Today we’d like to introduce you to Erich Sayers.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in a little farm town called Garnett, Kansas with a population of only 3000 people. I always enjoyed drawing and art classes in high school. I never thought it was a viable option for a career. I went to a small college with no real direction. I went to Paraguay with friends I met in college ended up staying for three months and another month in Brazil. I quit school and decided I would travel as much as I could. I moved back to my hometown to save money. During this time, I went to Europe for five months as well as Jamaica. I was directionless and depressed, but it got me back to drawing. I started to look at my art as exceptional and possibly valuable for the first time. Feeling like I had nothing to lose, I picked up my car and moved to LA. I worked in dental laboratories making ceramic crowns to get by. I bought a computer and took community college classes to learn about photoshop and its after-effects. I responded to an ad from a new advertising agency that was starting up and focused on gaming. I worked for free in the evenings twice a week and was thrilled to be in a creative environment for the first time. It took well over a year before I was offered the job. I’ve been in entertainment advertising ever since, from video games to theatrical and now primarily Netflix key art. I did a bit more traveling while freelancing at Los Angeles’s best ad agencies. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to work remotely so I could move wherever I wanted. So here I am. Work has been a bit slower, so I have started to create 70’s the style/ Rat fink inspired muscle car art in my free time, as well as whatever wild visual ideas I come up with for my personal artwork.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think the struggles were the motivators. Never being satisfied or content kept me pushing onward even with no guidance, goal or plan. I try to balance striving for better with gratitude.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I do entertainment key art, singular images that visually convey what a particular video game, movie or show is all about. I use what visual assets I’m given but the clients, often they are really lacking and I am able to create images that intrigue and entice the viewers interest. I would say I am most proud of the fact that I am self-made. Something I didn’t realize until my brother made the comment to me. I’d say what sets me apart is just being an artist, not just a graphic designer. Aside from my professional work I also create personal art and photography. I have a good eye for lighting and create images that have a painterly feel. I’m obsessive and really love to work on the fine details. I’ve recently started creating 70’s, Rat Fink styleexaggerated yet photo real muscle cars called Surreal Street Machines
Contact Info:
- Email: eisayers@gmail.com
- Website: http://www.erichsayers.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eisayers/
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/surrealstreetmachines/
- Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/erichsayers
- Youtube: https://www.facebook.com/surrealstreetmachines
