15 Questions for Scott

Name: Scott Donald
Born: June 9th, 1977

1. Where are your family roots from? My family isn't really from somewhere in particular. My mother's family was in the military so they lived everywhere. My dad was from Greenville, South Carolina but he lived in a lot of places. I was born in Orlando but grew up in East Tennessee and Northern Virginia near Washington DC.

2. How have your parents/guardian influenced you? That's a big question. My mom and grandfather probably had the most influence. My grandfather was a very pragmatic and intelligent man who I looked up to greatly all my life. My mother home schooled me until high school so I learned most of what I know from her. My father was a mess and taught me more about what not to do with my life. Although, looking at him fairly, he did have his moments where he inspired me as a child to be proud of my art. He was a hard worker too — I think I get my work ethic from him.

3. Can you remember your earliest childhood memory of happiness and that of fear? I remember being a baby and having dogs that I played with and loved, that's my happy memory. However, when I was three or four my parents were building their own house. The upstairs was unfinished and I thought it was haunted. I recollect being asked to go up there for some reason and having this paralyzing fear of it. My folks probably thought I was nuts but just the idea of it made my shit run cold. 

4. Is there something in your life that you feel very passionate about? I'm passionate about my wife and kids. I love learning about health, food and cooking. Also, the David Lynch version of Dune. I'm a whaling history buff too. 

5. If you could be any animal, what animal would that be? plant? and insect? why? For an animal I would be a kickass amazing horse. They are strong, noble and elegant vegetarians. My favorite plant is a birch tree. I also like ferns. I can't say that I'd like to be either one cause being a plant seems dull. For an insect though, I'd be a Polyphemus Moth. I used to collect insects and the Polyphemus kicked off that interest. 

6. What is it about being an Artist/graphic designer that keeps you satisfied for it to be your career? I learn a bunch every day. I'm my happiest when I'm thinking and exploring ideas.

Unpatterning

7. What is your process? medium? and heroes? My design process is fairly normal, sketches, comps and so forth. For my artwork it is usually searching for ideas, then drawing them a bunch of ways and getting irritated and quitting. I put the idea on the shelf for a while and then it usually comes back stronger. My medium is typically acrylic on wood or paper. I like ink and scratchboard too. My art heroes are David Hockney, Barry McGee, Souther Salazar, Maya Hayuk, Daniel Clowes, Gary Panter and way more than I could easily list.

Jacob and Esau // Pink Deer

8. Can you tell us something that you just learned that intrigued you? There's this siberian mummy that was found several years ago. They think her remains are about 2,500 years old but she was in the cold so her skin is intact and very well preserved. She was buried with 6 horses and two men — possibly escorts for the afterlife. All of that is cool, but the most fascinating thing is that she was covered in incredible tattoos. You can look them up, she's called the "Ukok princess".

                     The Hunters  //  Within a shadow of a doubt

9. What is your perception of how people see you? Still working on how I see myself. Other people are a mystery to me.

10. What are you listening to these days? I listen to Bonnie "Prince" Billy all the time for the past few weeks, but also Waxahatchee, Iceage, The Shirks, Retox and Bleached

11. What's the best and worst decision you ever made? I don't feel like there has been major good decision points for anything in my life. It's not like I "decided" to marry my wife or have kids or learn graphic design. Things feel right and I follow this gradual path of discovery and learning how to be fulfilled. The worst decisions come from being forced away from what feels right. Either time or money or some demanding person pushes me to do something. I think my worst decisions are too personal and gut wrenching to talk about here.

Animals, we are strange  //  Spaced Out

12. Can you narrate to me your proudest moment? When you have a gang of children like I do you end of with lots of little proud moments that collectively add up to create a feeling of pride and joy when you think about them. Smalls moments of my daughter singing solo for her school chorus, my oldest son standing up to kids making racist comments in his class or my youngest telling a brilliant joke at just the right moment. It's stuff like that. Those moments blow away those big expectation points in my life like graduations or winning some award. Dad stuff.

13. What do you find most ridiculous about life? It's unrelenting. I feel like I pay dearly for any downtime I have.

14. Can you share a topic that causes your blood to boil? Ugh, entitled and self-righteous people.

15. If you could take a peek in your future (say 10 years from now), what would it look like? I don't know. I guess it would be similar to how it looks now but less kids in my house. I like my life, I just want to get better at art, business and being a good husband and father.


Please check out his websites for more information on Scott Donald 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottdonald/
http://phantomlimbs.goodsie.com/
http://phantomlimbsart.com/


Thanks Scott!!