Member Interview: Permission Was Granted



Today’s feature is three interviews for the price of one: Permission Was Granted is a trio of artists who have united under the flag of carving more creative time for themselves. We chatted about juggling personal and professional lives, Canadian athletes and, of course, movie posters.

Hi! Can you please introduce yourselves and your collective?

@Mutant101: To start, we are all parents who were simply looking for a way to create more art, free of deadlines, all while still keeping up with our busy home lives. So we checked with our better halves & our kids, and Permission Was Granted.

There are three of us. We connected over the years through Instagram. I’m Mutant 101®, an overly tall Canadian freelance digital & analog artist and creative director. I’ve been asked “How’s the weather up there?” far too many times. 

@PAIDesign: I’m Paul Ainsworth, aka Paidesign, a Father/Husband/Illustrator/Designer/Art Director working out of Toronto,Ontario.

@waxbones: I’m Cal, aka Waxbones, a digital artist based in Bristol, UK. I spent a decade designing maps and wayfinding for cities before deciding to pursue my art full-time as Waxbones.

How do you juggle your personal and professional work?

@Mutant101: In terms of juggling personal artwork, I create in the parking lots of gyms, skating rinks etc. I make art when the family is asleep, busy, or when permission is granted. When the inspiration hits, I record notes on my phone to review them later. I do sacrifice things, outside of my family, to create. Not because I have to. But because I love creating.

@PAIDesign: I do what needs to be done to keep the lights on. Prioritizing life before play is always a big challenge, but play is a huge factor in keeping that creative fire burning. If you need to just draw for like half an hour, pick up a guitar and play for a bit, it’s all helpful in keeping that creative bug alive in you. So yes, find time but don’t stress over it.

@waxbones: Professional work keeps the lights on so it always has to be a balance. Throw in family responsibilities and all of a sudden time is very limited. The best thing about a project like Permission Was Granted is that it can be whatever we want it to be, so it doesn’t ever feel like work. It’s fun and a great way to relax and unwind. If you have the passion for what you want to create then you’ll find a way to do it!

What is your connection to PosterSpy and the art of movie posters?

@Mutant101: Like any cinephile, I will say I just love a good movie poster. I especially love the teaser poster. As for PosterSpy, everyone knows the support Jack has given this community and we’re very grateful for him reaching out to talk to us about PWG.

@PAIDesign: I’ve been a poster artist for quite some time and always keep up to date with the talented folks that PosterSpy promote and work with. I have taken a leave from poster work for a while to concentrate on personal matters but recently, through chatting with friends, and specifically Mutant101 and Waxbones, I’ve gotten excited for it again.

@waxbones: Movie, TV, game posters are an area I’ve wanted to break into for a long time. Some of my biggest influences come from films like Pan’s Labyrinth, Alien, Star Wars, and their creature designs and art direction. I think my style is quite unique for the poster world so I really wanted to prove it could be applied effectively. PosterSpy has been a great source of inspiration and the community has responded so positively to my work

What is your favorite project you’ve done?

https://permissionwasgranted.com/shaunofthedead

https://permissionwasgranted.com/the-terminator

@Mutant101: Though I’m extremely proud of the work I have done for films, my favourite project I’ve done was a limited edition poster for the Terry Fox Foundation. For those that don’t know Terry Fox, he was a Canadian athlete who, after losing his right leg to cancer, started a cross-country run in 1980 to raise funds for cancer research. He was unable to finish, due to cancer invading his lungs. But his foundation carries on his Marathon Of Hope, and his mission to help the fight against cancer. He’s one of my heroes.

@PAIDesign: I approached the printing house Mad Duck Posters with a Masters of the Universe project I was working on in my spare time out of sheer fun and nostalgia, and their licensor was glad to put their stamp on my work!

@waxbones: I did a project a few years ago where my artworks were displayed all over the world, from Times Square to Mt. Everest, culminating in them being sent to the International Space Station. Recently I was involved in a project where I created a skateboard inspired by Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, which will be auctioned to raise money for a mental health charity which is very close to my heart.

LINKS

PERMISSION WAS GRANTED

https://www.instagram.com/permissionwasgranted

https://linktr.ee/permissionwasgranted

MUTANT 101®

https://www.instagram.com/mutant101

www.mutant101.com

https://bio.site/mutant101

PAIDESIGN 

https://www.instagram.com/paidesign

https://twitter.com/paidesign

Behance.net/paulainsworth

WAXBONES

Waxbones.xyz

https://instagram.com/WaxbonesSupply

https://x.comWaxbones

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