How long until Obey became recognized? In 1989 there was a local paper that shot a picture of Andre on a stop sign. I only made 2000 stickers-they ran 20,000 copies of that paper. In 1990 I put an Andre on a billboard over the face of a mayor running for re-election-it ended up on local television. In '94 and '95 I started to get some national coverage. I was in subculture-type magazines like Warped and Project X. The big one was Wired. With the press involved, it fulfills my goal of having something absurd made out to seem bigger and more important than it really is. I found out that it slowly moves from "seeming" to be bigger and important to actually "becoming" that way. Basically I want to make a living off of art and goofing off so if this job can facilitate that then I say, "Hell Yeah!"
What's the piece that you're most proud of? It's a tie for the Giant icon and the Star Giant icon. It's so readable from a distance. Graphically they're perfect.
The biggest mistake you've made? I could never type really well so I had a catalog that was running late and never had time to proof it. Let's just say that the "T" any "Y" keys are really close together and that they look similar when you're zoomed out on a computer screen.
What should an artist focus on? An artist should focus on what they are passionate about. Usually what they are passionate about is their strength.
About the Speedwell shoes: Do you have a plan of action or will you fly by the seat of your pants? Seat of my pants? Yeah, that's pretty much what I roll with. I pretty much throw a bunch of shit in the pot and boil it down to leave the good stuff. I'm into simple, bold imagery so I'm leaning there.
Shepard goes out every once in a while still to go sniping; spending about a hundred bucks on supplies. He say's it's the best hundred he'll spend for the advertising and recognition he'd normally pay for. Plus it's the best high in the world. Hit up www.Obeygiant.com for more info and spread the message!
Shoe guide titles that were shot downChoosing a catchy title is not as easy as you think. Here's some of the things we came up with at the bar. As you can see, we pretty much got more and more toasted as time went on-but hey it was all in a day's work, right? Some are a stretch; some were just for kicks...oh yeah. One more round, bartender!
Ya know I got soleSole trainSoled outSolebukakeSole foodSole sole defSole what ya what ya wantCirce de sole'Filet of soleSole what?!?Rock out with your kick out!Shoe let the dogs outSole in the gangFrom the soleEat a bowl of kickShoe-t outKickallion stallionScience kicktionKicktionarySon of a kickKick'em in the grillKick startKickin' itKick katSole by the poundKick in the front doorstraight out da shoe'rsole soulDon't sweatthe tec-sneakthese shoes are coolKix are for kidsSneaker, pimp!Shoe...what ya talking 'bout?Suke hot sake shoeShoe-kee, shoe-kee nowIn soleSneaky, deekyCock-a-doodle shoePoo poo ka-shoeThe great shoe-canoeSneaker-ing aroundKicks for dicksShoe-shi barShoe-be dooobie doo