Today we’d like to introduce you to Bret Grafton.
Bret, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was always arty, a typical dreamer kid with his head in the clouds. I went to school at Loyola and received degrees in photography and film. I would shoot my friends in all sorts of fantastic scenes with costumes. Elaborate vignettes with pulp fiction inspirations. I did design and printmaking. Painting and mixed media collections. I also started to do more traditional commercial work and fashion photography. I’ve shot editorials for magazines and advertorials for brand identity. I did commission artwork and designs that were sold in CB2 stores and created videos that advertised hotels and restaurants. One of my long-term clients is a fashion studio called Ricorso and I’ve become their lead photographer. Ricorso is a high end limited edition woman’s clothier. Just over two years ago, I cofounded a streetstyle brand called SOUNDOFF, where I design the art for our apparel and products, as well as art direct /shoot our branding. SOUNDOFF is about the intersection of fashion and expression. We’re here for the artists and musicians, the dj’s and audiophiles, the outsiders and the iconoclasts.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been a lot of struggles. A lot of struggles and a lot of tequila to manage them. I have developed a pretty strong sense of who I am as an artist because I’ve had a few thousand doors shut in my face. Honestly, rejection is a huge part of being an artist. And you have to keep waking up every day and putting your stuff out there. You have to make as many of your own opportunities as you possibly can, you have to make your skill set strong and current so that you’re ready for the opportunities that fall into to your lap, and you have simultaneously been ok with a lot of those opportunities never panning out. Being an artist is as infuriating as it is exhilarating. But here’s the thing. Here’s a big truth. You’re an artist because you have to be, not because you want to be. You have to make the work because it lives in your head. And your work is your gift to the world. It’s your story and it’s your job to manifest it. To create it. And then, to let it go.
SOUNDOFF – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
SOUNDOFF is awesome. We just opened our brick and mortar showroom. Which is really cool and was a great milestone. Our brand is all about limited edition designs. So, the gear that gets released – we only make so many of them. There might be 30 or 50 shirts or hats in a particular color, with a particular design. And once they’re gone, they’re gone. The vibe of our art is in that retro pop-art/vintage propaganda world, but with a spin, on it, that’s very unique and I try to call out the artisan process of printmaking where I can. We also work with other artists and musicians for our branding. We want to have that authenticity. We showcase these artists. And in a lot of our imagery, the people wearing our clothes are in the music industry, or they’re a tattoo artist or modern dancer.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I think I’m successful just because I can put my work out there. Making art is hard. Just the act of creating work that I feel is strong puts me over the finish line. I think I’m incredibly lucky to make a living as an artist. But, I don’t tie my idea of success to that. And I’m very mindful not to play the comparison game. Do not compare yourself to other people. Make the thing you’re supposed to make to the best of your ability. Do that. That is your success.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1055 West Bryn Mawr Ave Ste. F
- Website: www.soundoffdesign.com
- Email: bret.grafton@soundoffdesign.com
- Instagram: @soundoffdesign
- Facebook: @soundoffdesign
- Twitter: @soundoffdesign
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