Phoenix is brimming with creativity. And every other year, we put the spotlight on 100 of the city's creative forces. Leading up to the release of this year's Best of Phoenix issue, we're profiling 100 more. Welcome to the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives. Up today: 12. Timothy Brennan.
Before work, there's work to do.
That's how Phoenix designer and Lavidge art director Timothy Brennan starts his days. The 32-year-old says he's usually awake by 5:15 a.m. to tackle passion projects, freelance work, or hard deadlines.
See also: Phoenix Storyteller Liz Warren - 100 Creatives
"Banging out a couple of projects before business hours is something I learned from my creative director, Bob Case," Brennan says. "It gets the creative juices flowing and gets me ready for the day."
His days are spent at Lavidge, an advertising and marketing agency whose clients include Phoenix International Raceway, United Rentals, and McDonald's, working what Brennan calls "the super-awesome nine-to-five."
After clocking out, he says, "it's time to relax and hang out with my beautiful lady." But being off the clock doesn't last too long. "As for the weekends, they're usually spent at my studio in Tempe where the majority of painting is done -- I'm still trying to figure out the work/life balance."
I came to Phoenix with construction experience, an appreciation for unhealthy extracurricular activities, long hair, a 1984 Ford Ranger, and a job offer. The job was working as a superintendent/general contractor and after a single summer, and multiple accounts of heat stroke, I decided it was time for a new career path. Soon after, I enrolled at The Art Institute of Phoenix, simply because "art" was in the title -- something that has always been a motivating factor and passion in my life. For the next few years I continued to swing a hammer by day and further my education by night. I graduated in 2009 with a new lease on life, but not sure what was next for me. I decided to start freelancing as a designer and have been very fortunate with the results. I can only attribute this to the wonderful people I've met along the way, both past and present. Their continued support and mentorship, and the subsequent opportunities that have come from these relationships, have led to my success as a designer.
I make art because I have an obsessive nature in which creating things is an absolute must -- it's not out of necessity, rather it's for the love of the craft. Whether it be an illustration, a typographic piece or a reverse glass painting, I'm constantly looking for ways to improve my hand and overall process.
I'm most productive when I'm passionate about what I'm doing.
My inspiration wall is full of things I happen upon in daily life: type things, illustration things, trinket things, old things, new things, digital things, traditional things, things done by people I admire, aspirational things, process things, and, most likely, too many things. Just your random assortment of awesomeness.
I've learned most from friends, mentors, teachers and my p'rental units. Also a bit of ideation, making, creating, experimenting, executing, failing, fucking up, falling down, self doubt, getting back up, dusting knees off, figuring it out, finding a better solution, and get it right. Repeat.
Good work should always have a purpose, demonstrate your passion and, above all, allow for a sense of accomplishment. If you're not happy with what you create, no one else will appreciate it.
The Phoenix creative scene could use more... honestly, nothing. We have all the pieces: amazing talent, wonderful people, an awesome community, and a penchant for doing great things. We only need to keep doing what we're doing and be thankful for it.
See the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives:
100. Bill Dambrova 99. Niki Blaker 98. Jeff Slim 97. Beth May 96. Doug Bell 95. Daniel Langhans 94. Nanibaa Beck 93. Nicole Royse 92. Ib Andersen 91. Casandra Hernandez 90. Chris Reed 89. Shelby Maticic 88. Olivia Timmons 87. Courtney Price 86. Travis Mills 85. Catrina Kahler 84. Angel Castro 83. Cole Reed 82. Lisa Albinger 81. Larry Madrigal 80. Julieta Felix 79. Lauren Strohacker 78. Levi Christiansen 77. Thomas Porter 76. Carrie Leigh Hobson 75. Cody Carpenter 74. Jon Jenkins 73. Aurelie Flores 72. Michelle Ponce 71. Devin Fleenor 70. Noelle Martinez 69. Bucky Miller 68. Liliana Gomez 67. Jake Friedman 66. Clarita Lulić 65. Randy Murray 64. Mo Neuharth 63. Jeremy Hamman 62. La Muñeca 61. Kevin Goldman 60. Emily Costello 59. Kerstin Dale 58. Vara Ayanna 57. Nathaniel Lewis 56. Ruben Gonzales 55. Lisa Poje 54. Bobby Zokaites 53. Frances Smith Cohen 52. Julie Rada 51. David Miller 50. Xanthia Walker 49. Kyllan Maney 48. Cary Truelick 47. Constance McBride 46. James D. Porter 45. Allyson Boggess 44. Abigail Lynch 43. Ashley Cooper 42. Jaclyn Roessel 41. Brandon Boetto 40. Melissa Dunmore 39. Gavin Sisson 38. Rossitza Todorova 37. Monica Robles 36. Josh Kirby 35. Jesse Perry 34. Yai Cecream 33. Nathan Blackwell 32. Carley Conder 31. Ben Willis 30. Nicole Michieli 29. Brian Cresson 28. Tyson Krank 27. Mikey Estes 26. Anwar Newton 25. Sarah "Saza" Dimmick 24. Tato Caraveo 23. Jorge Torres 22. Laura Spalding Best 21. Shawnte Orion 20. Mike Olbinski 19. Christina You-Sun Park 18. Jon Arvizu 17. Anya Melkozernova 16. J.B. Snyder 15. Damon Dering 14. Rebekah Cancino 13. Liz Warren
Editor's note: This post has been modified from its original version.
