Artist Interview

I decided to interview a graphic artist named Erik Finsrud. He is from Sedona, Arizona. He went to Full Sail University for his degree in Recording Arts/Digital Art and Design. He currently works at R/GA in New York City as Visual Designer. He contributes often to Depthcore, a digital art collective. He also curates Typcut, his own digital showcase for experimental design. Along with digital pieces, he creates physical pieces using traditional mediums. He lives in Brooklyn.

What is your official job title? Describe your work briefly.

My "Job" title is Visual Designer at R/GA. An advertising agency in NYC. I work on the Nike account doing interactive design for their digital sport brands, such as Nike+. I design and stylize the look and feel of the digital interfaces, as well as designing the products to be transparent and easy to use. R/GA is considered an "Ad Agency", but I wouldn't say what i do specifically is "ad" work. I am creating products that will hopefully improve people's life's. Aside from official job titles, I see labels as limiting in terms of defining who i am as an artist. My mediums vary greatly from digital to physical, and my expressions literal and abstract. I have a graphic language that i like to express through my familiarity with design, and i also have an abstract approach.

"Superior Strand" 2011

"God Enriches" 2011

What is the best work you have accomplished in NYC?

Professionally I am very proud of my redesign of Nikerunning.com. Personally my work for Typcut and Depthcore have been a proud success.

How does NYC inspire your work?

The fast pace and creative energy, the sheer larger than life size. NYC is a place of extremes, I am somewhat of an extreme person in focusing on my goals. This place fits me.

How would you define success in NYC? (art related)

Creating art that people feel strongly about, either love or hate. Of course if you can live comfortably as an artist in this money trap and not OD on partying, then there is also something to be said.

Can you name some artists that have influenced your work?

This is always a tough question because it changes. But right now, i'm really into early synth music, Jean Michel Jarr and 60's - 70's design and the psychedelic movement. As well as contemporary expressionists like Basquiat and Cy Twombly. Herb Lubalin and Dali are also amazing artists that I constantly reference.

Do you have any advice for artists that are just starting out?

Explore & learn (like a sponge), experiment, steal, have fun, work hard (really hard). Be persistent, and don't take yourself too seriously, or life in general for that matter.

How would you describe Typcut? What influenced you to start it?

A platform for experimentation & expression of graphic ideas. We are focused on but not limited to typographic expression and design principles. Since i started the group about 2.5 years ago, we have grown to about 2 dozen members internationally that submit work to a simple blog style site. It spawned out of the yearning to have a reason to create those little ideas we had pop up on the subway or on the way to get milk.

Any other things I left out that is important to you as an artist?

Be happy. Without it, there is no creativity.

You can see his work at: www.thenorik.com You can also visit his art collective at www.typcut.com