Name: Brian Calvert
Age: 30
Born where: Ojai, California
Living now: Ventura, California
Starting with Art when: A youngster
Favorite Artist on the planet (already dead): Pablo Picasso
Favorite Artist on the planet (still alive): Priscilla C. Witte
Favorite Surfing spot: “Sea Monsters”
Favorite Outdoor-Location in the wilderness: anywhere in Yosemite
Hi Brian, please tell us, where are you from and when do you start doing art?
I’m from Ventura, California. I’m not sure the exact age, but as young as I can remember. I was raised in a very creative, and supportive family. My parents always made sure we had some sort of art supplies around the house to mess around with.
Where do you learned your skills from? In School, University, self-taught?
It’s a little mixture of both, but mostly self taught in the styles I create in. I have an AA Degree but thats purely because I always took some form of an art class in college, to convince myself to go to school in the morning. I’ve been a freelance artist for about 8 years now, so I’m constantly learning something new and finding better ways to solve problems creatively.
Classic questions, but always interesting… Where do you get your inspirations from?
That is a classic question, and it’s always tricky because it really depends on the day. Nature always seems to play a big role in my inspiration, it comes in so many forms. Another one has always been the cartoons in the newspaper. My sister and I used to fight over them when we were kids haha. But I love how simple, but powerful a few frames of fun illustrations can be.
On what medium do you draw your work these days?
It depends on the project, I got an ipad this past year and have been jamming through ideas on there a lot lately. I try to use it more as a digital sketch book, where it helps to translate things to acrylic or enamel paint for the final products, down the road.
Do you have a message you want to spread with your art?
I’m not sure if its as much of a message as it is a feeling? I love for people to feel good, and happy when they look at something I’ve created. If there are any hidden messages they’re probably pretty simple like, “go water your plants” or “take your motorcycle for a ride” haha.
Do you do exhibitions with them? If yes, where can we see them?
I have in the past, this covid/quarantine time has slowed things down a bit. But my two latest shows have both been at local breweries and they’re just a blast. It’s hard to beat good people, beer, AND art all in once place. So I’m definitely looking forward to more shows in the future.
Do you surf yourself? If yes, where do you go surfing normaly?
I do, it’s been a minute since I’ve been able to get back to a normal routine, but there are some great breaks here in Ventura. I’ll tell you all about them over a burrito or a beer sometime..
And what about the outdoors? Do you hang out in the wilderness from time to time? If yes, where is your favorite place to build up the tent?
Love it, I always come home so refreshed and inspired after a solid trip. Theres a little place in Northern California my girlfriend and I love to escape to, to visit family from time to time. One of those “best of both worlds” when it comes to mountains and beaches.
Back to your art, how long do you work on one piece usually?
Oh man that really depends. Sometimes I can jam out an idea into a full illustration in under an hour. Others I’ll come back to and chip away at them for months, but once I land on something that really resonates with me, I’ll have it on canvas by the end of the day. It’s a blessing and a curse when it comes to sleep haha.
Who are your customers of your art/ work?
It’s pretty all over at this point, which has been really rad. It keeps my day to day interesting when I have a few different clients work going at once. It’s gone as far lately from package design, to children’s clothing, to my good pals band’s logo. I think one of my favorite things about what I design is that it’s pretty approachable for anyone.
Where can we follow or even buy your work?
@calvertillustrations on instagram is where a lot of it lives. I have my website (updated finally) Brianscalvert.com, which the best way to reach out if there’s work or designs you’re interested in.