The latest conversation in the Electric Theater, Slipknot’s clown connects with renowned illustrator and printmaker, Tim Doyle.

Naturally, the discussion began with an exchange about art and influence. Clown recalled his mother’s extensive collection of sci-fi books and Doyle got specific with a Frank Miller-written, Geof Darrow-illustrated comic book called Hard Boiled.

Doyle would go on to, very eloquently explain that as it pertains to influence, “we are always standing on the shoulders of the giants that came before us.” In examining early influence the guys would come to the conclusion that while no one wants to be unoriginal, everything, at least in some small part, is derived from a predecessor.

In keeping with the concept of originality, Doyle and clown dug even deeper into the idea of being fearless with their art. “You can’t use a word like scared and have the title of art director,” explained clown. The consensus between the two creatives was that the best art has a balance of vision and spine.

Midway through the discussion, Doyle and clown would explore the aesthetic of Slipknot and how clown has been at the helm of that from the very beginning. Going back to the debut album cover, clown would share with Doyle that he has kept all of the submitted artwork from people outside of the band’s inner circle (that obviously didn’t make the cut) as a reminder of how important the collective vision and integrity was to Slipknot.

The crux of the conversation hinged on the shared passion of art. As career professionals that have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of creative originality, both Doyle and clown are fired up about the culture and function both as fans and contributors.

capping the conversation Doyle would explain,"I love being able to explore a world created in someone else's headspace." The statement managed to summarize the common ground the guys would cultivate over the course of their exchange.

Listen to the complete episode of The Electric Theater with Tim Doyle below.