2019 Inktober Design Contest Winner: von Kowen
Last month we decided to participate in one of our favorite worldwide design challenges: Inktober! What is Inktober? It's a month-long art challenge that runs every October, started by artist Jake Parker. Using the existing Inktober momentum that drives artists to create and share new work every October, we wanted to encourage artists to share their Inktober creations. That's where our Inktober design contest came in!
The design contest was an incredible way for us to see your work, and we're so thankful to everyone who entered. The response was awesome, and we ended up with a total of 698 designs submitted during the month of the contest! All of the designs submitted are available to view in our curated Inktober Shop. But there could only be one winner!
In the end, the grand prize winner was the talented von Kowen for her design, "Stuck in a Mood Swing".
We interviewed von Kowen to get a better sense of the person behind the artwork! Without further ado, here's our exclusive interview with our friend von Kowen.
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What inspires your work?
I am inspired with just about anything – books I read, movies and shows I watch, others' artwork, people, animals, cool stuff I see on streets. It seems like I’m just seeing the world around me and once I [think,] 'That could look cool on a shirt,' I write it down and design it later.
What's your creative process when creating a new design?
When I get an idea, or decide to work on one of my list, I start by researching about what I’m doing, take a look at what others have come up with (I don’t want to copy other people’s work, so this step is mostly to make sure I keep my art original) and then I find some reference images. After that, I start working on a design, drawing the outline first and then spending way too much time on the details. Sometimes I use my hand-drawn sketches and re-draw them in Inkscape.
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How would you describe your design aesthetic/style?
I do black and white dark art. Common themes in my designs are skulls, demons, magic, mythology… all the things that we creepy weirdoes enjoy. I also absolutely love sprinkling a little humor on top – like silly puns or some sort of lame dad jokes… I find it hilarious! Just because it’s dark, doesn’t mean it can’t bring a smile on your face!
Where'd your designer name come from?
Some five years ago my friend called me and said that she is working with some people on a big art show and needed local artists to exhibit their work. I was working in an office in a government institution at that time (nothing slightly artistic about it) but prepared three digital paintings / photomanipulations for the show. Since I didn’t want to use my real name and was reading and researching a lot about witchcraft, I decided that I want to be known as something witchy, of the coven – “von” (German “of”) and “Kowen” (misspelled Coven, because misspelling stuff was cool when I was a teenager). I kept the name von Kowen.
What do you like most about being a designer?
I love that I can work from home! I get to listen to music while working, play with my dog, wear pajamas if I want to and I still sometimes work 15 or more hours a day – it just doesn’t feel like working! I am doing what I truly love, living the introvert’s dream, and that feels great!
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How did you come into t-shirt design?
I wanted to find a way to put my creative energy to good use and if I can, make people happy with it. As a tshirt addict, designing t-shirts is a natural choice. I decided to do print-on-demand because the idea of making an artwork that somebody on the other side of the world will wear on their body on a shirt is awesome! In a way it’s like small parts of me are walking around in different places on Earth at the same time – pure almost horcrux-like magic!
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What movies/shows/books/music/podcasts are you really into right now?
Best movie I saw recently was Joker. TV shows: new season of “Silicon Valley” started, I absolutely love that show, I also loved “Mind Hunter,” I’m very much looking forward to new “Rick and Morty.” My favorite author right now is Lou Yardley with her amazing horror fiction, [and] I’m also re-reading Harry Potter for like 100th time. Music: big surprise – I love metal: Rotting Christ, Death, Kataklysm, Septicflesh and Rammstein are currently on repeat my playlist. I’m not really into podcasts.
What three things would you bring with you to a deserted island?
I have tried to figure out a perfect answer to that question for a while now, and actually decided I really don’t want to be on a deserted island. I’d probably bring a satellite phone to call for help, something to eat while I wait for my rescue and something useful like a sharp knife or matches.
What is your spirit animal and why?
I love and respect all animals, but a goat would probably be my spirit animal. They just make me happy. I have always loved playing with goats, and I watch goat videos when I feel sad. Even my dog sometimes reminds me of a goat.
What's your favorite t-shirt you own?
Big surprise, it’s “The Goat” – false tarot card I designed, showing a happy goat riding a witch’s broomstick. I also call it the “Lucky Goat” because I made it to bring good luck to anyone who wears it.
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We'd like to thank von Kowen again for her great designs, and extend a thank you to everyone who participated in our 2019 Inktober contest! Artists like you make TeePublic the tight-knit community that it is, and we're so grateful for your enthusiasm and involvement.
XO,
TeePublic
