David Hoang of Xhatch

Posted by admin

October 7, 2009

When it comes to art, I’m awful. Really bad. I remember seeing drawings from when I was a kid and looking at them now, I might as well have not used my hands to draw them. But, thankfully, what I lack in artistic skillz (yes, I spelled it with a “z”), David Hoang more than makes up for.

To say David is a talented artist would be like calling Yao Ming slightly taller than average; an understatement of epic proportions. From his portraits of Guy Kawasaki to Monica Guzman to Chris Pirillo, David is an amazingly gifted artist who clearly has a passion for what he does. But besides art, another thing he loves is social media, and most recently, he’s decided to combine his two passions into one amazing project called Xhatch (cross hatch).

Please take a second to get to know David Hoang. You won’t regret it.

Thanks again, David!

**Note: This profile is a bit dated.

The Basics:

1. What is your name?
David Hoang

2. E-mail?
david@davidhoang.com

3. What is your occupation/company?
Visual Artist and Freelance Designer

4. What is the best part of your job?
I love the flexibility of my schedule. Sometimes I like to work for 20 hours straight and then take a day off. I get to work, play, eat, and sleep whenever I want to. In addition, it’s a job where I should probably like my boss… me! Awkward annual reviews in front of the mirror.

5. Originally from? When and how did you end up in the Greater Seattle area?
I grew up in Longview, WA. However, people in that area always say they are from the “Portland area,” kind of like how people from Everett might say they’re from Seattle. I moved to Seattle in 2006 after I graduated from college and plan to be here for a while. I have a lot of family up here, including 26 cousins.

6. How can people find you on the web?
Website (davidhoang.com); Blog (atDavid.com); Twitter (twitter.com/davidhoang)

Social Media:

7. What is it about social media that attracts you?
I like social media because it’s a great way to connect with people you otherwise would probably not meet. I’ve made good friends from Twitter, and at times, it can be a true community of care. Why wouldn’t you want to make the world smaller?

8. How do you utilize social media?
I use social media for storytelling and sharing—both personally and professionally.

9. What is one thing the mainstream population should know about social media?
Give it a chance! Don’t jump to a conclusion based on what you hear or think. Test drive before you buy (or sell).

10. If people follow you on Twitter, what can they expect?
You’ll get a lot of tweets about art, coffee, books, The Beastie Boys, and random thoughts I have. I don’t complain too much.

11. How would you describe the social media scene in Seattle?
It’s wonderful… I’d say unrivaled by most cities. It’s amazing to read about how people in Seattle are using social media, particularly for good things, such as charities or volunteering (see @ShaunaCausey).

12. Do you remember your social media “wow” moment?
Reading my e-mail with the message “Trent Reznor is following you on Twitter.” That “wow” moment made me realize that Twitter really humanizes and connects people; people who you thought would be improbable to connect with. We just need to remember there are real faces behind the tweets.

The whole experience working with Veronica De La Cruz, Jane’s Addiction, Tony Hawk, Nine Inch Nails, and many others was unreal. So many people got together to rally a for meaningful cause (#Eric). We couldn’t have done it without social media.

13. What is one piece of advice you give to new users of social media?
Put some effort into understanding. What you will get back from social media will amaze you, but you have to try to understand it and try it out.

14. Are you currently working on any projects which involve the use of social media?
I’m working on a couple of art projects. One is a photo project—“Lateral Worldview”—which is a collaboration between me and someone else I met on Twitter. I still continue to draw the hand-drawn avatars, too. In fact, I just finished one of Guy Kawasaki. I’m also working on a website called Xhatch (pronounced “crosshatch”), which is going to be an online resource for artists.

15. Are there any social media events or conferences in the future you would like to let people know about?
Two big things are happening on August 29. First, Natasha Wescoat (@natasha) and I will be painting live at Bedlam Coffee on 2^nd and Bell. That starts at 3pm. Everyone is welcome to bring materials to make art with: createliveseattle.com.

On the same day, I am launching Xhatch (@xhatch), an online resource for artists. I wanted to have a website where people can go and watch “how to” videos and read useful articles for them to get into art or become a better artists. Niki Torres and I have been working extremely hard on getting the content looking good before we go live: xhatch.com.

Just For Fun:

16. What are your hobbies?
I try to be as nomadic as possible. I like to jump on the bus and randomly go somewhere; see what develops. Besides drawing and painting, I like to read, mountain bike, drink a lot of coffee, and watch stand-up comedy. My favorite thing to do is to sit with people and have conversations. I also have a 19-pound cat, Wilson, who I like to hang out with.

17. Favorite vacation spot? Thing to do there?
I’d love to travel all over the world, but my favorite spot to re-visit is Southern California. I have a lot of family down there. I always like to go to Los Angeles and finish off the trip with a quick trip to Santa Barbara.

18. Favorite restaurant in Seattle?
Hands down, Green Leaf.

19. Favorite things to do in Seattle in the summer?
I think Seattle has the best summer nights ever. I like to spend the evenings in the city, when everyone is out and enjoying the weather.

20. Favorite quote?
“Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.” — Salvador Dali

21. Guilty pleasure?
Sometimes I watch “Keeping Up With The Kardashians.” Enough said!

22. Favorite actor/actress?
I love Al Pacino because, after “Scarface,” he plays “Al Pacino” basically in every movie. My mom raised us with a heavy dosage of Arnold Schwarzenegger, too: Terminator, Predator, Commando, etc. However, my favorite actor is probably Liam Neeson.

I used to be in love with Winona Ryder. I think she is a brilliant actress. My favorite actress is probably Audrey Tautou.

23. I really like it when…
You get in that “creativity mode” where everything in life seems to pause, and all you are focusing on is your work.

24. One day I would love to…
Find the perfect hooded sweatshirt. I love hoodies and like all the ones I have. However, I haven’t found my soul mate.

25. If I could meet anyone, alive or dead, I would want to meet…
I would love to meet and have conversations with Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs), James Cameron (Terminator 2), and Frank Miller (Sin City, 300). They are all huge influences on me, especially regarding narratives, production, and creativity.

I also love their stories of how they made it, like how Tarantino was couch surfing and working at the Manhattan Beach Video Archives before he wrote “True Romance.” Or, how James Cameron’s mother would send him coupons for “buy one, get one free” coupons for Big Macs at McDonald’s while he was trying to make it in the film industry. These stories inspire me to put my dreams into action and never to let go of them.

I also love the late George Carlin; one of the most funny and intelligent men who ever lived. I love his non-sequitur and observational humor.

I just named four people, LOL.

26. What would you like everyone to know about you?
I am so OCD when it comes to eating Skittles. I group the flavors and eat one at a time. However, with other candies like M&Ms, I just grab a handful and eat them. Don’t think less of me. I also think the Nerds Blizzard is one of the worst inventions ever made. Nerds? Good. Blizzards? Amazing. Nerds Blizzard? Beyond horrible!!!

I am also a man who isn’t afraid of Hello Kitty.