R•VIBE Can you tell us a little bit about your journey through music and art and how they connect for you personally?
DF Back when music was my part-time gig, art was my full-time gig. I used to run a T-shirt printing company and then a graphic design studio. Once the music side of things became more demanding I slowly phased out my art business. It’s nice to be able to get back into the design world these past few years.

R•VIBE You’ve done prints, pins, music, and even NFT’s. Can you tell us a little bit about the differences and similarities of creating in each medium?
DF The creation part is the same for me whether it’s music or art. The biggest challenge is switching gears from one to the other in the same day. Some mornings I’ll start out working on a design project, and then after lunch switch to music production.

R•VIBE Do you have an established process for creating art? I know that this can be a private thing. Is there anything that you would feel comfortable sharing about your process with us, and does that process vary by the medium at all?
DF Before I put ink to paper I close my eyes and brainstorm. I focus on what I’m trying to communicate to the world and how to do that most efficiently. I think of images, shapes, themes, message, and colors. I’ll jot down ideas that stem from this and then start sketching.

R•VIBE We have several members that will be at Orlando Vacation going all out to get the foil version of your gig poster. Can you tell us how that feeling compares with fans getting very excited for your work with the Dirty Heads?
DF It’s very humbling to know that people are seeking out my art. I wish them happy hunting.

R•VIBE What were your motivations behind your Orlando Vacation Print?
DF I wanted to draw something that was fun and fit the vibe of a central Florida outdoor hotel pool party. I like incorporating animals into my drawings but didn’t want to do the typical alligator image. Snapping turtles are pretty bad ass and good at skateboarding. Who knew?

R•VIBE How did you choose the specific colorways? Is this your typical process?
DF I follow a lot of artists on IG. Whenever I see a color combo that another artist is using that I like, I take a screenshot of it and add it to my color reference folder. For this poster I wanted to go with a really bright color scheme. I believe this color combo inspiration came from the Baseball70 project.

R•VIBE When you draw art for a poster, do you generally commit to the idea of the art or the font first? Was that the case with the Orlando Vacation Poster?
DF I typically run with the main image first. This will usually have the most detail and will demand the most attention. The fonts usually come secondary and will fill in the gaps around the main image.

R•VIBE Where does the motivation for a poster’s font generally come from? Was that the case with the Orlando Vacation Poster?
DF Sometimes I will create a custom font as in the case of the Orlando Vacation print. Occasionally I will find a pre-made font that fits the theme and customize from there. 

R•VIBE Who decides print and foil quantities for a piece like your Orlando Vacation Poster?
DF We try to base quantities on the size of the show. I’m not sure how many we made for this event but it will be slightly more than usual. 

R•VIBE Did you feel any added pressure when creating this gig poster because it’s for a major Dirty Heads show so soon after things started back up again after being halted for COVID-19?
DF We’re definitely happy to be back after such a long break. Each show poster that I create is important to me. They all carry an equal amount of pressure.

R•VIBE Do you set out to design a pin or do you just find that some of your art works out to be a pin?
DF I never start out designing pins. They always come as an afterthought. I’m always doodling. Some doodles get turned into pins and some pins come from other art projects that I’m collaborating on.

R•VIBE How do you decide what colorway to use on the pins you’ve created? How many different versions end up getting tossed out prior to you picking the final product?
DF Usually I try to imitate the original colors of the art as much as possible when making pins. Sometimes I’ll have to alter the artwork slightly for it to translate well into a pin.

R•VIBE Do your pins have a relationship to the musical work that you do with the Dirty Heads, or do you see it as a completely separate venture?
DF Some of the pins that I’ve released have come from designs that have been used by the Dirtyheads, but rarely have a lyrical connection. 

R•VIBE Your art seems to have a distinctly humorous element to it that some of your most loyal fans are very drawn to. This seems especially evident in your latest work with pins. Can you elaborate on the role that humor plays in your art?
DF I’d like to think I have a quirky sense of humor. I enjoy folding that into the art whenever I can. I hope people enjoy that aspect of my work.

Read the next article in the series #GettingToKnow David Allen Foral #R•Persective here.