Interview with George F. Baker III, Designer and Illustrator
|
George F. Baker III (a.k.a. GFB3) is an artist and Creative Director whose clients include top brands such as Mercedes-Benz, ESPN, Verizon, and the NFL.
He’s also speaking at CreativePro Week 2024, which takes place July 8-12 in Washington, DC, with a session on designing accessibly.
We thought it would be fun to get to know him better with some Q&A.
Where do you find inspiration?
Inspiration for me isn’t as easy as going to a website and scrolling through Instagram. I find my inspiration at places where people are and the things they gather around: Coffee Shops, Subcultures, Dance Parties, etc.. Seeing how people create culture and themselves in the community brings so much energy to the work I do!
What’s your earliest memory of making art?
I think my earliest memory of making art is tracing over some of the early Pokemon characters like Squirtle and Pickachu. Didn’t know I was learning so much about form and color from recreating those little pocket monsters, but I’m eternally grateful.
Favorite feature in Illustrator that you wouldn’t want to live without?
Shortcut K! The Live Bucket Tool has been one of my favorite tools since I started using Illustrator in 2008.
Best suggestion or tip for anyone new to Illustrator/Illustration and/or mural making?
If you are learning Illustrator the best strategy is to give yourself a few self-guided projects to bring to life. Challenge yourself to utilize at least 1 new tool to each project to learn how they work.
What are you most excited to share in your upcoming session?
I’m so excited to share about the renewing aspects from bringing your digital work into the real world!
 |