Thomas Brechler Interview

Thomas Brechler also known on various communities as Headead, is a young incredibly talented graphic designer currently studying in Prague, Czech republic. Thomas was so kind to make our readers an amazing exclusive wallpaper. If that wasn’t enough we had the chance to get to know this wonderful guy a little better with an interview. To us Thomas is one of the most promising, inspiring upcoming designers we know. Have a nice read and don’t forget to grab yourself an extraordinary piece of art for your desktop.

Hi Thomas! Thanks a lot for taking the time to do this interview.
First of all I’d like to know what attract you to design.

Hello, no problem. I got to digital illustration and graphic design in 2004-2005 by some first experiments in Illustrator, also learning Flash and later Photoshop. I started basically because I wanted to design some vector illustrations and print them on stickers, and after some time, I knew I’m totally addicted to digital graphics and illu.

If I look to your work, the thing I admire most is the fact you draw everything yourself. Of course a lot of people draw stuff. But it’s the style and the remarkable quality that comes with it that makes it so special. Can you tell a bit more about how this style developed?

I had always problem with what to focus on, I like working with photos, but when I was working with them, it seemed to me I didn’t have too much control about the result, because everything depended on what stock I can get my hands on, or what can I capture myself with crappy camera. So I’ve more or less stuck to the vectors, because I found it more easy to create something that I wanted. It takes more time though to draw something from scratch, so I’m always looking on some improves of how to achieve some better result. The recent works are usually really plain or simply colored vector shapes exported to Photoshop from illustrator, because I find it more easy than drawing them directly in PS. After importing, I basically go from shape to shape and then edit the whole image with some adjustment layers, masks, textures and so on. In the future I will surely focus on Photoshop – matte painting and digital post production – more, also some 3D could be interesting.

That sounds really great! Can’t wait to see those results! Lots of your work are also based on quite surreal concepts like “Screwed” (above) or “On The Edge” (under). Where do you get your inspiration for such concepts?

I always liked various machines and mechanical creations, also some big constructions and buildings standing on horizon, so I started to use them. But the inspiration is everywhere, you see certain thing, or you read about it and suddenly you got the bright idea in your head. But always it is best to experiment and create something new, rather than just simply doing the already done.

I like your new alias “Uneventual” that came along with your online portfolio. That’s quite an inspiring name. How did you come up with that?

Haha well, when I was starting, I chose a nick on Deviantart – h3ad3ad, headead because I wasn’t thinking about anything during that season, it was kinda bad time for me, so I started to relax by drawing by vectors and so on.
After some time, I realised almost nobody was able to write it properly, which I understand because it’s kinda confusing. That’s why uneventual.com was born after covering some papers with lots of other possible names and then realising someone already bought the domains. It could be understood like something against expected eventualities, something that happened in a very new way.

Yeah I have to admit I typed it wrong once in a while. According to your online portfolio you’re still studying graphic design at Prague. How does this education helps you as a designer? Or should I say how does it not help? What’s your opinion about graphic design education based on your experience?

Yes, I’m finishing this year, it awaits me pretty soon. The schools here are more or less focused on classic graphic design, like typography rules, typesetting, polygraphy and other fields. The graphic part of thing is kinda simple, it’s usually basics in photoshop, illu, css, flash and so on, so I rather work on personal projects and freelance, since I know lot more in these programs, than we are taught during the lessons. My school is also very classical place when it comes to modern graphic design, computer art and new media, which basically means the teachers don’t care too much about what is happening in the world of design and we do really limited and official stuff, not too much space for experiment. But on the other hand, some lessons are really good and give me lot of info, so it’s ok.

That doesn’t sounds too bad. I have heard a lot worse! I bet you’ll pass without much difficulties. Where do you see yourself in say, 10 years from now?

Haha I’m afraid to even think about that but I would like to participate in some interesting projects, collaborate with reasonable clients that let me do what I think is good for them, and that kind of stuff. And I will maybe learn Joomla finally and update my portfolio.

You’ve made an incredible wallpaper for WallpaperArt. Quite an abstract but very beautiful inspiring visual. Can you tell us a little more about it?

It’s the typical representation of how my sketch is different from final result, when messing around in abstract. I started to work on something, like big power crystal, hidden in the ground, that should represent some eternal energy of Earth and ended with some big, constantly rotating abstract spindle, while playing with 3d in illu.

Download “Perpetuum” Wallpaper

800×600 / 1024×768 / 1280×800 / 1280×960 / 1440×900 / 1600×1200 / 1680×1050 / 1920×1200 / Phone

Thanks again for this interview. We love your work and your style. The wallpaper is truly amazing. We wish you the best with your education and your life. Much Respect! Is there anything you want to share with our readers?

My thanks to you gentlemen, for the possibility of having this interview. I would like to say to readers: stay original, don’t get confused by trends, always experiment so you don’t get stuck. Don’t get bored by work, I know it’s very easy to get a bad mood during some process. As in everything, graphic design and illustration is not about talent, it’s about hard work. When you practice a lot, the improvement will come, sooner or later.
Cheers

Respect!

Uneventual.com