A family-owned cinema meant that Scott was constantly immersed in film, so when the golden age of movie cars rolled onto reel with favourites like KITT and the DeLorean, his love for the automobile was kick-started along with it. Now attacking the Canadian wonderland with his appropriately named "Blizzard" Focus ST, his long career in design and continued enthusiasm is vividly reflected with designs like "Class Clown", "Greetings From Italy II", and "Symbiotic".

Scott hit pause to answer a few questions:

How did your interest in cars start?

I would say my car passion started with a combination of my brother, Hot wheels and movies/TV. My older brother was always tinkering on his cars. Looking back, they may not have been the most desirable cars, but as a young kid I thought they were cool. With my Hot Wheels, I played with them gently, always trying not to chip the paint. My love of die-casts probably influenced my taste in customizing cars. The late 70’s and 80’s were prime for movie/TV cars and I took all of them in. The General Lee, KITT, The DeLorean and Bond's DB5 were some of my favourites.

How does your interest show itself?

I attend local ST car meets, chat on ST forums, and generally try and learn as much about my car as possible. I will watch pretty much anything car related such as Top Gear/Grand Tour, lots of Discovery car shows, and movies. Flipping through channels on TV, I'll always stop to watch movies like Bullit, Vanishing Point, Gone in 60 Seconds (both versions) or any other classic car movie. I’m also obsessed with dash cam videos, they are both funny and terrifying at the same time.

What is at the top of your automotive bucket list?

Some of the items on the bucket list are driving on Route 66, down the West Coast along the Pacific Highway, and attend a 24 Hours of LeMans, F1 British Grand Prix, or any BTCC race.

What's in your driveway, and what makes it special?

Currently I own a 2014 Ford Focus ST, aka "Blizzard". The mod list includes custom powder-coated wheels, vinyl stripes, coilovers, intake, rear motor mount, BOV, customized interior, and various aero bits. I received a top 3 finish a couple of times at the All Ford Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania for my Focus which was a pretty proud moment.

What was your first car? Any sort of brand loyalty?

I learned to drive in a Nissan so my first few vehicles were all Nissan’s. First was a 1988 Hardbody then a 1991 240SX.

 

That being said, it was my 1994 Mustang GT that turned me into a blue oval fan.

What is your dream car?

I like having something a little different. I’m a big fan of restomods: old school looks with modern reliability. I prefer smaller cars, so something like a Mk1 Ford Escort with a new 2.3L Ecoboost engine would be awesome. Even though I am a Ford fan, I have always been drawn to the 1977 Trans Am - Smokey and the Bandit style -  as I have watched that movie countless times.

What do you do besides designing awesome shirts?

I have been working as a graphic designer for the past 20+ years working on creative for major national brands. I started in a print shop right out of college where I learned a lot about the production side of the industry to compliment the creative side. I have always been a bit of a jack-of-all-trade pitching in where needed, from original creative to print production. Whatever lands on my desk, I’m doing it.

What are some of your non-car hobbies?

My favourite thing is going to the movies. My father ran a movie theatre while I was growing up, so the movies have always been part of my life. Some of my favourites are from the 80’s, and I am trying to pass this love down to my daughter. I will show her movies from the 80’s as a sort of “education” to 80’s pop culture and for the most part, she’s into it.

Outside of the movie theatre, I like to hike, watch baseball, and try new recipes in the kitchen.

What have the funds from blipshift helped you accomplish?

They've helped fund a lot of traveling around the world, expand my already large Lego collection (only vehicles), car parts for Blizzard, and other adult responsibilities.

 

What influences you as a designer?

I am influenced greatly by other designers, especially ones who have found a style that defines them. Some of the blipshift artists that I recognize for this are Michael Castiglione and Dino Pros. I personally haven’t found that one style, as my designs style are influenced by the subject matter, be it a bit whimsical take or more traditional illustration. I usually start my ideas with a title and then illustrate to tell the story to go with it. Funny enough, a lot of my ideas come to me while driving. I see an unusual ride, something cool on a car, or a funny bumper sticker and that will spark an idea.

I also work with a great group of people. I am always bouncing ideas off of them; my creative director, John is my go to sounding board for ideas. He is both creative and a car guy, the perfect combination. My partner Vanessa is my biggest supporter and fan, she helps me think through shirt ideas and she gets even more excited than me when one of my designs is chosen to go to print.

What's your favorite blipshift shirt?

The first shirt I purchased from blipshift was “Moar Power III” and it's still my go-to shirt for car shows. I also wear “All Charged Up” quite a bit. I own a few of Michael Castiglione's shirts mainly because of his illustration style. For me, sometimes the style will get me to add a design to my cart over the subject alone.

 

Any advice for fellow artists? How did you find the process overall?

I have had a very positive experience with the blipshift process. What I would say to other artists is to write down your ideas as soon as you can, and keep submitting new concepts and designs. Not all are winners and some need a bit of tweaking before they are ready for print, but the team at blipshift are great at helping you through the whole process.

Thanks Scott for your time and all the tee-touting awesomeness. Apex Everything!