I’ve been a fan of these guys for sometime now. I met Chris, one half of the scoundrel duo that is Half Hazard Press at WMC Fest 2015. We chatted for a few hours over our love for the craft of silk screen and everything design/illustration. Since that day I creatively crushed on these guys hard.
Everytime I see something new drop from these guys so does my jaw at how much focus and attention to detail they consistently put into each piece. I will continue to follow Half Hazards creative journey and I suggest anyone that come across this post does the same.
Enjoy this edition of “5 not so creative questions” with the midwest scoundrels know as Half Hazard Press.
For those who don’t know you. Who the hell are you?
We’re the terror that quacks in the night, we’re the bubblegum under your shoe…. you know the usual. Depending on who you ask in our little corner of rural Central IL, we’re either those young guys that make posters or those lovable assholes that can’t stop talking about the band’s merch design faults during a concert. Personally, I’m the kind of guy that hates himself for making a Darkwing Duck reference in response to a blog.
What do you do? OR what are you working on?
Half Hazard Press is a design & illustration studio that focuses on screen printed materials as the end product. We’re a brand that tries not to take ourselves too seriously with the exception of putting out the best quality of work we can. We’re probably most known for our gig posters in the Jam-band and Bluegrass tour circuit. But right now? Like right now right now? I’m trying to make a Janet Jackson poster look cool, so yeah. We’re working on a few other secret things that would extend our brand out beyond silkscreen posters and art prints.
What’s a tip you’d give to people? Something you’ve picked up along the way.
Always reward a successful poster printing session with a Taco Bell run. Also, allow yourself room to make mistakes and get things figured out. Getting consistently better is the rewarding part. It’s easy to look at all the overwhelmingly epic work out there and then freeze up when you open a new file. You can take away from anything and put it into your approach to the work.
What are you into. Or something that recently inspired you? (Doesn’t have to be illustration or design related
I’ve really been into Rich Kelly’s stuff lately. Otherwise, movies regularly refill my creative idea bank. It’s such a visual medium that I find myself designing a poster in my head for whatever I’m watching. It’s normally very grandiose and beyond my expertise but it helps prime my brain when it’s time to sketch out a concept based off a band’s music and such. Game of Thrones has been my latest trap.
Who wears the pants in the relationship at Half Hazard? Or do you both just neglect to wear pants at work?
One of the perks of owning your own business is pants are always optional. From my perspective Joel wears them. If it wasn’t for his developing skill set I don’t think we would even get any notice for illustration and design. I learn a lot from him and he keeps me reeled in when I’m in fantasy mode and plotting to take over the world.
Social Media Stuff:
website: www.halfhazardpress.com
facebook: facebook.com/halfhazardpress
instagram: instagram.com/halfhazardpress
twitter: twitter.com/halfhazardpress
dribbble: dribbble.com/halfhazardpress
See Half Hazard at work:
Some most excellent process videos https://vimeo.com/129368432
Buy Half Hazards Stuff:
http://www.halfhazardpress.com/product-category/art-prints/