ERIC W REDMOND
Written for my 'ICU: Net Neighbours' series on ACCLAIM, published in 2013
Photography & Illustration: Courtesy of Eric W Redmond
Words & Design: MJB
So you call yourself a fan of Yung Lean and Ryan Hemsworth, but you don’t know who Eric W Redmond is? Nah, GTFO. While you were busy hitting favourite on Hemsworth’s tweets and crying about missing out on Sad Boys merch, you missed the memo: Illustrator Eric W Redmond is a don.
I first came across Eric W Redmond because of a bootleg bucket hat that he made called the iGenius. Makes sense considering he is basically Steve Jobs Jr – Eric sold his first internet business to a marketing company when he was 16. Me – I was just making shitty Dawson’s Creek GIFs.
Eric W Redmond was born and raised in Atlanta. Now based on facts that I learned from the Cabbage Patch Kids’ First Christmas – he was probably spawned from fresh produce. Also, the ATL status means he is more than likely a distant relative of Ciara and the heir to the Coca-Cola throne. He relocated to Cali last year and has found himself working in marketing for a car magazine. After the 9-5, he spends his time drawing, making websites, and generally being as creative as possible.
Eric W Redmond started out with a dream… and the latest edition of Adobe Creative Suite. He was literally tracing faces off his laptop with a Sharpie and a sheet of paper before he found his style. Fast forward to right now, and he’s found the affinity between his love for drawing and music. I’m a big supporter of that DIY, make-shit-happen attitude and Eric W Redmond has just that.
Why sit around waiting for people to commission your work when you can just do it and give it to them wrapped up in a nice .ai or .psd file? What started as fan art, now sees him wear the crown as the go-to guy for Ryan Hemsworth and the Sad Boys crew. I’ve got an inkling we’re going to see a lot more from this cabbage patch kid.
<ACCLAIMmagazine> A/S/L?
<Eric_W_Redmond> 20/Male/An hour from Los Angeles.
<ACCLAIMmagazine> What’s your real name, not your cyber name?
<Eric_W_Redmond> My full name is Eric Wood Redmond.
<ACCLAIMmagazine> When did you first join the online community
<Eric_W_Redmond> I first joined the online community back in 2005 when Xanga was poppin’ and I’ve never looked back.
<ACCLAIMmagazine> Be honest, what was your first internet handle?
<Eric_W_Redmond> Avideric18 for Windows Live Messenger. R.I.P.
<ACCLAIMmagazine> Preferred net browser?
<Eric_W_Redmond> Chrome for sure. I was on Safari when I first got a Mac two years ago, but got a kick out of all these rad plug-ins for Chrome like WhatFont, Hoverzoom, and Chat Undetected.
<ACCLAIMmagazine> How many hours a day do you spend online
<Eric_W_Redmond> I work for a marketing company during the day, so pretty much a solid 13+ a day. On the weekends it’s less.
<ACCLAIMmagazine> Favourite social media network and why
<Eric_W_Redmond> Right now it’s Instagram. It’s quick and easy, and also has expanded my fan base internationally. Would be better if it was faster. Video takes FOREVER to load.
<ACCLAIMmagazine> To hashtag or not to hashtag?
<Eric_W_Redmond> To Hashtag! Adding more than five on a personal post is too much though.
<ACCLAIMmagazine> What do you think a selfie says about a person
<Eric_W_Redmond> Whether they have a creative perspective on life or not. (When considering things like lighting, headspace, appearance, timing, and the background in the selfie.)
<ACCLAIMmagazine> Who is your biggest online influencer
<Eric_W_Redmond> My biggest online influencer right now is Ryan Hemsworth. He has a unique sound and knows his worth. Making art for him for fun (or seriously from time to time) is a dream. He also sends the best GIFs 20,000 feet up in the air while traveling the globe. We’re both kids at heart
<ACCLAIMmagazine> What was the last thing you looked up on Wikipedia?
<Eric_W_Redmond> ‘Ice Cream around the world’. I just got an ice cream machine for my birthday. I’ve been looking for different flavor inspirations from around the world.
<ACCLAIMmagazine> Where is your favourite place to shop online?
<Eric_W_Redmond> eBay – for the mad soft 1993 t-shirts
<ACCLAIMmagazine> How does your online identity compare to your IRL identity?
<Eric_W_Redmond> I don’t really post too many personal things online, but IRL I’m very focused, energetic and goofy.
<ACCLAIMmagazine> How has the internet helped to develop your creative endeavours?
<Eric_W_Redmond> By letting me reach out to those who normally I wouldn’t normally be able to, and creating lasting friendships with creative and like-minded people through the power of the web.
<ACCLAIMmagazine> How do you keep up with the constant evolution of online tastes and trends?
<Eric_W_Redmond> Reading mad amounts of blogs, searching Google images, and watching too many YouTube videos.
<ACCLAIMmagazine> Best GIF going around ATM?
<Eric_W_Redmond>
<ACCLAIMmagazine> Can you show us a meme that best represents you
<Eric_W_Redmond> This:
<ACCLAIMmagazine> Final words to the haters?
<Eric_W_Redmond> I’ll draw you for money at ericwredmond.com.
/END CHAT
