Featured Seller: Mark Catley Design

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Christchurch graphic designer Mark Catley is into colours (and that’s including black and white). His designs are in part influenced by the city around him, drawing inspiration from the shapes and patterns of the post-quake urban landscape. Having worked under the name Trash Design for the last year, Mark is now taking an eponymous approach to his brand. So in the words of the man himself, it’s goodbye to Trash Design and HELLOOOO to Mark Catley Design!

Multi-coloured Triangles Cushion Cover by Mark Catley

What do you make?

I am a graphic artist who at the moment produces art prints, Giclée prints, cushion covers, and t-shirts. I am also trying my hand at magazine cuttings, street art and more 3D tactile works of art. At some point hoping to expand into other areas such as textiles and wallpaper. That would be neat!

How did you get into your craft?

By chance really. I have always been interested in art and design, mainly from CD, record and book covers, but never really studied art of any form. I have just worked in various jobs in music stores and then insurance over the years. Not really doing much but always wanting more…and then the September earthquake hit and I thought “f#*k this! What am I doing with my life!”. It was then I decided to take the plunge and study as a mature student in Graphic Design.

Mark in his studio

The February earthquake slowed everything down and I lost my father. But I continued to study after both of these setbacks to give me some stability and also to make my father proud. At the end of the course I applied for a few jobs, but never really wanted any of them. I realised I didn’t want to work for anyone else, but just myself. So started to make different things for myself and thankfully others seem to like them too!

I do find that everything is a bit bland nowadays. Where has all the colour gone? Enough of the black NZ! We need some colour to brighten this place up! But come to think of it half of my work is just black and white…haha…so maybe minimal B&W is okay? Yes?

Do you have formal training or qualifications in your craft?

In 2012 I finished my Diploma in Graphic Design at the Design and Arts College of New Zealand, but a lot of what I am doing now is more self taught. Nothing beats just sitting around and giving something a go.

 
galleryYour favourite materials, tools and processes?

Materials: My Mac, notebook and ink pens.
Processes: Put on a record, and just play. I try to work around any mistakes that occur. Sometimes they tend to lend themselves to some beautiful work.

Is there a philosophy behind your work?

To create something truly beautiful. Whether it’s with an abundance of colours in geometric patterns or just a minimal black and white sketch.

What inspires you?

I often find it’s the little things that inspire me the most. Walking with my partner (Hannah Payne of Locket fame) and noticing the shapes and patterns in this cracked, broken city of ours. The patterns and shapes linger around in my head and at some point they surface again and then I need to get them out onto paper or into the Mac.

Nature, music, other art, creative people, film and my family all inspire me. Anyone with a passion also spurs me on. The other crafters on Felt always blow my mind!
So much talent exists in our part of the world! We need to all come together and I don’t know…knit for a good cause or something…(someone hums “Imagine” in the background). Haha. But it’s true!

Hannah also really inspires me. She is so talented and always making cool things. We would like work together on a project at some point.

One last thing that really drives me forward is the memory of my late father. I often think whether he would have liked the latest thing I was working on. I have also made a couple of art projects in his honour. I wish he was around to see what I was doing and would like to think he would have been proud of me.

Hexagon Coloured #1 Limited Edition Print by Mark Catley

Describe your workspace:

A happy chaos. It will look like a mess to most people…but I know where things are…most of the time.

Five words that describe your mind:

Childlike, imaginative, abstract, creative, musical.

Your favourite feedback from a customer:

My last feedback from a lady in Australia was great, “Very happy with trade. Beautiful piece of work, can’t wait to frame it!”. Always nice to get feedback like that! I also remember once someone commented on my handwriting…as in it was good. My writing is terrible!!

What are you currently listening to?

I have been playing a lot of albums designed by Peter Saville…as in Peter Saville designed the artwork. Joy Division, New Order, Suede, Pulp, etc. I have been getting ready for my next show on Vintage Cuts. A radio show on Christchurch’s RDU 98.5FM. That’s right folks…you can hear my golden voice on the wireless…haha.

Recommend an album:

Recommend an album? Oh I hate this question. I have thousands of CDs and records, so it feels like some sort of loaded question. What sort of mood are you in? Blue? Green? Red? How about some night time dream pop? Give the latest Wild Nothing or Steve Mason a spin.

Mark Catley

Your favourite childhood book?

The Five Chinese Brothers…a very un-PC book nowadays. Imagine someone writing a children’s story based on someone getting executed!

What are you reading now?

I am re-reading Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. Being a romantic at heart I cannot get enough of all the descriptions of love throughout this novel.

Also just flicking through all my magazines. My favourites being IDN, Room Magazine, and the Computer Arts Specials. I have also started on some magazine cutting art. So always on the lookout for old magazines I can cut up and turn into something new.

Stormtrooper street are by Mark Catley Stormtrooper street art by Mark Catley

Your hero/heroine:

Peter Saville. Graphic designer from the UK.

A favourite quote:

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” – Albert Einstein. Tell me about it!

Do you have any pets?

My girlfriend came with a dog, Uno. She eats all the chocolate. Wrapper and all. The dog that is.

What was the last handmade item you bought?

I can’t remember the last handmade item I bought, but I was given an amazing bug from the Butterfly guy from Hannah. It’s bugs and butterflies all pinned and mounted in glass cases. Way cool. Takes me back to visiting the museum as a kid with my family on wet Sundays.

Win a Sherlock Sparrow cushion cover from Mark Catley Design!

Mark has one of his fabulous Sherlock Sparrow cushion covers, guaranteed to brighten any room, to give away to one lucky reader. Leave a comment below and you’ll be in to win! The draw will be made on Friday 21 June and is open to New Zealand residents only. Check out the rest of Mark’s work in his Felt shop, and if you’re in Christchurch, pop along and say howdy to Mark at The Craft Collective’s Dead of Winter Market at CPIT on Saturday 29 June.

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53 thoughts on “Featured Seller: Mark Catley Design”

  2. absolutely love love love that cushion! I would be honoured to have it on my couch :). Keep up the inspiring work!

  5. Mark – I should be more like you and stop being so practical and do something creative. I’m glad you had an epiphany after the quakes. You’re work is awesome and hope that you can make it big out there with it! Melissa 🙂 ps – I think I’d quite like your sparrow cushion on my retro chair I’m going to get soon he he

  7. Love the stormtrooper street art and little monsters print. Your Sherlock sparrow is so cute and imaginative. You have such a diveristy to your work….stunning. I’m sure your late Dad will know and is surely proud.

  8. Honest and inspiring interview, and I love the designs, so talented, and right about colour, there isn’t enough and Mark has done them so beautifully. Will be watching with interest. Good luck. jo

  18. Every now and then, a person pops into your design life and re-inspires you to take on the world and bring colour into our predominantly drab beige and black wardrobes.
    Thank Mark for bringing that bit of childhood and “pop” back into wardrobes and the home. Love love your cushions. Knowing that you are mostly self-taught not only makes me angry that it’s not me doing what you do :), but also inspires me to do a damn site better than what I am currently doing.
    It’s hard to make a buck doing what one loves to do, and I get what you say about not wanting to work for others. It’s a balance of not compromising yourself too much, but also making enough funds to bring home a loaf of bread.
    Thanks for the inspiration and for Illuminating the world of designing from home for the love of it. 🙂

  22. I was instantly curious about your other work after seeing the gorgeous bright colours that featured when i logged onto Felt. Being huge fans of the TV series ‘Elementary”, i couldn’t believe my eyes when i saw your Sherlock Sparrow….. can’t wait for Dr Watson. Love all your work…..so have not just put in an order for Sherlock sparrow, but 3 others as well! Look forward to seeing more of your work!

  24. Hi Mark, wow, great work! I really appreciate your geometric designs and love the use of colour & patterns. I too was a mature student of Design, now making my own way in the world, its a fun/challenging journey 🙂
    So sorry about your father, I’m sure he’d be proud of you!
    Well done & best wishes for the future.
    -Céire

  27. Love your sparrow cushion cover Mark. All puffed up and warm for winter. we love the sparrows around our home and have built them nesting boxes to live in our eves. one on our sofa would be great

  30. Wow!!! Love the sparrow. When you described your art to me today that was not what I was expecting. Really cool stuff :-). Such kind words about Hannah inspiring you. I think that the inspiration is mutual.

  33. Your Dad was proud of you always and he would love your new creative artwork, Mark. Your ideas and designs are amazing! …..x Mum

  38. An inspiring story where one followed his heart and now spends his days doing what he loves. I have many friends in graphics design but most of their work can be considered mainstream. Mark’s is unique and I wholeheartedly think it’s brilliant for Christchurch. Our broken city needs more colour but as Rikki said, the younger residents still crave the unmistakenly boring combo of dark jeans and black puffer jackets. Go figure.

  39. Excellent work by a local artist. Would love to see more street art like this around Central Christchurch.

    I agree about the new for New Zealand to be more colourful. It’s all dark jeans and puffy black jackets at the moment.

  41. Pingback: Latest Q&A with myself… | trashdesign

  42. Hi Mark. I’ve seen your work around a bit and I’m loving the big limited edition prints – they’re awesome. As Gill says above… Looking forward to seeing your next designs.

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