5 questions with josh cochran

A self-proclaimed "citizen of the world," Josh Cochran spent his youth in Taiwan, drawing and reading mystery novels, and his college years at the University of Southern California, studying Fine Art and Film/Animation. Desiring to pursue art as a career, he went on to the Art Center College of Design, after which Steven Heller at the New York Times Book Review promptly gave Cochran his first big break. Since then, his award-winning illustrations have been commissioned by clients such as Pepsi, Sony Music, and the New Yorker. His worldly perspective is evident in his art, which is full of influences from Japanese ukiyo-e prints, modern architecture, comic books, film, and contemporary graphic design. Cochran currently resides in the fiery hills of Los Angeles with his two small dogs, Cody and Porkchop.

josh cochran

01. Describe the concept(s) behind your interpretation of Select Flavor.

JC: I wanted to convey the feeling of total immersion, and used the theme of "Step Up to Select" to come up with this underwater world. The jellyfish forest creates a chaotic pattern that is also suggestive of light trails in space.

02. Give a brief sketch of the creative process you used to realize your Select artwork.

JC: I usually start out with a lot of small pencil drawings before selecting one to blow up larger. I retrace and draw a bunch of times before arriving at my final composition. I scan this into the computer, lay out a few colors, mixing and matching them around. I try not to have too much of a plan when I start, since the more spontaneous I am with my drawing, the better the final artwork becomes. Though this method definitely has its drawbacks. Before the real work begins, I also try to compile as many references as I can and research anything I cannot draw from memory.

03. If you could set up a studio anywhere, what location would you choose, and why?

JC: I would probably set up a studio in the middle of the ocean. Maybe on some sort of research vessel to explore and draw the depths of the earth. Hopefully, I will also have an unlimited supply of coffee there, just in case I get sleepy.

04. Who or what inspires you to make art?

JC: I am constantly inspired by film, patterns, happy accidents, my peers, and pretty much anything or anyone I see or come in contact with.

05. What other projects are you working on-or dreaming about working on-right now?

JC: Currently, I am working on a couple of large murals for a children's science museum in New Jersey, an album cover for EMI Music, and I just finished making jellyfish tote bags that are being sold in Urban Outfitters stores as well as on my website.