We actually were introduced to Joonbug through his work before we ever met him in person. It was his genius art work for the "Detroit's In The House (J Dilla Tribute)" show at Strangeways earlier this year that made us instant fans. Soon after we connected on various social media forums and see each other at different events around the city and you're inevitably drawn (pun intended) into a world of a guy who sees it through his own eyes. And that world is made of lines. Lines that he uses to express himself through his illustrations. Which really leaves you something to think about. With something as simple as lines and on that one page the world is his. "The line-work is what I love the most about drawing," says Joonbug. "Lines can create this feeling that you get from the weight in the different lines that you use."
We meet on Lower Greenville at Mudsmith to talk. In true Joonbug fashion he's there with his sketch book that he doodles in meticulously and an already finished cup of coffee. We talked about the fact that he was born in Jamaica and moved around Texas quite a bit before his freelance/graphic design work led him to settle in Dallas two years ago. This and obviously our love for his illustrations. "My style is witty," he says. "I had a friend suggest to me once that there is a piece of my personality within all of my characters and that's probably true."
While the graphic design work keeps the lights on, his passion and focus lie in his clothing brand called Fresh Kaufee. The idea came to him while he was working at a McDonalds in Abeline. "Every morning everybody wanted fresh coffee. No matter if I had just made a pot two minutes earlier and offered it to them they wanted me to make a fresh pot that they could see was freshly made. It was just this perception of having a freshly brewed cup of coffee and then how that impacted them," says Joonbug. "They come in all groggy but once they have that first cup they get that kick, they're chipper and ready for the day. It hit me that that's how I wanted my designs to make people feel. I wanted to wake people up and inspire them to pursue their dreams and passions."
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He even took it a step further with his brand by impacting his customers on as many sensory levels as he could with his product. "Yeah, the shirts smell like coffee," he laughs. They even come in a coffee ground bag with their own packet of cream and sugar. Genius! He plans to not just limit his clothing line to t-shirts but to expand it to even incorporating a premium brand down the line. He tells us that he is currently at work on some new hoodies and a staple collection of favorites while pursuing his Master's Degree in Fashion Merchandise at The Academy of Arts in San Francisco. Our conversation switches to our fare city. "There was a time when I felt like I didn't fit in here. I was thinking of moving to Austin where I might find more like minded individuals but then I began to venture out a little more," he says. "I would go out in to Oak Cliff and Uptown and Bishop Arts and various different events and in my two years of being here I have seen a steady progression. Dallas is definitely In Transit."
It's good to know the he stayed and that we have Joonbug right here in Dallas to serve us Fresh Kaufee when we need it.
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