With the third battle of the first round of Secret Wars looming MTTD caught up with one of the battlers, Elfin. The battle commences, this Friday at Juno in Shoreditch with Elfin Vs Tizer.
MTTD: For those people that don’t know who you are; introduce yourself:
Elfin: 25 year old Illustrator/bartender
Where are you based at the moment, what’s it like?
I live in Angel, in waking distance of almost all the places i like to go, i love it!
What have you been up to lately?
Miss Led set up an all girl jam at Designer’s Block in Covent Garden. We all used a pink and blue colourway which took me out of my comfort zone of black and white, but was great to do.
So on the 31st of October you will battling Tizer. How do you fancy your chances?
Ah, Tizer’s old School and a nice guy, so i reckon he’ll have a big following on the night. My only consolation is that he doesn’t usually putdown his opponents in a harsh or personal way.
You’re no newbie when it comes to battling, do you still get nervous before you go on?
I feel like one. Yes i get nervous, but that goes once i get started.
Do you show up and have an idea of what you will be drawing on the night or do you just go with the flow?
I’d love to be able to freestyle but i’m pretty methodical and always have a sketch done.
SecretWars is such a good idea and has really influenced a lot of similar nights throughout the UK. Any thoughts..
Doodle jam, Bestjoinedup, both booze and drawing, great nights if that’s what you’re into!
How did you get on in Barcelona with the rest of the Monorex artists?
I only knew inkfet and teck before hand so it was cool to meet so many like minded people and have a f*cking great time!
Did you come home with a truckload of Reeboks?
Free kicks? Yes. I got mine pimped by all the artists and then by the mr lacy girls, the boys’ll know who i mean, haha
What has been your favorite commission so far?
Barcelona, gotta be. All expenses paid, drawing all day, drinking all night at partys with a free bar and we got some time on the beach, that week was a scorcher!
What’s your preferred medium and why?
Fineliners and markers, i like painfully clean lines, i have just started inking with a brush but needs more practice. i would like to practice my can skills because my lines are far from clean.
What’s been playing on your ipod/portable music player of choice?!
Randomness! Slint,smashing pumpkins, bjork, plaid,dangermouse and gemini, Session, dizzee rascal, massive attack, gorillaz, dj shadow, jeff buckley, god speed..
Been to any good local nights lately?
The private view for a colab between 5683 and jenism on at Urban Outifitters in Covent Garden was cool. Check it out, their styles are really complementary.
What is your main source of inspiration?
I don’t know, lots of things, i’m reading frank miller’s batman and a chunky book on brian bolland at the mo, i’ve been looking at poster ad’s from the 20’s and some other random stuff. I think the need to draw to relax/feel productive is what makes me sit down and doodle, rather than idea.
Who do you rate at the moment?
Erm, conor Harrington, Alex Pardee, French, Godmachine, James Jean, there’s loads, i’ll kick myself later…
Current projects?
There’s a alice in wonderland jam happening for a party on the 8th Nov, the artists include Wen, Hicks, Led, TWIY, Candi, and more. Also there’s an all girl jam on the 7th Nov at Cargo’s with BestJoinedUp, 17 of us altogether so come one and all, should be good.
(a piece for the alice in wonderland jam – elfin)
Time seems to be a commodity these days, what motivates you to keep creating and putting your work out?
The fear of a 9-5!
Plans for the future?
Self Employment, ha!
Shout outs;
Cat, Ladyrinth, Jenism, Led, MANO, Candi, lovenskate (make sure you check out SUPER JUMBO, DVD out soon), BJU and Monorex crew
Make sure you make some noise for Elfin on Friday!!!
