Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Lockhart.
Hi Tony, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Despite illustrating my own comic books as a coping mechanism and designing my own toys as a kid, I like to think my design career started in Los Angeles, CA, back around 2013 under the moniker “TL Graphics”. Admittedly, I was a little impatient as a college student so I escaped to L.A. to see if I had what it takes to make it in this industry. I spent my first day driving and walking around, knocking on the doors of multiple agencies with my portfolio book, these cool plastic business cards I maxed out a credit card for at the time, and an elevator pitch to introduce myself with the hopes of landing a job. To my surprise by that afternoon, I had my first freelance partner with a Pasadena agency, and the snowball effect began. More so in the beginning, it was all footwork building my brand and portfolio from knocking on doors, shaking hands at networking events, and forcing my super introverted self to be a social butterfly in order to get out there cause I knew it would pay off someday. I even somehow convince local Chevy, Dodge, and Ford dealers to create a muscle car campaign together.
My alias or brand eventually morphed into CreativeSnark from TL Graphics to pay homage to these snarky personal illustrated stickers I would make as passive income; it also was a plus to not use my name as I am a huge fan of ambiguity. Like most, my journey had some other unexpected twists as it feels like my niches always chose me. I remember starting out it was all branding and logos; I eventually became known for advertising, and now today since 2020, I am mostly an illustrator these days often working with storyboards illustrations for video projects. My favorite recent project has been a series for the very talented singer Mia Mormino’s 7 Dead Sin-gles series. It gave me the chance to combine my love for illustration and music together crossing off an item on my creative bucket list.
Today, I am constantly learning through self-teaching and sticking to my ongoing mission of being future-proof, which I believe my clients also appreciate. Always looking for ways to break my personal ceilings from illustration to adding new skills to the repertoire like 3D and augmented reality as of late. I recently had the opportunity to create AR experiences for the Scars Foundation a great mental health non-profit, a Barbie pool party, and even revamped an old Dunkin’ project, creating the Dunkin’ AR Kiosk, which somewhat satisfied a long-time dream of mine to be able to see the food before ordering being an indecisive customer myself. Ultimately, I want to be able to look at the work I created a year ago and feel like I made it 10 years ago, then drag it to the recycle bin. If I’m future-proof, then so are my clients.
I like to credit most of my creative development to my habit of closing my eyes and taking a leap, trying not to give myself time to overthink. That way I can dive in every opportunity, treating it like it’s the only and first one. I never want to look back and think there was something more I could have done whether it is in my professional or personal life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biggest challenge was and still is myself today; I am my own worst enemy as they say. I have to fight through self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and second-guessing everything daily. There were times I psyched myself out and pursued a different path which is how I ended up with more than one bachelor degree but still think I ended up back where I was supposed to be. Even now, I cannot help but feel everything I create could be better, I missed something, or I only scratched the surface at times.
And of course, you will always have naysayers; I remember being told I would not make it in this industry or I should hang it up when I was an undergrad. At the time, I was still getting the hang of design and the programs in general, so they weren’t wrong; I did suck! Yet, I stuck it out, kept improving, and over time eventually, years later, I ended up working alongside one of those naysayers who came back to me and admitted he judged me too early and even taught another one a few tricks.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Currently, I am mostly known for storyboarding and illustration. But I still moonlight as a graphic designer for some clients creating visual branding, motion graphics, and advertising if I am in the mood for it.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Oh yeah, the world is borderless, thanks to technology. Somehow during the Covid pandemic, I was able to connect with others more than I ever did before. I even managed to collaborate with clients in the UK and saw my work displayed in Manchester; I’m still in awe of how that happened.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theCreativeSnark.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecreativesnark/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@creativesnark1682
Image Credits
Liz Kinser
Popular
-
Raleigh’s Most Inspiring Stories
-
Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know
-
Portraits of Raleigh
-
Small Business of the Day: Conversations with Devena Pelzer of Top Notch Picnics NC
Today’s Small Business of the Day features an interview...
-
Small Business of the Day: Conversations with ShaDonna “Mo” McPhaul of The Mo You Know
-
Small Business of the Day: Conversations with Sabrina Grinstead
