Two Flat Whites caught up with Luke Feldman, aka in the design world as
SKAFFS
. Luke produces infectious illustrations and animations and this along with over 10 years experience makes him one very talented designer. Luke has achieved many honours, although some of his most recent achievements include being a finalist in the ‘Little Big Shots Film Festival 2008’ & a finalist of the ‘International Independent Film Festival 2007’ in San Diego.
Where did you grow up & where do you hang your hat?
I was born in Warrnambool and grew up in Geelong. At the moment, Melbourne and San Francisco are home.
In your own words, what do you do?
I am an illustrator and animator who produces music and paints. I am the creator of SKAFFS (
www.skaffs.com
) that is an ever-evolving collection of creative work such as art, giant vinyl adhesives, skate decks and other odds-and-ends.
Where did you learn your craft?
I studied Visual Arts and completed a Multimedia course in Australia. This was important in giving me a better understanding of the fundamentals of design and animation. Working in the multimedia industry, for over 10 years, from gaming to children’s education and social networking, also helped me get to where I am now.
Whose work do you relate to most? Who inspires you?
Salvador Dali & Theodor Geisel (Dr Seuss)
What inspired you to create?
The idea of creating something from nothing to a finished piece of work inspires me. My bizarre creations are the result of the quirky little things that happen throughout my life. .
Childhood Memories:
TV Show
– Monkey Magic, The Goodies, Mr Squiggle
Hobby
– Taekwondo, Playing the Guitar
Food
– Soda Streams, Chocolate Crackles, Bubble O Bill
Fear
– People under the stairs.
People
– Jean-Claude Van Damme and his classic “acting” skills and martial arts.
Defining moment
– Winning a local colour-in competition at the age of 8 years and realizing that I could possibly make some money without colouring-in within the lines.
Schooling memories, chore or cherished?
Chore. Being a red head meant being picked-on. But, on the flipside, school also exposed me to a variety of arts and music education and helped me get through.
Where is the most beautiful place in Australia you have visited?
A secluded beach amongst the cliffs of Boudhi National Park on the coast of NSW
From the hours of 9am to 5pm, what do you get up too?
My usual work day starts off very early and ends very late. In between commissioned jobs, I prepare artwork (acrylic, ink or digital) for upcoming exhibitions and I work on my own animation series concepts. My days tend to be long to allow me to easily communicate with companies all over the world on all different time zones.
Where can people see your work?
I currently sell work at Villain Store on Sydney Road and Robio on Gertrude Street in Melbourne. I also have work on various web stores such as Shanalogic and Freshly Dipped. Galleries in California, both in San Francisco and Los Angeles, carry a lot of my original fine art pieces. Further details on stores can be found at
www.skaffs.com
.
For love or money?
Definitely LOVE and a lot of it! To have the support and following of fans and to see my artwork used in advertising campaigns, children’s books, store or conference booth installations etc is really rewarding.
What future endeavors are in the pipeline?
More artwork for various upcoming exhibitions (Further details on shows at
www.skaffs.com
). I have my first illustrated and co-authored children’s book series scheduled for release in early 2009. I am also launching a couple of collector toys.
