Discover: XLUSIV
“My inspiration comes from nature and pop culture. Think, ‘early morning cartoons with cereal, PJ’s, and your favorite pilloW’ kinda vibe.”
Tell us about yourself! What’s your background and what do you do?
I’m based from Denver, Colorado. I’m a bit of everything. I first started with screen printing, to digital art, to now creating high-end jewelry and festival posters.
How did you learn your craft? Tell us about your first finished product.
I went to CSU to learn Graphic Design. I learned from two really amazing professors that are very well recognized in the graphic industry. They showed me the do’s and don'ts of design. While learning my BFA in design, I also took several years of metalsmithing at CSU. Afterwards, I did a lot of research and watched top tutorials/classes online from jewelers and took many peoples advice to get my 3D printing right to cast my pieces.
Where does the name of your business come from?
XLUSIV business name came from being different, exclusive from the rest.
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People always ask if I created everything at the booth because of the range in products.
I just like to pursue each of my passions and what I'm into, and that is what you are looking at when you shop at my booth.”
How long does it take to make your product and what’s involved in the process?
I first hand sketch my ideas and create thumbnails. Then I concept what I want to achieve. That usually takes me a day or two. Then I redraw it on my tablet with more detail. Once I have it all sketched out on my tablet, I add color and all my vector lines are individually done. That part is usually the most time consuming because if I need to change something as in making the object bigger or smaller, I would have to redraw it.
Screen Printing is the hard part after design. It is a complicated process from making films to curing inks on paper, it has a lot of variables and is really where you need experience to get some harder details and halftones done. The posters are not just printed with a computer and printer, they are printed using large silk screens one color at a time to build up a poster. From start to finish anywhere from two weeks to a month. To learn more please feel free to reach out!
With my jewelry pieces, I intertwine what I learned in graphic art with my designs on Brush (3D modeling software) and create truly unique one-of-a-kind pieces that are wearable art. I then cast all pieces one at a time and set stones as well. These take even longer and some pieces take 3 weeks or more. The dragon pendant I am making is currently in its 5th week just because there are over 200 stones I am hand setting.
Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from nature and pop culture. Think “early morning cartoons with cereal, PJ’s, and your favorite pillow” kinda vibe.
What’s your favorite product that you’ve created?
Hard for me to say. I have a favorite for about two weeks, then I think about all the things I could have fixed on it or done differently, then I like it less. As an artist I always push myself to make better art, so it is hard to say what my favorite is.
What question do you get asked the most at pop-up markets?
People always ask if I created everything at the booth because of the range in products. I just like to pursue each of my passions and what I'm into, and that is what you are looking at when you shop at my booth.
What’s something unique about you that most people don’t know (or wouldn’t guess)?
I am really into collecting rocks and crystals! Tuscon is my jam. I also nerd out on aquarium stuff. I have a 150 gallon tank that is dedicated to freshwater plants and shrimp :) Keep that zen mode activated.
What’s your favorite beverage to sip on?
Jamo & Ginger Ale and Modelo (Bottles Only).
What’s up next for your XLUSIV?
Custom apparel and jewelry.
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