Phil:
Hey Travis how’s it going?
Travis Pitts
Pretty good, Stomach hurts, Olive garden indigestion.
Phil:
Unlucky mate, you need to get some anti acid, I've heard of that place parantly its pretty decent can’t remember what food it is mind. Anyway let’s start at the beginning, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Travis:
I'll be 30 this year, married to a great girl, happy in every way
except not doing what I should be doing in life- getting paid
regularly for art and design work. (Insert optimism here)- but that's
going to change this year as I'm actually going to buckle down and
send off samples to companies that suit me, instead of approaching the
wrong ones, or assuming a job will fall in my lap.
..but to start at the beginning: I was born in Joliet Illinois, moved
to Douglas Georgia when I was not quite 2, so I don't remember much
about snow or the north at all. Grew up in Douglas, essentially the
middle of nowhere, a humid, swampy area of the southern US- my only
entertainment being legos, nintendo, a go-kart, and my art supplies.
Had plenty of time to lay around and draw funny pictures. Moved to
Savannah Georgia in 1990, which seemed to be an improvement at the
time...but like a carnivorous plant, this city lures in many creative
types only to trap us with a high cost of living, few jobs, and no
easy way out.
So that is where we sit, trying very hard to get out this year.
Atlanta, Athens or out of state completely.
Artwise, I've never had so many ideas and so little time to do
anything about it.
I'm sorry, is everyone depressed yet?
Phil:
Well I hope the future bodes well for ya, I know exactly how you feel, I’ve lived in small villages for my entire life, balls to what they say country living isn’t idyllic it’s damn right boring. I’m moving out to York in a few months though so all should go well. So what influenced your art work other than boredom?
Travis:
Both my mom and older sister were artists of sorts. my oldest sister
(12 years my senior) babysat me alot, and I got to look at alot of art
books and album covers most kids my age weren't allowed to or wouldn't
understand. Also got to listen to a wide variety of late 70's and
eighties music...to which I would lay there and draw to.
Playing with legos, building things outdoors, all gave me an
attention to detail as to how things are actually put together that I
think I still try to carry over. Sometimes I am such a perfectionist
about it I don't get much done. (things like assuming the viewer will
know what a real engine of a ' 76 station wagon will look like and
trying to cram that detail into a 2x3 comic panel where it isn't even
the focus)
At probably 7 years old, I understood the politics and humour of comic
strips like Bloom County from my sister's anthologies, and was awed by
the works of h.r. giger from her books and calendars.
To see my older stuff, you'd recognize inspiration from things like
basil wolverton, EC horror comics and the like, I used to crosshatch
and stipple the hell out of everything, back when black and white was
my only way of expressing color.
Phil:
Cool, I used to do a lot of art but unfortunately I lost my attention span, the result being nine years of no art, a loss of all my skills and all my confidence, but I’m planning to get back on track. So it you would defiantly say that comics were a huge influence on your art. We’ve been hearing a lot about Robot Derby girl over on threadless, so what’s it about?
Travis:
Robot Derby Girl is just one of a thousand things I want to do...even
if it just ends up being a 4 issue miniseries somewhere..(going to
submit to darkhorse, fanatgraphics, and a few other b&w oddball
companies).
Basically, it's another outlet to draw scrappy girls and quiet,
golem-like robots...but unlike the rest of my doodles, it's gelling
into something a little more solid. It gives a nod to certain anime
formulas, but is mostly western in approach. People keep saying it
reminds them of one thing or another, but it's not my intention as
I've purposely tried to stay out of the comic reading world to not be
influenced, and I'm not really a fan of japanimation to begin with- my
biggest eastern influence being the art for video games like MEGA
MAN...
the good part is, at least it reminds people of certain things they really LIKE.
It seemed a good place to draw all the gears, robots, helmets, outfits
and landscapes I draw anyway, and out of it came the story of a girl
who is the underdog in a near future robotic rollerderby-type event.
She's not the underdog because she's a girl, but because she rides an
outdated robot in a competition long since taken over by sleeker,
sportier models.
(kind of like how I feel as an old school illustrator in today's
graphic design market, i guess)
..it's just going to be the trials and tribulations of her everyday
life, trying to get money for repairs, winning just enough to get by
on, enemies, friendships, etc... Her robot is both mocked and revered.
It has uncanny abilities beyond the typical race/attack programs built
into the others that even Robot Derby Girl (aka Cam) can't put her
finger on. It was literally all that was left to her when her father,
a former great in the circuit, died while riding in a race. Not only
is it her inheritance and employment, but unknown to her, it also
carries his essence.
However, the robot can't speak (at all) or act beyond its limits, so
there will be alot of poignant moments where the robot goes out of its
way to protect her, and alot of inner turmoil where he can't decide if
he should tell her, or even how to do it.
She in turn, will do anything to keep the robot in running repair, and
will begin to see it less as a hassle and more as a father and
protector. soon, it will be felt so strongly both ways that there may
not even be a need to ever have the truth come out, which is how I
would prefer it.
Phil:
Whoa, I can’t wait to read it I love the idea that this outdated model despite everything strives to win against all these technically superior robots, there’s nothing like a good underdog story and it sounds like the epitome of it. I wish you the best of luck of luck with getting it printed. Threadless.com a while back printed Robot Derby girl (congrats by the way), how did you hear about threadless, what do you like about it and what’s it like being a printed designer?
Travis:
I heard about threadless from my old high school friend Ron Lewis,
also a designer...he told me about it at the crux of their '$2005 in
2005' competition. At the time, $2000 was a big deal. The normal
winnings were $250 or $500, I can't remember which. I submitted a
bunch of mediocre drawings I had laying around because I had no idea
what threadless was or what the audience expected. He pulled off 'you
sank my battleship' for the win. I've been in love with threadless
ever since.
Phil:
$2000 is still a big deal, though I can see what you mean, its way up on the $250. I wouldn’t mind seeing some of your older stuff at some point. I mean your stuff’s pretty decent right now, I mean you’ve not been printed by threadless once but twice (three times if you count the 12 month club tee), so what did you spend the money on and how does it feel to be a winner?
Travis:
The joy of winning, having something in print, having a sort of cult
fan base, having something that can be traced back to me- all of it
was more gratifying than the prize money. Each time I won, we were in
some kind of dire financial situation and the money usually had to go
directly to bills. We’re totally on top of our debts now, and I have
to say I couldn't have done that without winning.
So my new goal is the $2000...I’ve won at every other amount
threadless has offered. This time I might actually get to spend it on
something frivolous- like a Honda ruckus (scooter) to replace the
crappy off-brand one I bought that died 9 months later.
Phil:
I’ve always wanted a scooter unfortunately I’m also constantly broke; though I’m hopefully gonna buy a £220 camera, ah disposable incomes fun. Well I wish you the best of luck in threadless comps and I wish you the best of luck with Robot Derby girl, thanks for giving up your time to chat.
Travis:
Thanks, man, it was fun
You can get in touch with Travis at
myspace
Zom-bot.com
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