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.
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