We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eerie Eric Fargiorgio a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Eerie eric thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

First buck I made was when I was in the art institute of pgh . We were taking a test about a topic I had no interest in or saw anything constructive coming out of it and I was of course doodling instead and in 1994 there was a group called “ the bloodhound gang” in one of thier songs they mention a “ sprinkle genie” is what leaves behind pee on a toilet seat , so I drew what I thought that would look like . I mailed it onto thier fan club with my info . A week later I get a call left on my answering machine from the bloodhound gang asking if they can use it .. I remember my roommates roasting me and just going on ripping on me about this “ bloodhound gang “. Next thing i know it becomes the album cover of thier “ one fierce beer coaster “ and best selling album .which appears in rolling stone magazine , and mtv ! I got a check from them (although I agreed to only $600.00 bucks) got into free concerts all the full year no matter what band , and later that same summer I even saw one of my roomates at one of thier concerts as I was on the stage ! Lol

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a full time artist . Logo designs , art show / gallery’s pinup art , caricatures, or “ ericatures” a tattoo artist , cryptid vendor traveling with my art along the east coast album art rock flyers, cartoon art .. I draw every single day .. I carry around three sketchbooks at a time with a different theme for each . Nudie , cartoon , ideas , logo designs , cryptids .. ect .. I was diagnosed with j r a at 18months and was told the worst thing I could do is rely on my arthritic hands to make a living . Failure was not an option . I had a 13 page interview in tattoo international magazine , cryptid magazines , won best tattoo artist of erie as well as best illustrator of erie same year .

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Just keep being active especially on Instagram . Stories seem to help a lot .. show what you’re working on . Show your face .. show how versatile you are also

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Most rewarding is seeing my art on actual physical items , coffee mugs , shirts, bottles . In magazines is always a kick

Contact Info:

• Instagram: eerieeric444
• Facebook: Eric fargiorgio