Name:Erin Fogoa
Roller Derby Name and Team:Lucy Dynamite, Redneck Daisies based in Lumby, British Colombia, Canada
Notes: Artist and Entrepreneur, online portfolio at missketodesigns.com, Owner of Derby Love - store at DerbyLove.ca, Facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44112443879

[Roger Foley: Q1] At what age did you first discover your creative side and how long did it take you to create your first works?

[Erin Fogoa: A1] My mom was actually into landscape painting when I was young, we came from a really small redneck town and so I remember her first creations being on tree fungai and saw blades but she definitely got me started, and I left the fungai painting behind with the town.

[Pictured right: Erin Foggoa's aka Lucy Dynamite painting Kapow!!!]

[Roger Foley: Q2] Your paintings are very amazing! What was your first painting and what is your most favorite?

[Erin Fogoa: A2] Wow, thanks! I started my career as an artist fairly early. My first excellent creation was apparently called “Pudding Wall.” My start as a business artist came with the creation of “Ugly Cat” …he looks like a hairless cat or a chihuahua, depending on the eye of the beholder. I have now sold over 35 different versions of “ugly Cat” and he gets up to no good all over the world now. My favourite painting always seems to be the one I just finished. I never see myself as there yet, so every time I try something new, and push myself into a new style, I love it.

[Pictured left: Another wonderful Erin Foggoa painting]

[Roger Foley: Q3] With your photography works, what do you enjoy shooting the most and what type of camera and equipment do you prefer to use?

[Erin Fogoa: A3] I typically leave the photography to my partner, Sam. He uses a Canon digital Rebel XTI. I love to take photos, but mostly I love to take his photos home and play in Photoshop. It’s the editing and the playing I love.

[Roger Foley: Q4] As I look at some of your logos and drawings I am impressed and amazed at your style, detail, and use of colour. What is your creative process when creating a logo/drawing for a client and for leisure?

[Erin Fogoa: A4] I have a really hard time not using really bright, vivid colour. I think that’s why my art appeals so much to children, and why my design style is more suited for punks and misfits. Kidding, mostly, but I think my creative process is just simply trying to achieve that “Perfect!” at the end of the day. I try and read my client and read their client as well if that’s part of it, and achieve a wow, or keep going.

[Pictured below: Many of Erin Foggoa logo designs]

[Roger Foley: Q5] Being a multi talented artist what were your major influences on you growing up? What artists, companies, and series of works inspired and continue to inspire your knowledge and expand your creativity?

[Pictured left: Erin Foggoa Ninja Cook painting]

[Erin Fogoa: A5] Oh there are so many! Every day I am inspired by someone new, people are really pushing the envelope right now in digital art and that is so fun to be a part of.

Being an artist is a far from easy career path. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, getting to paint and draw for a living is amazing. But you need a thicker skin than I currently have, and there is a ton of rejection that comes with it.

You get about 30 “No’s” before you get a “Yes.” So I use three inspirational quotes to get me by;
1 - “I am always doing things I can't do, that's how I get to do them.” by Picasso
2 - “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” by Robert Frost
3 - “Never, never, never, never give up” by Winston Churchill

Gavin Strange of Jam Factory in Bristol, England is a current example of someone whose art and career path is inspirational. He designs amazing little toys, skateboard clothes and decks, sick art, and is really all over the map, much like myself.

[Roger Foley: Q6] Can people reach you for contract art work? If so what are your services and specialties? How much would your paintings range from and are you up for creating logos for clients or even do artwork for comic books and other things?

[Erin Fogoa: A6] I would love that! Contract work is for me a lot of fun. I think a lot of artists dislike how it inhibits creativity, and I understand that. But I have always been into the business of art as well, and I love the challenge of meeting someone’s inspiration with my creativity and making something happen.

[Pictured right: Bedroom Murals, Painting and Shelving]

I have done anything from custom paintings of derby girls to colour matching paintings and graphic art for showrooms and living rooms. Every piece depends on what the person is looking for, but I provide quotes before starting a project, so I would just suggest to give me a call or an email and see what we come up with.

[Pictured below: Some of Erin's custom art Wine Triptych, Money Tree, and Danelion Triptych]

[Roger Foley: Q7] Has playing Roller Derby influnced your artistic creativity at all? If so, how has the sport added to your repertoire as an artist? And do you come across many artistic people with similar passions within the derby landscape?

[Erin Fogoa: A7] The best part of merging my sport and my art is the design of t-shirts and
stickers and such. I am just really appreciating getting to illustrate a subject I am so enthused about and I think it really shows in the product I am producing. A lot of the work design I do is a lot more conservative than this. And so I get to throw a lot more of my personality into Derby Love.

[Pictured left: Erin and her Redneck Daisies teammates]

[Roger Foley: Q8] Where would you like to see your art grow within the next five years? And what artistic ambitions do you predict you'll expand to?

[Erin Fogoa: A8] It’s so hard to say, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want as my end game to see my art everywhere. Would I like to see my art all over the world? Yes!!

So from my end I am looking for an ambitious art agent, and keeping on, getting my “No’s” and hanging on to my “Yes’s” with my full grip. I have a few little children’s books up my sleeve, and some great mall mural plans.

[Pictured left: A derbylove.ca t-shirt made by Erin and for sale to you]

Hopefully derby love keeps receiving the amazing feedback it has so far because I absolutely love working on it.

[Pictured below: "Keep Bears Wild" Canada's National Parks t-shirt designed by Erin]

[Roger Foley: Q9] Do you have a web site or online portfolio we can view more of your works at or receive updates about future creative releases?

[Pictured left: Erin Fogger Marianne painting]

[Erin Fogoa: A9] Yes, I think I have a couple sites I can share with you;

missketodesigns.com
my online portfolio

http://www.etsy.com/shop/blacksheepclothing
My etsy site

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44112443879
My facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/DerbyLoveCa/125047510883534
My other facebook page

http://www.myspace.com/552481498
And myspace

And of course Derbylove.ca is open and ready to serve you!!

[Pictured below: Some of Erin's Illustrations, The Burgess Shale - Yoho National Park]