BLUNT + Jordan Debney | Limited Edition Collaboration
Meet Jordan Debney — the New Zealand born, Melbourne based creative known for his distinctively unique illustrations, streetwear graphics and woodcut paintings. We caught up with Jordan to chat about the BLUNT + Jordan Debney Limited Edition Collaboration and his creative process.
What is the inspiration behind the design?
I wanted to create something BLUNT customers would have never seen before on an umbrella, I wanted it to “breathe life” and be something a BLUNT customer would use to provide a certain level of self-expression. I am pretty expressive myself with my art and with my physical appearance and I find my work is most appreciated when I don’t hold back. I wanted to make BLUNT customers feel like they weren’t just buying an umbrella, but also a piece of art.
Talk us through the process of making the BLUNT + Jordan Debney Limited Edition.
I think I am the first person to be stupid/genius enough to illustrate the entire thing on my iPad. With the heavily large scale illustration that it is at first, you would think it exceeds the limitations of what the iPad can illustrate to, and you would be correct, however I illustrated it in a way where each element was hand-drawn on individual canvases and then complied at the very end in photoshop. I tend to avoid illustrating on Photoshop when I can because it doesn’t grace my work with the detail I pride my work with. Once compiled in Photoshop I was able to manipulate the work however I pleased, but getting past that initial illustration process on something that technology wouldn’t allow was the real challenge.
What was it that appealed to you about working with BLUNT and how do you decide which brands to collaborate with?
These days I have the luxury of being able to pick and choose the clients I work with, and BLUNT being as professional as they are in all aspects of what they create, I knew they would treat my name and work with the same integrity I do. I could tell straight off the bat that if I provided them with a special one of a kind piece of art, they would make it look as good as I envision in my mind's eye.
How did you get into illustration?
Growing up in a small town there wasn’t much to do in the way of killing time, I always found my self drawn to creating comics for my friends to enjoy and illustrating pop culture characters I would find on mainstream New Zealand television, I tried to challenge myself as much as I could with new mediums and over time it naturally became what it is today.
Outside of illustration, what other things do you like to create?
I have a huge passion for painting although these days picking up a paintbrush is a rare occurrence. I always make the effort for group shows to create one of a kind woodcut paintings, which always tends to be well received by the local art enthusiasts here in Melbourne.
Do you have any hobbies?
As you first walk into my house you’ll find that I have a massive green thumb, spotting an open wall space without a plant or leaf being there is a challenge. Looking after my plants is more of a mediative process, it's grounding and aligns my priorities after a solid week staring at endless screens for work.
What is something not a lot of people know about you?
I am blind in one eye! But which eye, you will never know.
Tea or coffee?
Tea! This changed from coffee last year as I had the realisation how heavily dependant on coffee I was, now I can't touch it without hitting the threshold of a panic attack. I do miss coffee, but Tea treats me better.
What’s your favourite snack?
PEACH CANDY!! Gummy/hard/jelly I don’t care I need it all of it.
