The Mask Theory
Artists and fellow graduates of southern California’s renowned ArtCenter College of Design Joseph Watson and Grady Williams team up after decades successfully working apart to visually represent what many of us feel as we cautiously navigate our way behind various veils through life. In the midst of a seemingly never-ending global pandemic, as we operate from separate spaces, many of us are feeling the weight of our situations and being left less than inspired. Watson and Williams, on the contrary, have found great inspiration in the circumstances with which we’ve been presented, drawing from the all-too-familiar reality of our daily routines and the literal face coverings we’ve been inclined to wear. Necessity is the mother of all invention and the need to mask up has led to another fruitful collaboration, speaking to the tortured souls within many of us and the shared fragility of the human condition.

Of the project, Watson says the following:
We wanted to create timely content for our IG live art sessions called “2 Sides of the Canvas.” This topic is based on the masks that we sometimes have to wear in life in order to achieve success. For example, both Grady and I grew up in the streets of Los Angeles where we beat the odds to become fortunate enough to attend one of the most prestigious art schools in the world: ArtCenter College of Design, Pasadena. While attending this school "masking" was necessary in order to stay focused. Many people mask in different ways. Some do it by accessorizing themselves with items that will align them to successful individuals. Others mask their persona because they feel that they fear letting the world know who they really are. All of these points inspired the collaborative mask illustration project that we call The Mask Theory. The whole idea was to let viewers tune in to watch Grady and me create a series of bizarre facial coverings that served different purposes. All of the individual mask illustrations will be composited onto a print and released in chart format. One of the main visual inspirations was barbershop posters where you can see a variety of hair styles. Viewers tuned in to watch us create and discuss how we relied on mask tactics, and in some cases still do till this day! 

The creation process are with digital mediums. This is because we wanted rapid progress to keep the viewers entertained. We plan to give clever names to each one of these compelling mask designs. We decided to give our fans the opportunity to name some of the mask designs that Grady and I will select.

Williams adds his perspective as well:
This project was birthed out of the collaboration skills we developed while we were in school. Our ability to riff of each other allows for the freedom to create without the feeling of being stifled. In many professional settings were we work with others, we have to work extremely hard to get our ideas integrated which led to this topic in addition to the sign of the times. It is rare to work alongside someone who is driven and passionate like Joe. He can take the smallest concept and make it real and you can’t help but be inspired. Any opportunity to work together is an absolute joy!