About the Artist and the Dream

Hello, my name is Tristen Graybill :)

Now that I am going in a new direction with my art, and reaching people that may not be my friend, old classmate or family member I thought this was the best time to introduce myself. 

I am an Alaskan grown Washingtonian. The other Alaskan transplants may understand, but for those of you who don't, I was born in Anchorage but from the age of 5 on I was in Washington. My parents used to tell people all the time, and still do, "You don't have to shovel the rain." Alaskans are a unique and amazing breed of people, but so are people from Washington ;)

 My hometown is a tiny one called Custer. I graduated from Ferndale High School (which is close to where I live now). If you take a map of the US and put your finger right where the Canadian border meets the ocean... whelp that's the spot. 

I am the youngest of 4 and the only girl. I practically spent my life from the ages of 5-14 in a hockey rink. I never fell in any specific category but I was in a lot of sports, band and art classes. I was also the younger sister to boys that were too good-looking/cool for their own good. So growing up was a lot of fun :)

I have a vast education in Interior Design (I decided to pursue a creative field), that wasn't surprising to too many people, what was surprising was that Small Town USA Girl decided to do that in London, England. So at the ripe age of 18 I packed my bags, kissed my parents and disappeared. 

London is not only one of the fashion capitals of the world, but it is the Interior Architecture capital of the world. I learned, I traveled, I now know what its like to club till 7 am and have a hangover that lasts for 4 days. At the ripe age of barely 21 I graduated and all together have an associates degree, a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design and  Bachelor of Arts degree in Interior Architecure. Somehow through all those good times, I was able to graduate cum laude, so I like to think I rocked university. London taught me a lot of things, London showed me a lots of things. I spent the majority of my time their in Camden Town, known for piercings, tattoos and punk music. I only came out with a piercings though ;) London showed me the brilliance of the street artist Banksy. Months would go buy and I never went further than a couple square miles, generally by foot. 

Then I moved back home. 

Life slowed down. Life got real. I went to university when world economies were booming, and I graduated when they crashed. So I went into sales. I lived a simpler life. Found myself in a relationship... a not good one. Ill just say he made me into a stronger person. During this relationship I also got the biggest, most life changing surprise. Pregnancy! I named this magnificant creature I was making after my favorite place and my favorite artist: Camden Banks. Are things starting to make sense? ;)

I became a single mom. Funds got tighter. Time got more sparse. I never felt like life ever lacked anything because I have Camden. One Christmas when funds were tight I decided to make everyone presents. My middle brother Tyler, hes always been a huge supporter of whatever I come up with, so I told him I wanted to paint him something. It took me almost a year to figure out exactly how to do that. That was the end of 2012. I made my first stencil art pieces. So if ever I become famous, he can say that his face was the first. Because he told me to make it of whatever I wanted to. I told him Ill make it of one of my favorite things - him :) 

There it is :) Are you surprised it wasnt of Camden?? Well..

He was the first one I made for myself :) Once I posted the ones I made fore Tyler, people started asking if  I would do one for them! So for $10 each (which was a lot of money to me) I started making them. By Christmas I had dozens of pieces done and the price rose to $20 each. I thought maybe after the holidays it would slow down...nope. It sped up. 

The past year has been so crazy! I found love. I found who I am an a person. I am doing what I love everyday which is being a parent. I am paying my bills doing something I am pumped to do. Stencil art is amazing because till that last stencil is sprayed you don't know what your going to get, then its instant! And Ill smile like a loon and post and text message and email. 

I have been evolving and adapting as an artist, and not only did the quality behind the pieces go up, but they themselves became larger. literally. In the past year I have done over 100 pieces the largest being 4'x5' (I made 5 of them) and the price has now gone to as much as $400 for a single piece (though I told him I would sweeten the deal). My art presence is now in a salon, an apartment community common area, peoples homes, and hopefully soon in people closets! Realisitically I cant offer my artwork any cheaper because of the time and energy it takes to make them and I dont really like the idea of just making prints, but I believe they will be fantastic on clothing. 

My main influences are pop culture, art, music and hockey culture. When I get the opportunity to do a non-commission piece I have a lot of fun. They end up being a little more popular than the commissioned pieces (but not always). I still get orders, not a week goes by that there isn't something to do, but now I am getting orders from people I have never met before. 

When I did my art, the thought of having my own name on it was surreal, so I branded them Camden Banksy Productions. I sign the front (With just my first name - Like Cher or Madonna!), but it has always been part of something greater. From Camden Banksy it evolved to Camden Banks and then to C.Banks. If I had a greater vision it would be to have other people contributing to the cause. If I could somehow create something bigger that also improves other peoples lives, that would be success. 

I do art as a passion. Lots of twenty something go to the bar or travel...I sit at home with my toddler, blast music and create things. 

The Secret (or at least FINALLY figuring it out)

Sitting on the couch watching my son chew on his red painted toenails (when did he start doing that? not the paint...he asked me for that) I am contemplating this journey so far [It could also be that during bathtime I was able to watch at least the intro to 'The Secret' on Netflix].

Since the last blog post I feel like I finally figured it out. How exactly did that realization come to me? Day by day. In the past week someone approached me willing to pay $400 for a piece ( a non-commission, my-idea type of piece), he was so excited about it actually that he liked and shared my page and even spread the word out further! (Ive gotten 15+ new followers from one person referring me). These people arent just people that know me directly, these are people that see my art, have no idea who I am, but want to see it pop up in their feeds.

Since creating an Instagram (@cbanksdream) and a Twitter (@cbanksinfo) Ive gotten an equal result. Facebook is so personal because of the initial nature of Facebook, so no matter what I post people are going to be supportive, which I love but it doesn't necessarily help me to adapt and change to find exactly what make it most successful (though if I read between the lines I can gauge their reactions). I am always going to be successful to my friends and family because they love ME. Twitter and Instagram are completely different. Different followers. More anonymous. So I have approached them different. With Instagram I am creating a consistent way I present my pieces, I'm developing my art as a style. I keep the titles really concise and use the perfect hashtags to identify my art to the right people. So far this is helping me identify what other people think of my art. Instagram makes it socially acceptable to view other peoples pictures (or snoop) so other people will have a higher chance of seeing them!

[My son just told me he wanted donuts and cookies...oh my goodness gracious I do too!! Two year olds have the best ideas. THOUGH, it doesnt chance the face that I dont have neither doughnuts or cookies :( .]

Twitter is a similar concept about the strangers and the snooping, but this is an easier way to connect to people that have a following themselves. If you follow people on twitter, you will find randoms following you too (...though they seem like fake accounts). Its almost a sense of false security. So I am approaching twitter in unique way. Insead of following and retweeting anything and everybody, I am using hashtags to get anywhere. I dont want to attract the fake followers. This has been amazing though. A piece I did of Steve Hanson from Slap Shot was favorited and retweeted by the REAL HANSON BROTHERS (the actors that played them actually.) Without Twitter I would never have known that feeling.

All these different outlets are helping me and giving me the support I need. The only thing that has changed is my dedication to the cause. I am setting goals with no timeframe. Things I need to do to move forward and I mentally cross it off when I am on to the next step. My initial goal was to create a C.Banks footprint. Then it was to use them. Truly use them. In doing those 2 things I have seen a certain degree of success! People are liking what they see, which generated Interest.

So the question I have kept asking myself is, if its still me behind the idea and my energies, why does THIS experience feel so different?

I realized because I am SHARING it. It may be my time and energy to create these pieces, but I am presenting them to the world and in doing so asking for peoples reactions. I am setting goals to present myself to the world. I am driving myself forward. Before I would always sit and wait because I wasnt comfortable sharing with the WORLD, I just needed to physically find the people who need me. I would not have feel anywhere near as positive today a year or even six months ago. I feel like my time is now.

Here I am writing a blog, to the only people that will click the links that I am positing on my pages.... could be no one...but it could be everyone :) For some reason, I think cataloging this experience is going to mean something one day. Even if it is just going to prove to my son, who his mother used to be. [Hi Cam, Youre sitting right next to me. With your beautiful blond mullethawk, pink tonails and fresh out of the bath smell. I love you sp ridiculously much :) You were/am my main inspiration - my muse].

From here on my goal is to create more pieces from my own ideas. Buy canvases and see what fills them :) Also to keep blogging on my off days. Keep Posting regularily. When the time comes to jump. Lets jump!

Thanks for reading :)


Tristen
Stencilling Extraordinaire

This is me cutting a stencil out today :)

Setting Goals and Inching Towards Them

If I were to be able to just dedicate 100% of my time to C.Banks, life would be a different place. Like most people I have commitments that fill my time: 3 days a week I'm in a design showroom, evenings like tonight Ill be going to a board meeting for a non-profit I am a part of, even the days I'm not in the showroom I have a 2 year old that realizes exactly where he lands in my priorities (right at the top!). Above all that I whip out the razor blade and slice stencils (generally at night when a certain toddler isn't near).

I consider myself lucky to have a showroom to go to a few days a week, and to have the perfect amount of orders to fill (when one piece goes out, one always seems to come in). I feel busy, yet I find myself parked in front of Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Reading people.com or dailymail.co.uk...

If I have a to-do list I will get it done. If that to-do list is reaching me closer to my goal, I will become more motivated and excited once every item is checked off!

FIRST THINGS FIRST: GOAL #1 - Establish a Presence Online

For the first time in over a year, I created a "branded" email. I always used my personal one, but since I am taking my art in a new direction there was no better time. This email will be the pinnacle of everything. With all the options of free email services out there (the goal is to keep costs down since they are coming out of my pocket) that was a feat in itself. I settled on using my icloud account! My iphone is a part of me, so what better way than to take advantage of what it has to offer. 

cbanksinfo@icloud.com

In my previous roles Ive always naturally gravitated towards marketing and networking positions. Sales is nice, but instead of cold calling, warm calling is so much nicer. Getting referrals, building connections, meeting new people and new businesses. Since C.Banks will have a larger presence online, instead of going to my local chambers and networking groups...I decided to make my presence online strong. The ideas for tshirts and hats are still floating around in my head, but that doesnt stop me from sharing my journey and my artwork till then. 

I made a twitter: @cbanksinfo (I followed local business and community members, and I have managed to attract 3 followers of my own!)

facebook.com/cbanksdream. My facebook page has always been established, at the very beginning I only wanted to "spam" the people that wanted to see my art and have attracted 144 people! Keep in mind I do all my orders from facebook, and I dont do anything to market or endorse it. I changed my cover art to align with my other media outlets. I posted the accounted I created and I will eventually change the name to the shorter version gradually. 

 and an instagram: @cbanksdream
Instagram is how I share a lot of my artwork, since it is a visual art. This is where I will share not only photos of my art, but apparel and images (I want to see selfies with people wearing my designs!)

These 3 plus my email address will keep me connected. All 3 have a slightly different following and they do work together. 

Now that I have these established, my goal is to make daily or weekly contributions. Before, with my Facebook, I always posted whenever I had a new piece of art to display. My next goal is to reserve my Monday and Wednesdays to C.Banks. Posting blog updates, tweeting, posting a picture of what I am working on (will always have art orders). This is a daily goal. One I will always have. 

Now for bring C.Banks into a whole new realm, my next goal is to come up with IDEAS. I was a first set of clothing (t-shirts and tanks), a couple hat ideas and some beanie ideas! Once I have these ideas, I can approach local t-shirt printers, silk screeners and embroiderers. I wanted a plan in place first. 

So hopefully the next time you hear from me, Ill have something more to show you!

Thank you for reading, 

Tristen 

cbanksinfo@icloud.com

 

Field of Dreams: the building blocks

I always find myself, when contemplating my dream, that I am approaching it 'Field if Dreams' style. If I build it, they will come. But slower...and with a lot more support and experience behind me. I am not making a baseball field from my corn field. I am changing my art from something I spraypaint on a canvas, to something that is more affordable (and wearable!) 

Like anything in life, MOTIVATION is key My main motivator was being approached by people who love my art or want to support me in my dream and not being able to afford my canvases, which time and materials now dictate were now no less than $80 each. Or people that love the artwork so much and buy it, but have yet to hang it up months later :) both of which I came up with a solution for. What it did was make me motivated to produce something cheaper, something people can love (everywhere they go) and when I threw the idea out there I my devoted Facebook fans. The clothing idea was a hit! 

So CamdenBanksy Productions turned into C.Banks Art & Apparel!!

This blog is my journey. 

Wish me luck!!

Tristen