Art Attack: Tim Karpinski

Tim Karpinski did the graphic for Danny Kass? first pro model. They were buddies when Danny went pro, Kass always liked his art, asked him to help, and that?s how Pinski got his foot in the door. Fast-forward a few years and now Pinski is the art director for Mervin Manufacturing and his work can be seen slashing all over mountains around the world. He?s happy, he?s doing what he loves and making a living at it. ?I am always creating, seven days a week, I wake up and work,? says Pinski. ?It?s what I love, so even though its ?work? its really play for me.?

What is an average day like for Tim Karpinski?

Wake up around noon ? I like staying up late and sleeping late ? feed cats, water garden, skateboard to coffee shop, skate to my gallery / design studio: Together Gallery and answer emails.  Work on whatever design project is going depending on the time of year, board graphics, ads, t-shirt graphics, talk on the phone with artists I?m working with on gnu projects, yummy food from new seasons, bike ride, go home and relax in my backyard for a while and stare up at the sky, play with the cats, then into my studio and paint till 2 or 3am. Listen to music the whole day thru. Read, sleep, dream, repeat.

Talk a little about where you are artistically at this point in your life.
Things are going really well right now, I?m very confident in my art making process and
It?s important to me to be true to myself in my work so I stopped holding back and I?ve really been pouring myself onto the paper and people have been connecting with the work better. And recently I?ve been into presenting my work proper and doing installations to go along with the work, kind of like bringing people into my world for a visit.

Talk a little about the show and what it is like juggling your fine art endeavors with your day-to-day design duties at Gnu.
Yes, I just finished up a new body of work for my first solo show here in Portland called: ?Helping, Lending, and Holding?. It is a juggling act for sure, time management and balance is key! I guess I just am always creating, 7 days a week, I wake up and work wheather it?s painting or on the computer and go to sleep, no TV or myspacing, I just use my time wisely, the past year I?ve had an art show every month And I have lined up shows pretty much every month for the next year, so I just always have to be painting, but its what I love so even though its ?work? its really play for me.

Living in Portland puts you at the epicenter of a thriving art scene. How is your art influenced (or not) by whom you are hanging with at any given moment?
Portland is great, and I?m blessed to be surrounded by friends who are all incredible artists so we all push each other there?s a lot of creative energy here. It?s beautiful here so when I get stressed out or need some inspiration I hop on my bike and cruise the streets or sit in the park with my sketchbook.

How have things changed since your first Danny Kass board graphic?
Its crazy to think back to then, I did my first graphic while I was still in college, that got my foot in the door at Gnu, and I actually got the art director position before I graduated, so I was going to school and working full time. it hasn?t stopped since then. I think Ive probably worked on over 50 graphics by now.  Gnu is a dream. My boss Pete Saari is great to work with and gives me a lot of creative freedom and encourages me to ?get weird.?

Where do you see the role of the artist in snowboarding? Where do you see the role of snowboard art in the larger art world?
I think art / design in the snowboard industry is thriving and driving our youth culture, I know the first art I saw that I liked was on snowboards and skateboards, many artists like myself have gotten into the larger art world through exposure on snowboard graphics. I hope some of the art I put on boards might stoke some little shredder out and inspired to draw or get into design.

Do you find it hard to be taken serious by the greater art community coming from a background in snowboarding?

No, it has helped for sure, but I feel I feel I have 2 different styles, gallery art / design. My gallery work I make for me and it?s very personal, the design stuff I make I have the consumer in mind.

You have been known as a bit of a partier. Do you think that that is an essential element to your art making process?
Ha, well I like to enjoy life in all aspects, including night life, social interaction is key for creation in my life weather it?s a party or seeing live music or sitting around with friends drawing. I enjoy meeting new people and getting into random situations, howling at the moon and watching the sun come up.

Finally, where can we check you out?
timothykarpinski.com, togethergallery.com, gnu.com
Or if your in Portland, come to Together Gallery, I?ll be here on my computer to greet you with a smile