Haze: Truman Capote’s IN COLD BLOOD
absolutely captured me. Not so much by what he said, but
what was left unsaid. I think I try to do that in my work,
let the person who is experiencing it move towards an interpretation
or a decision by not overstating the obvious.
Austin:
What are you working on right now?
Haze: We just finished a huge marketing
promotional campaign for Marquax Inc. in Oregon. It was
for the city of Lake Oswego and we created a unique design
that works across all types of promotional items from mouse
pads to coffee mugs to T-shirts. It’s rewarding when
the design achieves it purpose and travels well too.
Austin:
Who have been the major influences in your career?
Haze: Of course Picasso and Matisse, but
ironically the British cartoonist and caricaturist Ralph
Steadman who illustrated some of Hunter S. Thompson’s
books and articles has a place in my heart as well. I have
come to call my style “Cubist Surreal” which
is really a blend of the all three… the surrealalityof
Picasso, the graphical impact of Matisse, and the edgey
manipulation of reality so owned by Ralph Steadman.
Austin:
Who makes you want to be a better illustrator?
Haze: My clients. Definitely. They push
me to take greater creative risks.
Austin:
How have online publishing, and the whole Internet, changed
the way you work?
Haze: It gives me a whole new voice to work
in…one can so quickly draw upon other creative influences
and incorporate them into whatever your working on. Also,
from a business point of view, I can reach a global audience.
I live and work in Pennsylvania but have clients around
the world because of the Internet. There are no time zones
because of it.
Austin:
What drives you to do what you do?
Haze: I find so much inspiration for my
organic (off line traditional freehand work) from women’s
and environmental issues but in a different way than one
would think. For example, a friend of mine who was being
manipulated by her partner in their relationship sparked
the genesis of the String Theory design line.
*** Author’s note: The String
Theory design revolves around
different scenarios of a woman tethered by a string.
Austin:
What goals do you set for yourself?
Haze: More joy. More humor. If you believe
that art imitates life, then a sure fire way for me to achieve
these goals is to present a more joyful face in even my
more serious subjects.
Austin:
You’re an artist, mother and wife; how do balance
work and life?
Haze: It’s really difficult, some
artist’s can work out creative situations while doing
other things, running, cleaning whatever, but I need a quiet,
deliberate focus so that everything receives my attention.
My creative process requires silence so I can sift through
the voices of my muses.
Austin:
What is next for you?
Haze: We just signed a deal with an
agent in China to represent studio524 in that region.
I’m really excited to see how are work grows in that
region and if how it may influence us creatively.
Studio 524 Online Portfolio:
Haze’s unique illustration
and design works across differing media:
