TLFI is honored to showcase LA-based art director/illustrator Akiko Stehrenberger, who has created a plethora of exciting, iconic images for some of the best films and bands/artists of the past decade. Her Spring 2011 collection kicks off with the LAambswool tee, Cry For Me tee & Hollyhood Thrills tee.
Can you tell us a little bit about how you first got into art?
I was a super shy kid growing up. People started talking to me in junior high when they saw that I drew a lot in class. I quickly made friends with cholos and the kids that were into graffiti because I knew how to draw lowriders, chola clowns, and Tweety bird with a baseball cap.
What are your favorite things to design/create?
I’m really into drawing in graphite lately for my personal work. I love drawing people and always have.
What’s it like working in the movie poster making industry?
The movie poster making process is a very interesting industry. It’s quite a different language altogether from just designing a normal poster. There’s usually so many politics, legals, committees making decisions, hundreds even thousands of poster designs presented to studios, before the general public sees one final product. Most of your hard work ends up in the trash so you need to build tough skin. To push something cool through, is a real accomplishment. And to not become a jaded or formulaic douche bag movie poster designer during the process, is an even bigger one.
What are some inspirational artists that your admire?
My inspirations change every day depending on the types of projects I work on. If I had to chose one artist in particular that changed things for me over the last decade, not work wise, but mentality wise, cliche as it sounds, it’s Alphonse Mucha. I just happened to be in Spain when he had a huge exhibition. I was struggling with coming to terms that I was a commercial artist for a few years up until that point. Seeing his work in person made me realize commercial doesn’t have to be a bad thing, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re a sell out if you are continuing to grow and push more creative work.
What music inspires you while you work?
I pretty much listen to it all. Although I’m not the most hip to the newer bands, I did go through a lot of phases growing up. I enjoy anything from 50’s-60’s oldies, 60’s-70’s rock, 80’s new wave, to 90’s grunge and rap. The only thing I can’t get down to these days is trance and reggae, but I do like old 2Tone.
If you had to describe your Spring 2011 t-shirt collection with TLFI in 4 words, they would be:
stuff i like doing
Which do you prefer, Twitter, Facebook or neither?
I’m on Facebook, but only because I’m friends with a lot of euros. I’m on it pretty minimally because most of the time I get annoyed with people’s profound daily quotes, updates on what they bought at the grocery store, or them tagging the worst photos ever of me. Don’t get me started about Twitter.
What’s the last good movie you’ve seen?
Weekend at Bernie’s 2.
Reality TV Much?
Much.
Why do you bake bread with pot in it?
How else are you supposed to bake it.
How do you know Alex2?
Besties samesies
What’s your take on Omar?
I wish I were her so badly.
Your dad designed the jeep Cherokee. Do you think he knew it would be the favorite ride for 90’s Baller and hoochies on both coasts?
Yes, just as he predicts grey landing strips and invisible glasses will be the next big thing in fall.
Word association:
UZI: diarrhea
KOALA: cuddly friend with long nails
LA: awesome dressers
TRUE: that