Josh Powers is a designer and illustrator dwelling and operating in the Pacific Northwest. His design and style profession started at Seattle Central Neighborhood College, and went on to operate for Starbucks, Amazon, Entire Food items, and Microsoft. In our job interview, we speak about crap-meters, the abstract realm, and the intersection of engineering and artistry.
Can you notify us a bit about your history and inventive occupation path?
I’ve unquestionably taken the extensive way about. I did not really get rolling right up until I was in my mid-30s. I’ve generally been an artist at heart, but have a functional soul, so there’s often been this force and pull even though traveling on my path. My resourceful occupation is ever evolving and I guess I’m generally attempting to figure it out.
Your function spans both of those electronic and bodily mediums, does the medium impact the path an illustration or doodle will take? Or is it the reverse?
Truthfully, I never genuinely have a formulaic technique to anything I build. I like doodling, only to flush stuff out in my head. I’m confident I retain concepts and tips though doodling, but I hardly ever reference something I sketch. My crap-meter has been well examined, so when an idea pops into my head, I can generally explain to if it’s a strong principle and I’m completely ready to get to making.
You not long ago relocated to Poulsbo, appropriate?
My spouse and I had been residing in Seattle for in excess of 20 many years. For the duration of the pandemic, we thought it was time to locate a little something a tiny quieter. Our 6-year-old was born on Capitol Hill, Seattle has been great to us, but the slower lane fits us perfectly now. Anytime we want to go above to the metropolis, which is normally, we just jump on the ferry for a quick journey around.
What are some projects you are most very pleased of?
Lately, I’ve been operating on ambient and dynamic artwork projects for Amazon that have been truly amazing to be a portion of. It is a neat intersection where by technological know-how, facts, and artwork satisfy. It’s inspiring to assume about using know-how to make stunning matters. That is to say, machines aren’t building some thing in your position, but alternatively, utilizing know-how to enable you produce some thing stunning.
What’s on the horizon for you, skillfully, creatively?
I’ve seriously been finding into summary artwork and styles and sensation a major pull towards expressing myself in that course. I have been painting, both digitally and customarily, figuring out my design and style. My most new illustrations have surely reflected upon my fascination in the summary realm.
What do you listen to when you want to get in the zone?
I have found myself re-viewing my youth by using the ’80s and ’90s. I can not believe how considerably superior audio was built all through that time. Plenty of new wave and a minimal vaporwave thrown in. I’ve also re-living my shoegazing times, with bands like Cocteau Twins and Galaxie 500 in significant rotation.
Locate far more of Josh’s get the job done at thejoshpowers.com and observe him on Instagram at @cakeandkingdom.
