Love Astrology? You’ll Obsess Over These Lush New Artworks From Real Fun, Wow

Hi Daren! We're so excited to have your work at Bed Threads. Can you share a bit about this collection of artworks?

I love working in the ethereal/dream space. That space that you enter right between being awake and drifting off to sleep. That place that feels boundless, unburdened by logic or reason. That place where your guard is down and you can be free to explore. The collection of illustrations touches on that space.

What was the inspiration behind them?

The inspiration comes from the timeless art created before me; an homage to the elements and our connection to them. The inexplicable place that we can’t explain using words.

Are there any recurring themes or concepts in your artwork? What draws you to explore these themes?

Nature and humanity and the connection between the two is often a place I like to explore. I try to find the connection and am quick to point out the conflict. Being a human fascinates me to no end; how we are part of it all, but we so often live in complete disharmony.

Tell us about your career journey to date. Did you always know you wanted to pursue this line of work?

This line of work happened quite organically and without any real plan. I spent most of my adult life doing menial jobs that I hated. One day I got fed up with it and made a commitment to myself that I would draw something every day, no matter what. That commitment lasted for a number of years and in short time the world around me began to notice and people started to pay me to draw for them. The next thing I knew I was a professional illustrator. From there, a natural progression of developing products and things happened and all of a sudden I was a brand! There was never a plan, and there still isn’t! Every day is a beautiful surprise!

Who or what are your biggest artistic influences?

I know this might sound crazy, but I try to not consume too much visual art because I am always afraid that I’ll end up taking too much inspiration from an artist and then lose my uniqueness. I try to find influence from the unattributed art in the world; vintage greeting cards, old produce boxes, obscure flags – things that were created but not intended to be art. I love that stuff.

How do you balance the business side of being an artist with your creative work?

I don’t! Haha. It’s really tough. Like I said, none of this was planned so I am constantly playing catch-up on the business side of things. Making lots of mistakes along the way. Eventually, I will get to a place where my business is running smoothly and I can focus 100% of the time on the creative side, but I am not quite there yet.