'healthily' collect?
the near future.
Yeah I'm a collector. I wouldn't consider myself
Fingers crossed all goes well, haha. Hopefully
a hoarder or anything but I do enjoy collecting
you will!
eclectically. Mainly things like bottles, jars, cups, statues, alcohol bottles, comics and my favourite
Check out more of Taylor’s photography at:
would be boxes, cardboard boxes.
http://tay-bland.tumblr.com