Tilteed

Artist Interview: BootsBoots

Curator’s Statement:

My mouth still hung open in shock as the cab sped away. In it was Boots, and the $100 I’d withdrawn from the ATM the night before. She thought it was cab money.

I’d begged and pleaded. “No, it’s not like that! We’re just busy, that’s all.” “It’s not you, it’s me! I just don’t love text. It doesn’t mean I don’t like your work.” No use. She was headstrong, that dame, and now she was out of my life forever. All because I didn’t print her again. I cursed myself for being so stupid. I could have made the time. How could I be so selfish?

It began to rain, and I went back inside. There were still some sketches strewn about in a rage. Some were incomplete. Some were of vacuums. Under all of these, I saw a strange man. A large head grinning at me. I grinned back. I knew what I had to do. I ran to the phone.

“Yes, Tilteed? I have a new design for you!” It felt so right. But there was still a nagging doubt. What if it was too little too late? I had to do something so awesome, so mind-bendingly cool, that there was no way it wouldn’t mend the rift between Boots and I. I made a decision quickly, steeled myself for the moment, and confidently spoke into the receiver:

“Print it on Stripes!”

Welcome back Boots! It’s been too long, but on the plus side, it means you’ve surely done some awesome things since. Wow us with your impressive feats!

Hi! Let’s see… this year I learned to tell the difference between Bill Pullman and Bill Paxton. I also learned what a “growler” is, and that you don’t throw them away even if someone leaves them lying out next to the recycling pile, or that person will get very angry with you. I’ve also been doing a lot of album artwork, which I really love to do. This is all much more impressive than my “feets” (which are only size 6.5).

This is yet another of your older pieces, but we at Tilteed do in fact like your newer work as well. Honest! How do you feel your art has changed since your earlier designs?

I think my newer stuff is much cleaner, although I do like to maintain a little bit of wonkiness in my artwork. If something’s purposefully less than perfect, it looks better to me. Imperfections in artwork really charm me.

Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions for 2011?

I picked a New Year’s resolution out of a hat this year. It said “grow corn.” This was a little disappointing considering one of the options was “vajazzle” (a variation of bedazzling, which you can probably figure out). I think my resolution might actually be to start using the word “vajazzle.” Like, “I’m so vajazzled about this Tilteed print!”

Many of your tees (“Exercise Hurts,” for example, or our “Three Step Plan”) revolve around instructions and diagrams. Other than your own pieces, is there anything you feel you’d benefit from having a shirt to give you guidance about?

I’ve always thought these baby care instructions were hilarious. I haven’t found them on a shirt though.

Three Step Plan

2010 was the year of Lady Gaga and Kanye West. What will 2011 be the year of?

Hopefully legwarmers. I’ve been waiting forever for them to come back in style.

I’ve heard there’s a print of this design out there. Where could we find it, and where should we go for more of your work in general?

bootsdraws.com (Look in the “store” section for the print. It doesn’t have the cool stripes that the t-shirt does, though)

In case it takes another 11 months until we see you again, would you like to leave the audience with any final thoughts to remember you by?

Wait, are you blowing me off? I can read between the lines, “Well, it’s been fun, hasn’t it? There’s cab fare on the nightstand. Wish you could stick around, Boots, but I have a REALLY busy day…”