Hello Marcus Jones! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. Please start by telling us something about yourself, are you a self taught artist? How it all started? I’m a professional artist from the UK, I also go by the name of Screaming Demons. I mainly spend my time designing Clothing Graphics, but also design CD covers and private commissions for portraits etc. I’m a self-taught digital artist, I’m not qualified in any way to be doing this. One day I decided post my art on the web and people liked it. Several of the big alternative clothing companies commissioned me or bought my designs and now it’s my dream job.

Q: Do you remember your first design?
A: Not my first but I drew a large lion head that impressed my teacher and she told my parents that I had some artistic talent.

Q: How do you get inspired and stay motivated?
A: I don’t find it a problem to get inspired, my head is so full of crap I want to turn into art, there aren’t enough hours in the day and besides if I ever go blank Too Fast Clothing are always throwing new ideas my way, more time is what I need and not motivation!

Q: Would you say that your style express your personality?
A: There are constants in my art like tattoos, death and horror but I don’t feel I have a well defined style. One day I’m doing simple monochrome pinup girl t-shirt designs and the next I’m painting very detailed color horror illustrations. When I finish a piece of art I usually want to do something completely different with the next one.

Q: How your style changed over the years? Any artists you look up to?
A: The basic subject matter has stayed the same, a few years ago I moved to work with my computer. I went sick from my job for a week and taught myself how to work digitally. I started to use a lot more color in my work. It’s so easy to change and edit the feel of the piece when working digitally... Influences? Yeah, I have loads in the art film and music... Eric Stanton, Jamie Hewlett, Russ Meyer, Stanley kubrick I could go on for ever!

Q: How do you feel about social media? Would you change something?
A: I love it, it’s great... I can upload a new image and people who enjoy my work can see it immediately on their phones or whatever and give instant feedback. I found it very difficult before the internet to get my art seen. It wasn’t until I started uploading my art online that I had any kind of success. I wouldn’t be able to do this job without the social media. Changes? Stop censorship and monitoring the internet by governments and social media would be a good start. I would ask people to think more about what they publish to the world... ask yourself is this interesting or entertaining?

Q: Did you grow up watching horror movies? Any favorite characters?
A: I remember watching ‘The Addams Family’ when I was young and I loved the characters. Later in my teens I saw a lot of the 1980s video-nasties, they obviously made a big impression on me. Apart from that Frankenstein’s monster is my ultimate favorite character I just love the look and I identified with the outsider thing. I really enjoy horror when it’s mixed with comedy such as American Werewolf in London or Sean of the Dead. I try to put a little humor into my art, even my darkest images have a little jokes.

Q: Tell me about the creative process.
A: All my designs and art start with a rough pencil sketch. Then I collect references and research the subject. Next the sketch is scanned into the computer. I like to work fast and working digitally helps this process. Ruthless editing is a big part of the creative process for me, I try many different angles and compositions until I’m happy with the result. It’s quite manic and there isn’t really much of an ordered process. I’ve been asked to do tutorials but they would be insane! I’ve watched other artists explaining how they work – they start with a sketch then ink the lines and then add color, my work is not like this at all.

Q: Punk-rocker?
A: I have music on all the time whilst I’m working and I usually go with what fits the image I’m doing, I would say ‘The Cramps’ are often playing in my office.

   

Q: Do you experiment, using new methods or techniques?
A: I’m always exploring new styles of drawing and coloring. I look carefully at other artists' work that I admire and I try to learn something new from them.

Q: Any favorite projects?
A: My favorite commission was painting the shop front for ‘Tattoo Time’ in Bristol. I’ve been a customer for about 12 years and so it was a great honor to have my art on their window. Unfortunately the choice of subject matter (Zombified deities) did not meet with approval of some local people, the shop owner was threatened with arrest.

Q: Your artworks are featured in magazines like Bizarre Magazine, Pinup America and Naked Magazine. So cool!
A: It’s nice to have you art published but I prefer to see on someone on the street wearing one of my t-shirts or have a tattoo of my art. My motivation comes from art, music and film not publicity.

    

  

Q: What is the best moment of your career?
A: There are a few... I’m very excited about designing the new shop front for Tattoo Time as I have been given almost a free run to paint what I want. Recently I sold some of my prints to a world renowned tattoo artist which was an honor for me. Lastly, I helped design these amazing boots for Too Fast Clothing featuring my Frankenstein Monster Mug-shot art. I’ve had lot of my graphics put on various apparel but this time I had a hand in the whole look of the product so that made me happy.

Q: What's next?
A: I’d like to start tattooing as well as producing graphics, that’s something I’m working on at the moment.

Q: What are some of the greatest challenges or obstacles you are facing as an artist?
A: Having people ripping off my art to make money for themselves is my biggest problem, It’s a constant challenge to keep it to a minimum.

Q: What would be your dream project?
A: So many... I’m trying to get an exhibition together at the moment which isn’t going well, just to have a show of my work would be a dream right now. Other things... I’d like to try some concept art for a horror film or a video game, designing some new horror characters would be great fun.

Q: What is the best lesson that you learned from your journey?
A: I’ve learnt to calm down and to not try to create a masterpiece everyday. Some days are for planning and thinking. Also when you’re doing commissions - get some money upfront !

Q: Any advice for those who are starting out their careers?
A: Just to stick at it, try and be honest with yourself about the quality of your work. Whatever style you are doing you’ve got to know your subject, don’t just make things up.