Anthony Acock

What do you do and where do you do it?

I am the Senior Art Director at The Worlds Smallest Ad Agency.

What inspired you to choose this profession, and what makes you stay in it?

I’ve been drawing and painting obsessively since I was about 3. Around the age of 14, I got into graffiti, and the obsession grew exponentially, to the point of being unhealthy. Draw-paint-sleep, draw-paint-sleep, draw-paint-sleep. My grades and my relationships definitely suffered, but I regret nothing.

When it came time for college, I started out as a sociology major because I was wicked into Marxist theory, but eventually couldn’t hack it in the math department. I switched to art (after a sympathetic sociology teacher turned me onto the Constructivist movement). I’ve always detested ‘fine art’, so I knew I didn’t want to be a painter-painter. I couldn’t imagine doing oil paintings for rich people to hang in hotel lobbies… gross. By this point, graffiti had taught me a neurotic love of letterforms, and anonymity, so graphic design was obviously appealing. All the aspects of graffiti, none of the trouble. Done deal.

What is your single favorite piece in your portfolio?

I can’t imagine being able to pick one. There are some pieces I’m quite proud of, and there are some turds. My portfolio as a whole is what I’m most proud of I suppose. It showcases a large chunk of my life. The good, the bad, the embarrassing.

What/Where do you want to be in 10 years?

With my family, or on a bike, or ideally with my family, while riding bikes.

Who/What are your biggest influences?

Vandalism, handmade type, things that are broken. Music, music, music. The work my friends produce. My friends are absolutely fucking amazing, I am constantly humbled by their brilliance and honored to be able to associate with them. I’ve won the lottery in that department. I feel like I snuck onto the first class section on a plane where everyone is the world’s best — painter, writer, designer, thinker, musician, etc — yet somehow they let me tag along, and I’m just thrilled to be there.

What do you wish you did better?

Organize, not get frustrated, push back effectively.

Why Connecticut?

The economy, stupid. No, but really. I’m a west coast kid. California, Oregon, Washington. Unfortunately, the economy tanked there long ago, so I came out here for job in Manhattan, ended up in Connecticut. New Haven is amazing. Hartford is great, Bridgeport is great.

Who are the best creatives you’ve worked with?

Too many to mention. Andy Yasgar, John Lepak, Vaughn Fender, Joe Porto, Troy Monroe, Wojetek Pirog, Caitlin Shiller. I know I’m forgetting some, but these kids definitely come to mind.

What are your loves/passions outside of this field?

Skateboarding, bikes, vintage italian scooters, graffiti, music. The same dumb shit I’ve been doing daily since I was 14, but now I’m 31 and just can’t seem to grow out of them. The only thing in my life that’s changed in the last 16 years is the birth of my son Gabriel. He’s amazing, and he is my everything.

What do you know now that you didn’t know then?

That the only person/place/thing you should be loyal to, is your family. Everything else is a distant, distant second.