10 Questions with David Fleshman

David Fleshman was born in 1991 and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. He earned his Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Award in 2008. David was awarded first place in the 2008 Boy Scouts of America Patch Contest for the Las Vegas Area, North Star District. In 2009, he graduated with High Honors at Southeast Career Technical Academy High School, majoring in Animation and Digital Game Development. In 2014, David earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Graphic Technology - Computer Graphic Design at the College of Southern Nevada. He has judged numerous exhibitions at CSN and participated in the 10th Bi-Annual CSN Graphic Art Exhibition and Portfolio Review in Spring 2014.

In 2015, he earned the Cynthia Bunker/Joy McClenahan Memorial Scholarship for attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 2018, David graduated with High Honors from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with a Graphic Design and Media bachelor’s degree with a Minor in Art History. He was chosen to participate in a UNLV Capstone Thesis Show called “Spaces Graphic Design Thesis Exhibition”. David’s academic design and artistic achievements, portfolio, and biography are included in the UNLV Capstone Thesis book. David volunteered at the Nevada State Museum located at the Springs Preserve. He assisted in setting up the Electric Nevada Exhibition at the Nevada State Museum. In 2019, David graduated with his Associate of Arts Degree in Art Emphasis at CSN. On January 4, 2021, he was hired as a graphic design intern with “The 7th Magazine” located on the island of Ischia, Italy. David is currently an artist participant in the exhibition, “SIZABLE,” at the Clark County Government Center Rotunda, beginning on June 21 - July 29, 2021.

dforiginaldesignsllc.com | @ddfleshman1

ARTIST STATEMENT

“As a painter and digital designer, my artistic work has an important place in today’s art world by merging both traditional and digital artwork in one cohesive style. My work is inspired by Alan Fletcher, Herbert Bayer, Max Miedinger, Irina Furman, Paul Cezanne, and Wayne Thiebaud.

The two media styles I chose to work in are oil painting and digital artist. I like to paint realistic still-life paintings such as “Fruits,” “Creamer & Bottles,” “Cakes,” and “Wine Glass & Flowers”. Each painting canvas that I make measures between 16″ x 20″ to 20″ x 20″. I use oil paints along with digital designs to create my artwork. While working in digital media, I use my DSLR Canon camera to take various photographs. My favorite photo images are animals, landscapes including trees, mountains, and even images of Las Vegas, including my “A Pathway of Lights” photograph. I upload my images to the computer and use the special programs of Adobe Photoshop to touch up the photos. Next, I transfer them to Adobe InDesign to use them for bookmarks, postcards, and posters such as “NaviGuide”. For my posters, I use Adobe Photoshop brushes and typography to create them, like my “Expose Exhibition” and “Wishes” poster artwork.

A quote from Neville Brody, a famous London graphic artist, states, “Digital design is like painting, except the paint never dries.” The quote represents a graphic designer’s thoughts on how your work is never done. Because I am a graphic designer and an artist, I put in my best-detailed craftsmanship and the time needed to complete each project.” - David Fleshman

INTERVIEW

First of all, tell us a little more about your background, and how did you begin making art?

I began making art at a young age, around ten years old. In high school, I majored in Animation and Game Design. Then, I went to college to get my associate's degree in graphics communication and a bachelor of science degree in graphic design and media with a minor in art history. I have taken lots of art and graphic design classes over the years to learn to make what I want to show with my art style.

You work both with digital art and oil painting. How do you choose which medium you want to work with?

As a digital artist, I mainly do abstract flowers that I hope different people get inspired by what I create from looking at the flowers.

Can you tell us about the process of creating your work? What aspect of your work do you pay particular attention to?

I watch nature, wildlife, animals, and the environment to get inspired

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

I watch television shows such as Kids Baking Championship, HGTV, or any other type of Cooking shows to see what they create to inspire me. 

How do you maintain a cohesive style working with such different approaches?

I started my digital artwork in school, but it blossomed even more, starting on January 04, 2021, when I got hired as an intern for a Graphic Designer. The 7th Magazine asked me to do digital artwork for their flower collection and art in their publications. So I have taken that skill set that I learned and created a more cohesive design approach as a graphic designer and an artist by having an eye for art and color and training the eye to see small details for print issues.

How much planning goes into each artwork?

I use my digital camera Canon Rebel T7 to take photographs of the environment, then use graphic design skills to create my art. Just by messing with the image from the camera in Adobe Photoshop, it just creates a masterpiece of work. 

Do you have a role model that you've drawn inspiration from when creating your art?

The role model that I look up to as a Graphic Designer is Jed Olsen. My work is inspired by Alan Fletcher, Herbert Bayer, Max Miedinger, Irina Furman, Paul Cezanne, and Wayne Thiebaud. A quote from Neville Brody, a famous English graphic artist, states, "Digital design is like painting, except the paint never dries." The quote represents a graphic designer's thoughts on how your work is never done. Because I am a graphic designer and an artist, I put in my best-detailed craftsmanship and the time needed to complete each project.

What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future? Anything exciting you can tell us about?

I am creating more Digital Art by using my digital camera and then mixing media with graphic design skills. The artwork is for the Spectrum Miami Week, Art Fair in Miami, Florida. I have been selected to be in the Art Fair that week on December 1 – 5, 2021, hosted by Art Tour International Magazine Both # 513. It will be an in-person and digital exhibition. My digital art was selected to be in the Marika Magazine published in late September 2021, Top Posters Magazine, Open Vision Awards, and Marika Awards 2021. I am also working on mp4 and .mov to be hosted in film festivals. The current film festivals I am in are Andromeda Film Festival in October 2021 and Emerging Artists Film Festival in September 2021. So far, I have won the VIDDY Award for the films that I have created. I am looking forward to getting a master's degree in fine art and technology by merging these two fields into one cohesive style. I am also planning to teach what I have learned about graphic design and art since I have taught fellow boy scouts the following merit badges: Basketry, Wood Carving, and Leatherworking. I also have been an Audio Visual Sound Board Tech from 2009 through 2020, and I have taught those skills to fellow volunteers.

Have you ever thought about turning to NFTs? What are your thoughts on this subject?

My thoughts about NFTs are trying to think of a way of creating one if possible. I have created multiple animations products such as in my internship for the 7th magazine, and I am learning how to create Gifs that help the brand evolve and get the company published in magazines of the following: Like a Lion Magazine, FIRST Magazine, FACE Magazine, Whatever Magazine, Mob Journal Magazine, and Edith Magazine.

And finally, how do you see your art evolving in the next five years?

I see my art evolving in the next five years by mixed media, using film skills or animation and creating a moving image in my art pieces to display in solo exhibitions.