Name: Luke Gabriell Godson
Status: Online
Here for: Kicks
Orientation: Straight
Hometown: Portadown / Belfast
Zodiac sign: Scorpio
What is your art all about?
Because of the nature of my work I don’t get a whole lot of time for personal work, but when I do get a bit of time I do like to doodle and print t-shirts and make the odd collage. I would say my work is a mish-mash of found items that are usually related to typography. I’m big on polished graphics so I do lots of computer based illustration also.
What kind of drawings or designs are you working on at the moment?
I have a few projects in the pipeline at the minute. A few friends and I are trying to arrange an exhibition of our work which will involve paintings, digital artwork and music. On a day to day basis I mainly work on promotional materials for a few clubs, bars and hotels at the moment (flyers, posters, brochures etc)
Do you work, study, or both?
I graduated last July (08) from the University of Ulster were I was doing a degree in Visual Communication. Now I work full time for a design agency in Belfast - (paperjam design)
Where does your inspiration come from?
From everywhere I guess, working as a designer I’m constantly surrounded by art+design related things, that and riding of course. Take a look around, there’s always something that will spark a thought or two.
Are there any companies within BMX that inspire you?
I like companies that care about how they are representing themselves, companies like Fit, Mutiny, T1 and United for instance. Macneil’s artwork is always fresh, Lotek is also an example of good art direction. Subrosa and The Shadow Conspiracy have done well to stick with a theme for so long and still maintain interesting ads, I guess a lot of their success is down to relying on ‘pure illustration’ as apposed to high end computer manipulation– the same can be said for T1, Sieben’s artwork rules.
How much do you think computers take the soul out of the physical art of drawing & painting?
This debate has been going on for years now and I doubt I would be able to give a decent answer on the matter. What I would say is that computers are a necessary evil within the creative industry. Creation is creation at the end of the day, I don’t really know if it matters if someone spends hours illustrating/painting on a canvas or a computer screen, it’s all about meeting the requirements I guess. Unfortunately lots of people think they can buy a Mac and instantly they are transformed into a designer/illustrator – I guess maybe the need for ‘pure illustration’ has taken a backseat lately because of this. Funnily enough though some of my favorite pieces utilize a healthy mix of ‘pure illustration and computer manipulation’, so i guess I’m 50/50 on the matter.
What mediums do you draw with and why?
Like i said previously I do lots of commercial work for clubs, pubs, hotels restaurants and branding, so I mainly use the computer to produce final artwork for print. When i get I get time for some personal work I love working with markers a lot because of the freedom they give you, I’m also big on scanning, I kind of have a real scrapbook, scatter brain approach to my design work – but somehow the final outcome always seems well ordered and structured so I guess it works for me.
Is there a certain music you listen to while working?
I listen to a lot of instrumental music and hardcore, Last FM is good to stick on because it’s mindless hours of music for whatever genre you’re into.
Have you ever offended anyone with the subject matter of your artwork?
Not that I know of, I did do an ad campaign promoting birth control which I’m sure some people probably got their nickers in a twist about?
What does a day in your life consist of?
Wake up around 7-am, shower, eat breakfast, ride to work for about 9, check all my emails – answer them, deal with the most pressing job at hand, get artwork off to the client for proofing or to the printers, have lunch around 1-2pm, come back check emails follow up on calls. More art-work or developing concepts for future projects, leave work about 5-pm. Weather permitting usually try to get a session in after work with my boys Mike, Chris and Gander then maybe hit up Boojum for some burrito action then go home and chill for a bit, watch a movie, lately I’ve been running a lot so that usually happens around ten or eleven. Then bed.
Would you ever consider letting a friend get some of your art inked on them?
Yeah I have designed a few tattoos for friends, they seem stoked on them so i can’t complain.
What was the last BMX stunt you performed?
Bar-spin over my skateboard!
What do you think will be the next big thing in BMX?
50 inch bars, baggy jeans who knows, who cares…
What’s your best achievement so far?
Graduating from Uni i guess. Just riding in general really fulfills me.
