Seven questions... with Lloyd Kinsley aka @lard

Lloyd is an artist who I have never met but consider him a friend and a constant inspiration. He probably doesn't even realise that he has inspired me with some of the things he has said... like chastising me for apologising for not blogging/tweeting because I was spending time with my family. He's a family man and a very good dad at that... his balance is fab as is his artwork. He used to do tees and I regret not getting one.

Anyway... I caught up with Lloyd and asked him my seven questions.

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1) Who are you and what do you do?

Lloyd Kinsley - Designer working currently at February London


2) What are you working on at the moment?

My day job keeps a good balance of web, print and other design projects, working for a mixture of high profile clients and also in the non-profit sector.

On a more personal project level I have a to-do list of creative tasks that I seem only to add to and not tick off, but I am working on some illustrations and some merchandise work currently. Ideally I'd have new paintings, sculptures and art projects filing up the hallways of my home but time is not always available.


3) Who inspires you?

I tend to source a lot of my inspiration from a vast amount of RSS feeds from design and art sites. This has a sadistic mix of making you look at how much more people are doing than you are at the same time as stirring you to achieve something of significance yourself.

- Name an artist who has inspired you.

Not an easy one to pick one person specifically. I enjoy the expressive nature of Banksy but not always the work itself, the idea of putting a political/religious statement into your art should inspire us all. Illustrators like Olly Moss and the likes of Matt Stevens inspire me from the point of view that you can see in their work that they have genuine joy in the product. I've always been a comic nerd so Alex Ross never fails to impress. With all things in my life I am ridiculously eclectic so I love both the extravagantly complex art and the subtle simple pieces with equal measure.

- Name place that has inspired you.

No one location has ever been a reason for inspiration and although it will sound sickly sweet and cheesy, I am most inspired when I'm with wife and kids. My children make me believe in the unbelievable and to see the things I used to as a child when I fell in love with art, design and creativity as an ideal. My wife is an amazing painter and she inspires me with her passion for the journey of art. Her happiest moments are in the painting and not the painting itself. Because of my profession I tend to aim to hard for the finished product she inspires me to enjoy and revel the journey taken to get the spark that started it and also to be ok with pasting everything over and starting again.

- Name some "thing" that has inspired you.

My iPhone. Needs no explanation.


4) What drives you to do what you do?

I love doing what I do. I think if you're an artist or a designer and you fall out of love of doing it, it's probably time to jog on. I'm driven by the moment of 'getting it'. If you're starting a personal project or you're getting a brief from a client and you will just 'get it', have an idea and run with it and enjoy it.


5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?

Fun and thought. Artwork that has clear thought put into it become a visual version of a play on words. If people see something and smile because it has a clever meaning or intention in it. That's a winner for me.


6) What role does community play in what you do?

Loads. I get a lot of feedback and inspiration from being involved in so many circles of artists and designers at home and overseas. I love that I can share the frustrations of software and personal limitations and also be stirred to try something new that's been recommended. Things like Dribbble and other avenues of visual sharing allow creatives to see the working process of others projects and learn.


7) What is next for what you do?

I want to do more of two things in particular. Firstly illustration, I want to do more computer illustration (vector etc.) but also throw myself into ink and the like and get messy with some portraits and concepts. I also want to jump into more merchandise and art based projects, something that mixes art and craft, maybe something etsy'ish. Maybe a kids book too. Oooh, and maybe a few iPhone apps ... and some stencil work and wood sculpture. In short ... lots.

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Thanks Lloyd... I look forward to your next.

Follow Lloyd on Twitter :: @lard  and check out his work :: larddesigns.com

Tx