Whether you know it or not, you’re probably
very familiar with the work of Chip
Wass.
His career as a professional illustrator here in New York City has spanned
over ten years and includes an impressive list of high-profile clients
like Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, Atlantic Records, Warner
Bros. Records, Penguin Books, Nike and Adobe. He also designed the popular
dingbat font Chippies by Wassco and
has a whole line of awesome products under the same label that we are
thrilled to present here this month. Why, we’ve even scored one
of his super cute video games! Click
here to play.
Okay Chip, we’re trying something new on
ya… It’s speed round time. Here we go!!! FAVE COLOR: Sea
green, beige, magenta, and black FAVE CANDY: Mounds
(Although I do, occasionally, feel like a nut.) FAVE FOOD: Sushi FAVE MOVIE: "Nashville" FAVE MUSIC: Claude
Debussy
How did you get started working
as an illustrator?
By accident! I visited the art department of a magazine the day I moved to New
York from Iowa many years ago, and they ended up giving me two illustration jobs
on the spot. I hadn't even considered it as an option until that moment.
What's a typical day in the life
of Chip Wass?
I'm usually the last one into the office on any given day but I'm busy as soon
as I get here, and every day is different. I might be sketching character designs
for t-shirts,
finishing up an editorial project or masterminding a new game for my site. Today
I'm working on a glow-in-the-dark poster for a record company. How can I complain?
What else are you working on these
days?
I just finished a completely animated music video for Less than Jake. I'm also
doing a couple of animated series proposals, some new t-shirts and trying to
launch World of Wassco 2.0!
Did you doodle tons and tons as
a kid?
Yes. I was vaguely fanatical about my magic markers. Although I was also a bookworm.
What were some of your childhood
drawing obsessions?
Just what one might expect given my current focus: squiggly abstractions, parodies
of advertising, menacing monsters in underwater prehistoric landscapes and emotionally
vulnerable fluffy creatures.
Who are some other illustrators
you admire?
Jack Davis, Gary Panter and the great Jay Ward (creator of Rocky and Bullwinkle,
Cap'n Crunch et al.)
What kind of advice do you have
for someone interested in a career in illustration?
Draw what you like, and you'll be given work that lets you do the same.
We remember some time ago you
commissioned an architect to build an awesome dog house for
your pet! Tell us about that.
It’s a tragic story. My French bulldog Ruby enjoys being underneath things.
So we hired the architect who finished our studio space (who also just happens
to be fred flare supermodel Rebecca)
to build a classic looking doghouse with bright orange shingles and an arched
doorway leading to a cushy bed. But Ruby is terrified of it! We've figured out
that she doesn't like dead ends; she thinks it’s a trap. She much prefers
to relax under the conference table or sit at the foot of the newest office employee
in hopes of winning a snack via her uncompromising stare tactics.
We know you've done a lot for
Nick at Nite. What are some your fave
reruns?
I love Mary Tyler Moore. I aspire to the aesthetic of her second high-rise apartment.
What else inspires you?
Hot rods, game shows, break dancers, chimpanzees, surf culture, coffee, greeting
cards, the International Male catalog, Herman Melville, secret compartments,
physical fitness, tattoos, optimists, pirates, modern dance, monster trucks,
opera, sushi,
my friends.
You must have some crazy dreams!
Do you ever dream in animation?
What a good idea! I don't think I've ever had an animated dream. Although someone
once told me I smile when I sleep. And I'm a big advocate of the unconscious
as inspiration. I think its time to take a nap…
