Meet Timber Charter

Today we’d like to introduce you to Timber Charter.

Timber, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My mother is an extremely talented mural artist, so art/creativity was always threaded through the fabric of my early childhood. When I was growing up, she would sometimes let me tag along with her on her projects, and I was always so captivated by the huge things she would paint and bring to life. I remember her trying to teach me the concept of shadows and light or about complementary and tertiary colors, but nothing really stuck with me. Regardless, it was clear that I had a natural ability.

During high school and college, I very much let art fall by the wayside to pursue sports and social life. I would always just keep my artist ability in my back pocket until I needed a sweet last minute gift for someone or some random flair on a chalkboard at one of the various coffee shops I worked at. The people around me just kind of started noticing and getting stoked on all of these random creative, odd jobs I would churn out. Around this same time, I took up screen printing classes at my local community college, which singlehandedly molded my current illustration style.

Because some of the various restrictions from beginner silk screening screens, I couldn’t shade and scribble like I usually would. While gaining a lot of inspiration from traditional tattoo and lino-block printing I maneuvered into an illustration style that was my own, so I ran with it. One evening after class and a large glass of wine I decided to paint a 10ft tall t-rex on my bedroom wall. After that night I realized that mural painting was something I very much wanted and could pursue.

Multiple T-rex murals later, a few runs of t-shirts, prints, and art shows I continue to fall in love with my artistic ability. There’s been a lot of doubt and learning yet even more wonderful people rooting for me and supporting me every step of the way in my endeavor to keep putting art into the world. I finally gained the courage to start taking in proper commission work for brands/companies, and it’s now grown into a part-time job for me that I couldn’t be happier about it.

Connecting with this gift that I can’t help but romanticize that my mom passed on to me, this truly divine energy that we are both able to tap into is something that in the throws of a mural or a big project, humbles me beyond belief. I picture her, being my age, being in my shoes, doing the same things, chasing our dreams.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My biggest struggle for a very long time was not taking myself seriously since I’m not a professionally or academically trained artist. I honestly just get in my own way, thinking that I am not capable or talented enough to complete a project.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I am an illustrator/mural artist teetering on the line of neo-traditional tattoo and whimsical vintage botanical illustration. Most of my illustrations play with the ideology of life and death, keeping a healthy sprinkling of grim reapers and skulls alongside delicate florals.

My most favorite projects include surfboards and walls with larger than life animals on them or live painting murals at trade shows.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I have lots of fun projects coming up that I’m not allowed to talk about yet. But in the meantime, I’m relaunching my website/web store early 2019! I will have TONS of tote bags, coffee mugs, pins, t-shirts, and sticker packs.

Contact Info:

• Website: timbercharter.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @timbercharter

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