2008 Crafty Bastards Vendor Spotlight: El Jefe Design

Get to know this year’s Crafty Bastards vendors! We’re posting a series of interviews of crafters who will be at the CB festival Saturday, June 28, at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Silver Spring, MD.

You might recognize El Jefe Design’s work if you frequent the Black Cat, the 9:30 Club, and other classic music joints around the District. Jeffrey Everett is the man behind El Jefe’s striking vintage concert posters, featuring indie rock bands passing through the city, as well as local bands that are the pride of DC — like The Rollins Band and Pash! Check out his posters at his Official Website.

1. Using just three words, how would you describe your work?

clever, fun, dirty

2. What are you doing to prepare for Crafty Bastards? Are there any new products or techniques that you will be trying out for this show?

After doing it last year, we will be bringing lots of Vitamin Water and protein bars. We were swamped and did not even get to eat lunch.

The only thing we are changing is a different way to display our work making it easier to look through and purchase the 70 or so posters we will have. And sweat bands so we do not drip on the posters. Gross!

3. Is your craft widespread in the handmade community? What makes your stuff different from others in your craft genre?

Any one with a sharpie, a Kinko’s card, and creativity can make a concert poster. There are websites dedicated to designing concert posters and too many books to mention. I try to bring a level of professionalism and care to my posters so they can stay on a wall for a long time and still seem new and exciting. I feel truly flattered when anyone plunks down their money to purchase something I made. Thank you!

4. Starting an independent shop takes a lot of dedication, planning and hard work. At what point did you realize you had the chops to start your own indie craft business?

No one else would hire me for what I do. Concert poster design is not taken as “real” design in some circles and is looked down on by some as frivolous and superficial. Winning awards, having people buy posters, getting into galleries, and giving poster designers a presence in DC is beginning to change these opinions.

5. Where are your favorite places to find your supplies?

I order most of my supplies because I get them cheaper. I barely break even on my posters so I got to stay cheap. I also work with the awesome Grand Palace for my printing needs.

6. Crafting is a grassroots revolution of sorts. It’s catching on as people appreciate all things handmade, original, recycled and environmentally/socially conscious. Does this influence/inspire your work? If so, how do you incorporate it into your craft?

Twenty years ago, making something look like it was done on a computer (i.e. clean and crisp) was hard to do. To truly be successful as a designer you needed to eliminate the presence of the designer’s hand in order to elevate the work.

Now that computer design is so ubiquitous, creating something hand done is desired. People do not want something cold and stale, they want artwork that has a loving presence. I do use a computer, I have to, but I work from hand sketches, add small details, and pull the posters. Each poster is unique, for better or worse.

7. After seeing your work, many would-be crafters are inspired to start their own creations. Will you have any DIY kits available for sale at Crafty this year? Could you provide any simple how-to’s or tips for readers who want to get started on their own designs?

No DIY kits available, sorry. Hunt down a Gocco while you can. My best advice is to just start doing it and figure you out as you go. Making mistakes is how you learn best and get wonderful results. Take the work seriously.