My name is Gustaf Fjelstrom, and this is all about botched. The story thus far:

I was born and raised here in the San Francisco Bay Area, and as far back as I can remember, I’ve been either: a) making pictures, or b) making noises, or c) trying to make both pictures and noises at the same time. It’s that third option that’s the trick, eh?

Between accordion lessons and drawing caricatures on the back of unfinished math tests, I made it somehow through elementary school and junior high. In High School I took up the bass, ruining any chance I had of becoming a world-champion accordionist (as if that were even on the table, or in fact a real distinction!).

Through my penchant for comic books and graphic novels, I stumbled into the art department at San Jose State, where studied illustration and graphic design under Alice Carter and Courtney Granner. I was fortunate enough to cap off my student experience with a mind-altering semester Barron Storey.

Now, by day I am the Associate Creative Director at Design Reactor, perpetrating graphic design, motion graphics, and general muck-racking for various digital communications. Online, offline, web, broadcast, DVD, CD …whatever. Though I’ve been working with the same core group of guys for the better part of ten years now, we’ve worked together for no less than five companies: CKS|Interactive, CKS|New Medai, CKS|Pictures, Reinvent/USWeb/CKS, marchFIRST, Apple, and ultimately, Design Reactor.

My crime-fighting alter-ego is that of a freelance artist /illustrator/ musician-type.

My illustrations have been know to annoy readers of publications such as Bass Player, Guitar Player, Keyboard, etc…, and there’s even a couple unfortunate books out there being judged by my covers; a favorite of mine being The Bagpiper’s Ghost, by Jane Yolen.

For the worse part of fifteen years now I was one third of Maximum Indifference, performing bass duties in our brand of Cinematic Instrumental Rock Music. MI has released two albums, has a third on the way, and has a bona-fide movie soundtrack to its name. Our sporadic live performances have included a couple Loud Music Symposiums, the odd progressive rock festival or showcase here or there, and opening sets for the likes of Kings X, Spock’s Beard, Dream Theatre, Steve Morse Band, Allan Holdsworth, etc.

Life now finds me married to the wonderful, beautiful, and talented Christine, the best thing that’s ever happened to me. We share our home with one incredibly mellow cat (or is it he shares his home with us?!).

I’m still trying to figure out how to make both noises and pictures… but I won’t be giving up either of the soon. If things like this be perpetually botched, that’s fine with me. It’s the journey that counts.

July 2006.