DELL Computers recently interviewed Tristan Eaton for the Dell Design Studio projects hes been working on.

Check it out!

Dell Design Studio Artist Interview: Tristan Eaton
CHRIS BYRD_MARCH.2.2009_3:37 PM
Tristan Eaton has been blowing up the global art scene for quite some time. In this first of a two-part series, Tristan Eaton of Thunderdog Studios shares background on his roots, his inspirations and what it has been like working with Dell in creating his beautiful artwork for our Dell Studio series of laptops.

CB: How long have you been creating art and where did you get your start?

TE: I’ve been making art all my life. When I was about 7, my parents took me to some art classes that really opened my eyes. From that point on, I knew it was something I could do. As a kid I was really productive. I always had an ambitious project that I was working on, like a mad scientist. Comics, characters, posters, murals in my bedroom, everything! My parents were probably pretty amused by it all. I started to get serious in Detroit around 1996 when I was 18. I started working for The Highway Press Silk-Screen shop and illustrating for Orbit Magazine. Around then I designed my first toy for Fisher Price as well. I loved doing freelance illustration work and pushed myself on everyone in the city! I ended up doing freelance projects for the local radio stations and nightclubs and local music groups. It worked out great because I would illustrate a poster then print it myself at the silk-screen shop. Those were the good old days.

CB: Having lived in London, Detroit and now New York City, how have those cities (if any) had an effect on your creativity in the work you do?

TE: Definitely. California gave me the graphic world of surf and skate culture, which has always been a big part of my life. From Powell Peralta to Santa Cruz, the skate companies used the slickest and most powerful graphics, all beautifully illustrated. London opened me up to Graffiti. I’d take a train and a bus to school every day from Chiswick to Kingston and soak in pieces on the trains and lay-ups all the way. My older brother and most of the local raggamuffins in West London got into Graff after skating and I started to really understand the culture. Then of course, there’s Detroit. Detroit was a free-for-all. You could do whatever you want, whenever you want in the urban decay of the city. That led to a lot of street art experimentation, but more importantly Detroit lead me to a few artistic heroes who helped me along in my career. Most notable: Mark Dancey, Glenn Barr and Tom Thewes.

CB: In visiting the Dell Studio during CES 2009, many people were amazed at your creativity with the laptops, murals, T-Shirts and toys that were on display. Each was a huge hit. What was your inspiration for the beautiful mural that was created onsite?

TE: To be honest, I had no planning in advance. I brought with me a series of large prints for wheat-pasting, but I knew they would only be for background. So, the first day I applied the wheat-paste graphics and painted over them to create a muted, abstract background allowing me to hand paint something on top. The next day, I showed up and started drawing. Over coffee that morning I imagined how fantastic it would be to paint religious figures as super-heroes. They are super-heroes to a certain extent, right? I felt there was some humor and irony in the idea, so I jumped right in! Two days later it was complete!

CB: In creating designs for Dell laptops, have you noticed any increased recognition of your work as a result?

TE: Yes! I noticed hundreds of blogs out there talking about the project, which is awesome. I’m very grateful.

CB: How does your approach to a piece change based on the canvass you are working on? In other words, do you approach a piece destined for a laptop cover differently than you would for another object, or a wall, or a traditional canvass?

TE: Yes, there’s a big difference. When designing for a product, you have to consider the appeal for someone buying the product. What works on a wall doesn’t always work on product. I try to keep that in mind most of the time, but really my focus is simply on making good art that I’m proud of. Especially art that feels like an honest and logical next step in the progress.

Dell Design Studio Artist Interview: Tristan Eaton Part II
CHRIS BYRD_MARCH.5.2009_3:11 PM
In part I of our interview, Tristan shared what influences as a youth helped spark his creativity in the artwork he designs. In part II of this series, we get his take on the future of art and technology, as well as what projects he has in store for the future.

CB: Do you get a bigger thrill to have someone recognize your work, or for them to get excited at the work itself?

TE: It’s all about the work. Hands down. I’ve never prescribed to a signature style so sometimes people don’t always recognize my work instantly, which I’m fine with. At exhibitions and events, I definitely get a thrill from talking to new-comers seeing my work for the first time. That’s the best.

CB: With the speed in which things progress these days, what do you see in the future in regards to combining art and technology?

TE: Wow, big question! I guess the coolest thing is how well you can integrate art into your everyday life right now. From cell phones to laptops and more, you can design yourself and your possessions in a really personal way. Your taste in art can represent your own personality in so many ways, I think people enjoy using it to identify themselves. Art on a laptop can be a flag for who you are and what you love. How cool is that?

CB: I understand Thunderdog Studios was started five years ago. Looking back, has the company grown and developed as you had originally intended?

TE: Not at all! I originally thought we’d be a giant creative agency doing huge work with a large team of people. We tried that and it didn’t work for us. As the years have gone by, I’ve learned a lot about myself and realized that I prefer the idea of being a small company doing big things. When you have too many people, you spend all of your time managing people and not enough time actually doing the work! I really love having a small, intimate team and being flexible for whatever comes our way. Right now, our focus is on taking our art into entertainment, but we still love making toys, producing art events and we still do a lot of commercial work. I’m really lucky that we’re able to function as a large company but actually exist as a small, close knit team.

Photo courtesy of Thunderdog Studios

CB: I actually grabbed one of my son’s 3D glasses to check out some of your 3D artwork on Thunderdogstudios.com. It’s very engaging. What is it like working in that medium and do you see yourself moving into 3D animation at some point?

TE: 3D art is the coolest thing in the world. I’ve had a love affair with 3D art for about 10 years now! We were actually lucky enough to animate some of my work in 3D for Comedy Central a couple of years ago. It worked really well!

CB: Some of your work seems to have a bit of a Hip-Hop flair within it, some pieces remind me of “Wild Style” and old school graffiti artists. All of which have a foundation in music. What type of music or which musicians do you listen to when you are in your creative mode?

TE: Ah, let’s see. I normally need big, chunky beats to keep me alive and aggressive when I’m doing the work and pulling all nighters. Dancehall reggae, electro and old school, hard-core hip hop does the trick. Barrington Levy, Bounty Killer, DJ Assault, Mr. De, Big Daddy Kane, Z-Trip, Egyptian Lover for example…

CB: You always seem to have a full plate and your hand in all sorts of new projects, is there anything on the horizon that your fans can look forward to?

TE: Of course! We’re actually working on an iPhone application right now, which is very exciting. Our next toy, Billy Bananas, is dropping this spring, and I have a couple of solo exhibitions coming up later in the year. Keep an eye on our blog for details!

So there you have it, big things popping from Tristan Eaton and Thunderdog Studios in the near future.

For even more information, the Dell Lounge “Canvas” series is about to kick off with a behind-the-scene look at Tristan as well. For a sneak peek, check episode 1 below:

And of course, Tristan’s laptops are still available HERE