A fascination for dark t-shirt illustration
It’s all been fun characters and vintage sports illustration lately for Designer of the Week styles, so I thought we should go back to our roots. How about a dark, grim, death-themes t-shirt designs, that remind us of the beginnings of Tshirt Factory? Contributing designer on our main site, going by the name of Moron Fathers specializes T-shirt Illustration, book covers and album art for bands. So, if you need anything with a touch of an unsettling sense of death, he’s the man for you.
OANA: Please tell us more about your art and design background. What made you become a designer?
MORON FATHERS: Hi, thank you for this opportunity. The work I make tries to combine two of my interest in the illustration. I like the “scene of fantasy or fantasy stories”, especially fantasy-themed darkness; and “soft colors”. I try to combine them into one, in my artwork. Nothing is more special other than pouring what you like into work.
OANA: How or when did you start illustrating on a professional level?
MORON FATHERS: Ever since I was a child, I liked to draw. Finally, I decided to go to the University of Design, to learn how to design properly and sell. And after graduating from college, I met a lot of other designers. And I decided to be more serious in this field.
OANA: Where does your inspiration come from?
MORON FATHERS:Sometimes when I feel bad, or while watching movies and when there is no activity.
OANA: How would you describe your style?
MORON FATHERS: It is a merger between fantasy, mystical, dark, comic, with subtle colors as a sweetener.
OANA: What tools you use? Do you go 100% digital or is there paper involved?
MORON FATHERS: I draw in pen and ink and Photoshop. I combine shading manually using pen with digital color. I love drawing or creating a line with a pen, so it looks more natural in a work. But, I use digital color to facilitate the provision of color and reduce the error rate in the settlement process.
OANA: Is there anything that you specifically avoid using in your illustrations?
MORON FATHERS: No, I do not limit myself to any type of illustration. Neither in the use of tools nor objects and themes.
OANA: What was the hardest job/illustration you have ever worked on?
MORON FATHERS: So far there has been no hard job 🙂
OANA: Can you name some of your favorite designs and why? (personal or from other designers)
MORON FATHERS: All works of Alphonse Mucha, Brandon Holt, Andy Brase and John Dyer Baizley are my favorite, because I think that their works can hypnotize when looked at. They are the best I think.
OANA: Any graphic designers you admire?
MORON FATHERS: Aside from the four names that I have mentioned, there are Silencer 8 and Devilreject. Their works I also admire.
OANA: Any words of advice for anyone just starting out as an illustrator/graphic designer?
MORON FATHERS: Never complain.
