Today we’d like to introduce you to Carcass John Fossum.
Hi Carcass, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I moved to Texas in the mid-80s to continue a career in Landscaping. Despite my college degree being Graphic Design and I realized the benefits in the Green Industry: Plant in Bed. Paint on Canvas…it was all about “design.” Placement, texture, color, etc. The pallet was, certainly, different, but the idea was the same. So, as a sidebar from my chosen career path, I began doing freelance art jobs. I have done graphic work for many bands, big and small, including HAVOK, TOXIC HOLOCAUST, PHILIP H. ANSELMO, WARBEAST, TURBID NORTH, DEAD RISING, ASYLUM, UNEARTH to name a few. With the help of a local record store, I have launched a new line of skateboard decks sporting my graphics. I’ve drawn political cartoons, comic books, corporate logos, but I LOVE MUSIC!!! My mother is a Classically trained and world-class keyboard player. I grew up with a great understanding of music history, theory, and structure. I played the piano, bass, and drums as a youth and even tinker on my 1971 Ludwig kit every now and then. I have a healthy respect for people and life and enjoy expressing myself my art.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
What’s the Pat Benetar line, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions… !!” Hahaha. It seems it is never “easy” getting your name out into the public eye or excelling at your chosen field. However, I was raised by two parents who stressed hard work and ample reward, so I have no regrets about the “bumpy road to success.” In fact, I am a little suspicious if things are too easy. I enjoy the challeges of life but relish the successes even more.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Many say that I have a “certain style.” I guess that I can see that in my work. I know what I can do, and I try and do it the best way possible. I used to shy away from certain things, like drawing women, for example. I felt like I couldn’t do them justice and didn’t want to “offend” them. But, I have challenged myself to try and get better at the female form, and my method has seemingly worked! I started using old EX-s as a reference, and it made a huge difference. I guess I wasn’t afraid to “offend them” because THEY dumped me, so whatever, right!!? It sounds goofy, but I achieved some modicum of success with it. In fact, my newly issued skateboard designs include my “Space Girl” design, and it is, by far, the most popular. Most of what I do is t-shirt and album cover work, so it has to have a real punch to grab your attention. Even my black and white designs seem to have a powerful impact. I love color, but B & W is my favorite medium.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I learned to shut the TV and media OFF! Covid it a very real thing, but the politics and scare tactics that became prevalent (IMO) became too overwhelming. I began reading more books. You know, ACTUAL books! I love the tactile feel and smell of a book. To my surprise, when I read more, my art efforts vastly improve. I’ve been delving into why this could be the case or if it’s just a whim, but I think that there is something very real about it. To this day, I watch less and less TV and media. I listen to more records, read more books, and draw much more often than before!
Pricing:
- Logo work begins at $150
- Black & White t-shirt design begins at $200
- Full-Color anything starts at $400
- I work pricing based on job
- The barter system is NOT out of the question.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @carcassjohnart
- Youtube: The Metal Round Table
Image Credits
Carcass John Fossum
