Study, feet with rose - Tiger Mug - The Artist, Kristoff

A Dinosaur…that’s what I am!

An interview with Kristoff

I recently spent some time doing one of my favorite things, talking with artist, Kristoff (nee, Brian Davis). Years ago, Kristoff  was a rookie designer making his way creatively in my graphic design studio. Though we have always shared a love for the unplugged, he was actually most responsible for dragging yours truly into the digital era. Kristoff now lives in New Hampshire and has been successful promoting and selling his art on-line, most notably, on eBay. – Le Grand Fromage

Why do you refer to yourself as a dinosaur?

Rubylith, wax machine, rapidographs, darkroom, typesetting department, and a honking big drafting table should give you enough clues to tell you when I started in the graphic arts business. Times and techniques change… but the creature that would change my world forever was just around the corner, a Macintosh Plus with a 2 meg (yes, only 2MEG) hard drive with Quark, Photoshop and Illustrator loaded onboard, and a laser printer. Today I work from my home as a free-lancer and fine artist and my tools are much the same, as they were back then… just more bells and whistles.

I know that your growth, as an artist, was not a smooth road to travel, was it?

There have been a lot of Hills and valleys in my career; I have been a paste up artist, book typesetter, magazine illustrator, engraver and collectible doll designer with occasional bouts of freelancing in-between. Times have been plentiful and they have also been lean, but they have always been interesting. Right now I am where I always wanted to be… Creating fine art and selling it. I have no art table, no studio, no easel or even a drawing pad…as a matter of fact I do ALL of my artwork at my computer table… I just jostle the keyboard out of the way and start at it. Unplugged, as you’re fond of saying it, Ron.

So, you just make room for your sketch paper and start drawing, at the computer table?

Much of my artwork is not large by any means… usually my work is 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches and is called either an ATC (Art Trading Card) or a ACEO (Art Cards Editions and Originals).

So, we can find your art all over the web?

I have a substantial following on eBay where I sell my art under the pseudonym, Kristoff.

Why not use your given name and why eBay?

Because there is already a famous artist out there, with the same given name and he paints flowers and cutesy things. I don’t want to be confused with him. I sell more than 80% of the art I create and I have those sales because I did my homework. I went online to see where the most people went to acquire incidental artwork and found a thriving community of artists doing a brisk business on eBay. My style seems to lend itself to that venue.

Have you adapted your art to what sells best?

No, not really, my art has always been my art. I parlayed my interest in drawing animals, nudes, and fantasy into a great side business, which is slowly becoming my only source of income. It is a lot of work, but when you do something you love, it’s worth it. Selling my drawings and paintings is just a benefit I get…my real pleasure comes from the act of creating it.

Do you recommend to our students that they work small?

Small art is not the only avenue to selling online. Just find a niche that YOU can fill with an interest that keeps YOU focused and you can do well. By the way, I may be a dinosaur… but I learned from the head Dinosaur himself, Le Grande Fromage, to ALWAYS have fun. When you do, it shows in your work.