_interview _
By: Dan
Interview with an Artist The artist/illustrator I chose to contact was Mark
McKee. He’s an illustrator/designer for World Industries, a skateboard and
snowboard company. Some of his work has been very controversial and lawsuits
have been filed on several occasions. Specifically for a board with a Winnie
the Pooh look-alike and also for a design similar to a L. Ron Hubbard book.
But I particularly liked his original work, specifically flame-boy and the
smiley devil guyContacting him wasn’t too hard; I found the number for
World Industries in a snowboard magazine. When I called I was given a new
number, since they changed offices. The secretary put me right through to Mark
McKee’s voice mail when I called the new number. I left a message and then
realized I may not get a call back. Who wants to call someone to answer
questions? So I figured I take a little more initiative and find out when he
would be there so I could chat with him. After a second call to the secretary
I found out I needed to call back in just about an hour and a half I was put
right through to Mark McKee on my third call to this number. He said he was
more than happy to help me in any way possible. But after a few minutes of my
interviewing he asked if "this was for real or was I just *censored*ing with
him?" Apparently some friends of his like to play pranks and he thought this
was one of them. I explained that this was a silly assignment, but it had to
be done so that I could get my degree A friend was the one who first got him
interested in skateboard graphics, he first worked in the BMX industry after
graduating with a design degree from UCLA. He was fortunate enough to not have
to do any self-promotion after college and kind of "fell into" the job he has
now. His official title is Art Director, according to him that’s what his card
says. He over sees five other artists at World Industries that produce
skateboard and snowboard graphics. He didn’t want to give any advice, he said
"didn’t like doing it" and had nothing more to say about it At the end of
the interview I thanked him again and he said he hoped he helped me with my
project and wished me luck. I forgot to ask if World Industries would be
hiring anyone new this May, but I still have the number and will call later in
the spring. The number is (714) 847-0011 in case you wondered. The office is
located in Huntington Beach, Ca.
_Bibliography _
telephone interview on 11/30/99 4pm est
Word Count: 450
| 
