Drew Garza
Growing up, my mother enrolled me in drawing and watercolor classes where I would come home everyday, no matter the lesson, with a portrait of a Ninja Turtle. To boost my rep, I started handing them out at school and filling requests.
In high school, I rediscovered a knack for all this after enjoying a course called Computer Art. It didn’t take long before I realized I was really into this whole “graphic design” thing and I ventured off to Northern Illinois University to learn more. Senior year, I traveled to Poland, taking part in design and printmaking workshops and learning the secrets behind expressive Polish poster design.
Today, I find inspiration for my work through compulsive observation of the world around me. I’m always looking for something that can be plucked from daily life and framed as a compelling concept or visual. For me, it’s important to get these ideas down on paper because they tend to be fleeting. Then, I can approach them later and develop them into ideas I can use.
Alongside art and design, I love the culture of blues and folk music, riding my Buddy scooter, old time radio shows and Wisconsin microbrews. I prefer comfort to fashion, campfires to dance clubs and my beard to a baby face.
- 12.11.09 | AIGA Wisconsin T-shirt
- Wrapping up a t-shirt project for the Wisconsin chapter of AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts). It’s a quiet little piece of backwoods Wisconsin pride. I'll have purchasing info soon.
- 08.21.09 | Bike the Barns T-shirt
- Here’s a little drawing I just finished for this 52 mile bike ride through southern Wisconsin. The riders stop at three different farms to snack and eat lunch. The artwork focuses on the two basic elements of the ride — cycling and eating. I wanted to keep the figures as mirrored as possible. The ride is a benefit for the farms and MACSAC.
- 11.26.08 | Art School Girl Edition #12 (December)
- I was honored when my friend Amy Rowan, founder of Art School Girl, asked me to be a part of her 2008 ASG Editions. She featured a different artist/designer each month through a series of limited edition letterpress prints. This one is on press now and will be available for purchase December 1st through Amy or myself. Just email me.
- This was a story that entered my head probably via my love of all things wooden and beardy. It’s three colors: black, ochre and a varnished flame sitting behind it all. Click here to see a larger version.
- 10.13.08 | Bringin' back the gusto!
- I have no idea what that means, but Schlitz has been my go-to-cheap-beer ever since I moved to Madison. Last week, they re-released their original 1960’s recipe and it became unofficial Schlitz Day in Madison. It was madness. Accordians, sausages, suspenders and plenty of amazing ephemera. This tray from the 1957 Schlitzerland campaign is beautifully illustrated.
- 10.11.08 | Camping Trip to Two Rivers
- My lady and I drove up to a town near Green Bay for a weekend of camping. Here I am just a few hours before the raccoons invaded our tent.
- 10.11.08 | Camping Trip to Two Rivers
- Hamilton was one of the largest wood type foundries in the U.S. and had a virtual monopoly by about 1900. Amazing place.
- 10.11.08 | Camping Trip to Two Rivers: Beach!
- The Lake Michigan beach in October was beautiful. Here’s Tiffany enjoying the breeze.
- 10.11.08 | Camping Trip to Two Rivers: Going Home
- The trip had ended and I didn’t want to leave. I decided I would take to seas.
- 08.26.08 | Art print created as a gift for a newlywed couple
- Kevin at Mess Hall asked me to do this and required that I base it off a photo of the couple dancing.
- 06.25.08 | Found photographs
- I found these in a pile of photos that my mother was going to throw out. I think they were the first few shots taken as tests. Either way, desolate and beautiful. Had to share.