Who: Elroy Ink
Where: Online and some lovely shops
We recently discovered another inspiring local creative, Elroy Ink ! Elroy, is a local graphic designer who moonlights as an artist (amongst other things) creating beautiful prints for your walls! We just love them and after spotting them in one of our favourite shops Ballyhoo Art a few weeks back we couldn’t resist the opportunity to find out a little more about the man behind these happy, simplistic and Oh so easy to live with prints. We hope you enjoy our little Q&A with the super talented Elroy from Elroy Ink.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background and what lead you to creating these wonderful artworks?
I’m a tertiary qualified Graphic Designer (Swinburne Uni) and I’ve been doing commercial design work for about 15 years. My motivation with the Elroy ink artwork is to get away from the things I deal with on an everyday basis such as text, image and iconography. Elroy ink is a reaction against this I guess, into a more pure form of design expression through colour and shape.
‘Elroy’ is your alter ego, your real name is actually Ken Lawson (yes, we are super spies) What is the story behind the name?
Those darn super spies! Elroy came into being in 1995, he was my alter ego rock ‘n’ roll persona. It did help that I was in a band otherwise it may have been a little strange. Elroy was (and still is) the lead singer and guitarist of indie 3 piece band Oscarlima. When I started designing the prints it seemed more appropriate to attribute them to Elroy rather than my everyday persona.
You are a Graphic Designer by trade but do you hope to one day focus solely on your art and the Elroy brand?
Yes, that would be a perfect situation for me. I would love to earn a living wholly on my artistic merits. Not that I dislike my day job – it still offers an opportunity for me to design/create, but I would love not to answer to a brief and not have to explain to someone that logos and headings don’t have to be centre justified and fill the page to be effective.
What bought you and your family to the Geelong Coastal Region? And what do you love about this town?
Initially we wanted to move further down the coast but as my wife was still commuting to Melbourne for work at the time, Geelong just seemed a perfect balance between coastal living and big city life. I guess that’s what I really like about Geelong – it offers the work/life balance that so many of us seek.
Where was the last great meal you had in Geelong? And drink?
Cheating a bit, but the last great meal I had was at Loam in Drysdale, a real gastronomic experience. If I go for a few drinks, I’ll usually drop by the Diggers Arms.
You have a background in music, we’d love to know what tunes you listen to while you get creative.
Gee, where to start? Wilco, Radiohead, Midlake, Fiona Apple, Arcade Fire, Rufus Wainwright … ‘insert about six thousand other artists’… and the Beatles of course!
What are your biggest inspirations? Favourite artists, people, books etc?
I have always been a huge admirer of Picasso’s work. I really like illustrators Sanna Annukka, Nate Williams and cannot go past Saul Bass for anything graphic design. I follow Stephen Fry, Dr Karl and Arj Barker on Twitter and am mad about Collingwood FC … sorry Cats fans 
What is next for Elroy? Do you have any big plans for the future?
I would like to do a pop-up shop in Geelong but just need to find the right space. In November I’m aiming to do Markit@fed Square. Then of course the world – mwah, ha, ha, ha, haaa.
Do you have a quote or saying that you live by?
No, but my kids may tell you differently. “I wants don’t get.”
Thanks Elroy!!
And… if you are lusting after the Elroy Ink prints as much as we are, you’ll be excited to know that Elroy has very generously donated a copy of his print ‘Arches’ to one very lucky reader! Woot! This print is from the Open edition range and is an unframed A2 sized (420mm x 594mm or 16.5 x 23.4 inches) Giclée print, printed on 240gsm archival paper and signed by Elroy himself.
Oh my goodness, how awesome is that!
TO ENTER THE COMPETITION – Simply like us on Facebook (if you don’t already) and leave a lovely comment on this post by midnight, Friday 13th July. We’ll pick the lucky winner at random and notify you the next day. Yay!
