Tell us more about this design, and the inspiration behind it.

This design idea was sparked when I watched a documentary about prisoners on death row. The show used the word maniac and that lead me to wonder what they were like inside. I wondered if they were greedy, had dreams and aspirations and whether they held any hope at all. This is my visual interpretation of that, the drowning man, the candle burning down, the demons, freedom, regret, looking forward, looking back etc. I guess each little blue guy represents a feeling, an emotion.

This weeks interview questions are being asked by the t-shirt fanatics at TeeBanter!

Simeon

- What is the strangest or most amusing design concept you’ve been asked to design?

This is easy to answer. When I lived in London I got asked to illustrate a dog playing a keyboard (many years before keyboard cat). It was a dalmation playing a pink keyboard. The funny part was when it was done, they animated it and it looked rediculous. No idea if it’s still around but needless to say it was pretty OH NO! and didn’t make my portfolio.

I get asked to draw stuff a lot that makes me go “what?” but that’s the skill required to be an artist. I am employed to draw whatever is asked, even if that is a dog playing a freaking keyboard. hahaha.

Bananbra

- If you could pick any artist, dead or alive, to design a shirt for you to wear - who would you pick?

That’s a hard one. I already have the threadless McBess T-shirt which I love (I have 5 copies of it!) So that covers alive. Dead, I would ask Rick Griffin (an old comic artists from the 70’s) to design me something in his amazing black and white style. His line work is incredible.

matt2kool

- As a food lover, what would be on your ideal sandwich?

Are Burritos included in this? If so my wife’s burritos are a work of art for the mouth, seriously. Official Sandwich wise I’d have to say hot pork sandwich from the butchers around the corner from my parents house. Its a sandwich with hot pulled pork, stuffing and grazy on 3 pieces of bread. It’s a bastard to eat but it’s all sorts of awesome yummy goodness.

lazytulip

- If your name was an acronym, what would it be? Otherwise, describe yourself in five words!

Workaholic
Observant
Thick-skinned
Taken
Obsessed (with T-shirts)

dramallama56

- If they were to make a theme park called “Wottoland!” what would be the best ride?

The ghost train would be the best by far. I love those things. I’d have crazy stuff in there and make it really long so people genuinely want out. At the end I’d have a day of the dead party to calm everyone down. You’d also be made to have a sugar skull painted on your face at the gates. Oh man now I want a wottoland, lol.

DataLifePlus

- Maybe this is just something I’ve missed, but what’s the story behind the name Wotto? I know it’s a sort of play on your surname, but is there more to it than that?

One dark and misty night after a few beverages in London Town one of my favourite people, Woody called me “wotto”. The next day he continued to call me wotto and it stuck like OH NO! to a blanket. It became my street name too when I was doing some street art. It’s funny because americans call me watto all the time. I’m like “I’m not the fat winged alien dude out of star wars”. It’s a name that I like and it’s not going anywhere.

Where can we find more Wotto?

http://www.wottoart.com/