BT was born and brought up in Minnesota. At the age of 5, he wanted to grow up and become a cartoonist. And grew up to become not only a cartoonist but an illustrator and a self-publisher as well.
He moved to Portland, Oregon in 2005. He has done his graduation from the Pacific Northwest College of Art with a BFA degree in Illustration.
He shares his artwork with the world under the name - Big Time Illustration.
BT is known for making clever illustrations, prints, letters and typography. According to his website, "His work is heavy on typography, tongue-in-cheek humor, and with recurrent themes of "kind capitalism." It has also been described as "a modern take on a drug-crazed, 1930s brain" and "vaudeville awesome.""
Apart from illustrating and self-publishing, BT has also published books like B is for Beard, Bearfight and Fadge and he also co-runs the moustache wax company Man's Face Stuff (in case you have a moustache, you ought to check this out). He love biking and facial hair.
To know more about BT and his artwork, read on our exclusive interview with him.
Happy reading!
1. Hi BT, tell us something about yourself.
I've recently been trying to cut down on my coffee consumption, and I'm having a very hard time of it.
2. What inspired you to become an artist? Did you always have an artistic inclination?
I can remember as far back as age 5 and wanting to be a cartoonist when I grew up. Throughout the years, my specific artistic inclinations and obsessions have changed many times, but I have always remained focused on doing something creatively with my life.
3. What is the inspiration behind your illustrations? How do you plan on the subject for your illustration? Is the subject choice random?
Well, my commissioned work ideas come from the clients or art directors, of course. For my personal work, however, I get a lot of my inspiration from biking around or talking with people in coffeeshops. There are so many amazing things to be found, or snippets of strangers' conversations to overheard if you just take the time out to observe the world. I love the feeling of discovery of being in the right place at the right time to experience something that inspires you, and perhaps if I had taken a different route walking, or got stopped longer in traffic, that moment would be lost.
4. Tell us something about your books? What inspired you to write books? What's your most recent project - B is for Beard all about?
My book work stems directly from my earlier printmaking work. I find the idea of being able to make multiples of something very satisfying. It allows me to get my work into the hands (or onto the walls) of as many people as possible. B is for Beard is all about combining my love of making letters with one of my other great loves, facial hair.
5. You have been working since 2005, how has the journey been till date? What is the best compliment that you've received so far for your work?
5. You have been working since 2005, how has the journey been till date? What is the best compliment that you've received so far for your work?
Well, I've actually been working for myself, at least part time, since 1999, but in 2005 I moved to Portland, Oregon which is where I started doing the work that led me to where I am today. The best compliment, in my mind, is every time I get the chance to trade work with another artist whose work I admire. I have amassed a small collection of other artists' works solely through trading some of my own. As much as I like selling my work directly, I feel that trading plays an important role in strengthening bonds with a community of other artists.
6. Instead of selling your work on your own website you chose to sell your work through Etsy. Why not sell stuff on your own website itself as that would engage your audience much more?
I used to sell my work solely through my website, and have at times sold pieces through my site and Etsy. At some point a few years ago, I just felt like simplifying everything on my site, took the store functionality off of my site and moved completely to Etsy. My ability to get people to visit my site regularly has varied wildly over the years, but with millions of people searching Etsy every day, I stand a decent chance of someone new being turned onto my work and hopefully purchasing something as well.
7. How do you see the advent of eCommerce and now mCommerce? Share with us your experience as an etailer.
The ease of ordering anything immediately has made consumers so much more demanding. Ten years ago, it wasn't uncommon to wait even a week or two to receive something you ordered online. But now, so many people are used to ordering online from giant companies like Amazon or Netflix and being able to receive their order in a day or two. Because of that, many expect that same level of service no matter who they are ordering from. As frustrating as it is for me to have to respond to frequent emails questioning me as to why their print hasn't shipped within hours of being paid for, in the end, I think a more demanding consumer is a good thing. Once an artist puts in the effort to market their work online and sell it directly, whether on their website, or through sites like Etsy, they have become not just an artist, but also a business person, and as such should be able to keep on top of the customer service necessary to run that business successfully.
8. Apart from illustrating, you even co-run a moustache wax company called Man's Face Stuff. How do you manage time for both your personal website and your wax company?
Towards the end of each year, around mid-November, moustache wax sales increase so much due to winter holidays that I often need to give up on most personal work until January, but I have a pretty easy combined schedule the rest of the year. My business partner and I have specific days to work on Man's Face Stuff, so the rest of the week is available for whatever personal projects I have on my table.
9. What other artists do you look up to? If you could peek inside the studio/toolbox of any one other artist, whose would it be and why?
My work has been very focused on sign painting as of late. Sadly, a lot of the most inspirational artists for me are anonymous. They may have painted a sign 80 years ago that still clings to the side of a building, or on some bit of signage that is too high on a building or too far away for me to discern any signature. There are of course many modern day artists from whom I find inspiration as well, and luckily, through the wonders of the Internet, I do get to peer into their studios and toolboxes on a daily basis.
10. When not busy working, what other activities do you indulge in? What do you find most relaxing?
As mentioned, I spend a lot of time biking, and a lot of time in coffeeshops. It sounds strange to say, but I don't think I like relaxing very much. It's hard for me to not want to be making something.
11. What are your future plans as an artist?
I recently returned from a two-week art residency in Butte, Montana. Getting to collaborate with another artist, and explore the history and hidden corners of a new city was a life-changing adventure. I found myself turned on to new ways of working, and new ways of thinking about my work, and I would like to find more reasons to travel and work in the coming years.
12. What advice would you like to give to aspiring/budding artists?
Don't be afraid to be confident in your abilities, but always remember how much more you can still improve.
Thanks BT for taking out the time and doing this interview with us. We'd like to wish you the very best for the future.
Want to be featured on E-junkie? Contact us here.
Thanks BT for taking out the time and doing this interview with us. We'd like to wish you the very best for the future.
Want to be featured on E-junkie? Contact us here.
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