Meet San Francisco based illustrator - Josh Ellingson

I got a chance to ask Josh Ellingson, a San Francisco based Illustrator a few questions about his work and his inspiration. Check it out:

What made you decide that California, specifically San Francisco, would be where you wanted to settle?

I picked California because I initially wanted to work in/around the entertainment industry. I studied graphic design in art school and I was reluctant to work in advertising. I figured broadcast TV or the Internet might offer something more appealing. Originally, I was living with a college friend in San Diego. I was setting up interviews all over the state and the one that came through first was in San Francisco. I think I was pretty lucky because SF is great. There's always a million crazy things to go see or do, and it's small enough to get around without a car. I've met some of the most genuine, amazing people here so I'm glad that I landed in San Francisco.

When did you know that you wanted to make art for a living?

That must have happened early enough that I don't remember. I've always made stuff and I've always been intense about it. Adults would tell me, "Aw, you've got a hobby", and I'd get pissed. It wasn't a hobby! Drawing was like breathing or some kind of incurable disease. It wasn't a choice or something I could just stop doing. Then, when people started encouraging me, I got hooked on that. So when it came time to figure out where to take my life, the question was more "When did I believe that it was possible to make art for a living?". I had some great instructors in school, and support from family and friends. Without that kind of help, I'm not sure I would have had the guts to go for it.

I know that a lot of students in the art field might not be supported by their parents because they don't think it would be fruitful as a career. Did you experience is? What would you say to those that are experiencing this kind of thing?

I totally experienced this, and I think it's a realistic expectation. Parents are really just looking out for their kids. They don't want to see them struggle and starve. If you can show them a path to a successful art-career it's easier to get their support. Art school is the best first-step and the first financial hurdle. I think it's important to build your case if you want to go to art school. Talk to the college's Admissions department and explain the situation. First I talked it out with my high-school graphic design teacher. He put me in touch with the art college's Admissions and Financial Aid departments. Together, we built a plan on how art school was going to be affordable. Then all I had to do was convince my mother. But the main thing is to make up your mind that this is what you want to do, and stay the course. If you can show that you have the confidence and the discipline to back it up, your family will eventually come around.

I noticed that you have said you were most inspired by the illustrations of the 50s and 60s. Do you have a favorite artist or artistic piece that sticks out in your mind as inspiration?

I couldn't put my finger on just one classic illustrator. There were so many talented draftsmen back in the days before photography took over completely. Dudes came to work in suits and pumped out great art all day without the help of computers. I love flipping through vintage magazines and freaking out over the work that went into the illustration for something like a Schlitz beer ad. Designers like Saul Bass, Syd Mead, and Mary Blair still blow my mind. A good source for vintage illustration awesomeness is the Today's Inspiration blog at http://todaysinspiration.blogspot.com.

Do you have a favorite piece of yours that you have done?

"Dirty Martini and the Birth of the Space Program" might be my favorite so far. It's a portrait of someone dear to me and I put a lot of time trying to capture her energy. I submitted it to a "Call for Entries" for an art show aboard the International Space Station, and it got in! The artwork was part of a small group show that was taken up October 2008 as part of space-entrepreneur, Richard Garriot's mission to the ISS. So crazy to have my art in orbit. There's more about it on my blog.

I love your work that focuses on how connected we are to technology, and the roles that it plays in all of our lives. Do you have a personal view on this in terms of whether it is positive or negative?

I'm mostly positive about technology. The internet has magically got everybody Facebooking and Twittering each other like crazy. There's a million awesome things to look at everyday and it's starting to really feel like we live in science fiction movies, so yeah it's pretty inspirational. Didn't we just discover water on the Moon? Things are getting kooky. I'm also horribly addicted to the internet now, and I'm not sure that it's a good thing. Clearly technology isn't going to save the world but right now it's making my brain bubble so I guess that's good.

Can we expect to see new work from you soon?

I'm always making new stuff, so yes. I've got some paintings in the works. I've started painting on velvet, even. There's a He-Man themed show in LA coming up and a Kaiju show in Tokyo that I'm jamming stuff out for. I'm going to be doing some toy stuff in the new year, and lots of art events, so be on the look out.

And lastly, what do you see as the single most inspirational thing about San Francisco culture and how it influences your work?

There's a real appreciation for the absurd here in San Francisco. SF has a long tradition of embracing and nurturing the weird and I think that's unique and inspiring. Flash mob dance-parties, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Frank Chu and the 12 Galaxies, art cars, best dive-bars anywhere...the list goes on. I don't know how this specifically influences my work but I feel like I'm a part of this weirdness and maybe I'm contributing to it.

To see more of Ellingsons' work visit his website at www.joshellingson.com.