(C) Do you sketch your basic idea then fine tune them until you have a finished sketch to show the client? (Z) Yes I start with a basic design then refine it using tracing paper overlays until I’m happy with it. Sometimes the client already has a picture like their logo that they want to use. Sometimes I don’t use a picture at all. However I only do that if it’s a really something easy.


(C) Using the shark in the play ground on the cover of the maga- zine how much time does it take from start of finish? (Z) Working on the shark piece with no delays or adjustments to the design, preliminary or otherwise, the shark takes about seven to eight days for me to complete. That is from conceptual sketch- es, carve, hard coat, prime, paint and clear coat.


(C) Would I be correct in saying that the airbrush has impacted your life? (Z) Definitely, if I had not learned to airbrush my career wouldn’t be where it is today.


(C) What is your favorite piece of art to date? (Z) Ohhhh that’s a tough one. The favorite commercial piece I’ve done I think is my second pirate, a 3D piece.


(C) What is your least favorite piece? (Z) Ugh, you won’t find this one posted on my online portfolio. It was a relief carving of a cartoon monkey. The people I was build- ing it for had an art director who came up to me every few minutes to try and tell me how it should look. I now realize that I am not telepathic and now when I take on jobs the client is purchasing my interpretation.


(C) What safety measures do you employ in your work? (Z) All of them. I react quite badly to isocyanates they’re in my foams, paints and hard coatings so I take safety very seriously. I have a fresh air system, respirators, tyvek coveralls, painter’s hoods, nitrile gloves, earplugs, face shields, safety glasses and steel toed boots.


(C) Are there any images or requests that you have refused? (Z) Yes. I did turn a project down once. It was a scene depicting The Last Supper, but the restaurant wanted Jesus replaced with their head chef.


(C) My favorite question: In your words what is the funniest thing


that has happened in your work?


(Z) I used to paint these cartoon driver panels for toddlers. The panels were basically a cartoon character in a race suit painted on to a 4 X 4 piece of MDF board. We (a fellow artist and I) did hundreds of them over the years. We would sometimes change the suit colors or hair color to keep from passing out from bore- dom. One day I walked in to find that my partner had painted a topless lady driver. Laughing out Loud. I think you had to be there. Needless to say that one had to be repainted.


(C) What would be the worse thing that has happened when work- ing with the foam?


(Z) Once, I was working on a large pirate ship and some pour foam I had used in the upper section expanded and fell into my hair. It hardened and I had to cut a chunk of my hair off; Disaster! Hmmm I guess you can tell I am a girl because I put the hair story ahead of the story “I blew myself up story”.


(C) What do you think is the biggest reason for your repeat cus- tomers?


(Z) Consistency, Reliability. They know what it’s going to look like. I always meet my deadlines.


(C) What advice, if any, could you give to those who wish to try and break into this industry? (Z) Persistence is the key. Keep in mind that what you will be doing isn’t fine art but more like construction. Also, it’s quite toxic. But if you have to work for a living it can be quite interesting also.


(C) If you could change anything what would it be? (Z) I would make Isocyanates non toxic because there’s so much of it in this industry.


(C) Where would you like your art to lead you? (Z) Oh goodness. I would love to be drawing for children’s books, but I don’t know if that is a reality. Perhaps I’ll write my own kids book.


I must say it was truly a pleasure talking to this very talented young lady. This petite firecracker has come a long way in a small amount of time, from not knowing what she wanted in life to own- ing and operating a very profitable manufacturing company that allows her to do something she loves as well as making people smile along the way. Thank you Zoe.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24