“On The Puntrary”: Teo Zirinis’ 33 Illustrations Of Puns And Their Goofier Opposites (New Pics)

Given the chance, Bored Panda reached out to Teo for a quick interview. When asked about his inspiration, the artist shared, "My inspiration for a pun can come from pretty much anywhere: from random objects, animals, everyday interactions, or even from a phrase or word I might hear or read in an article or a book. I’ve made it a habit to try to write down at least a couple every day. Even if they are terrible and never make it past the brainstorming stage, it’s a fun creative exercise."

Although Teo couldn't recall a specific reaction from anyone in regard to his work, he emphasized the joy he feels knowing his art makes people happy: "I cannot recall a specific reaction, but knowing that an illustration of mine has put a smile on someone’s face will always be a priceless feeling."

Describing his creative process, the illustrator said, "I will start with a vector program for the initial drawing and then move to Photoshop for text and textures. A little random fact: if I’m working on the computer and not on the iPad, I prefer to use a mouse instead of a pencil and tablet."

When speaking to us, the artist also reflected on the challenges he has faced in his career, especially dealing with failure and rejection: "What has been challenging as an illustrator, especially in the earlier years but also sometimes still to this day, is to accept that failure and rejection are part of the creative journey. The best way to overcome and accept it is to keep creating, keep learning, and (as cheesy and cliché as it sounds) believe in yourself and trust the process."

Looking towards the future, Teo revealed his new source of inspiration as a parent: "As a new parent, I am rediscovering children’s picture books, and making some of my own is definitely something that I would like to explore in the very near future."