Los Angeles may not be a natural terrain for lumberjacks, but that doesn’t stop California’s Chad Eaton from weaving them into his work. The self-taught artist and skateboarder – who works under the playful moniker Timber! – has spent the best part of a decade dropping axe-wielding beardies, feathered Native American chiefs, and beer-glugging bears into an expansive body of black-and-white work. It’s one giant adventure – straight to the heart of blue-collar Americana – and it just keeps on going.
Now, having teamed up again with longtime collaborator Element, Timber! is bringing his characters together in one giant piece, a ‘Last Supper’-like bar scene that took 400 hours to complete and has inspired a denim collection and line of graphic tees.
Packed full of woodsy workers and little side stories – raccoons who steal ‘Boot Beer’, skeletal villains peering creepily through windows, and blue-collar workers who form fake bands – the intricate narrative is just a tiny insight into Timber!’s wild mind.
“I can’t seem to draw anything without making a story out of it,” smiles the bearded artist, whose four groups of characters have inspired a cut-n-sew collection of denim jackets and jeans. “There’s The Bygones, they’re skeletons; The Fallers, who are lumberjacks and workers; The Traders, who are the bosses – kinda like the villains; and the there’s The Keeper, who’s a Big Foot character.”
Summing up the collection is a drawing of handshake that’s as solid as they come. “That’s meant to represent the workmans’ bond,” says Chad. “Everything I do pretty much leads to the next thing – my next group of projects will probably have a lot of hints from this drawing – so if you want to watch the story continue, stay tuned.”
Element x Timber! Boot Beer Tour
Now you have the chance enter Timber!’s offbeat world of hard-drinking lumberjacks and beer-swilling blue-collar workers on the Boot Beer Tour. Celebrate the launch the Fall 2014 Element x Timber! capsule collection by dressing as a workman and becoming part of Timber’s bar scene. You could win your favourite Element x Timber! garment and a Polaroid camera from Impossible Project.
Head over to Element to find out more about the Boot Beer Tour in your city.
Gent – Brooklyn Shop – Thursday 25th of September – 18:30h – 20:30h
Milan – Killer Kiccen – September 26th – 19:00h – 12:00h
Lyon – Element Shop – October 1st – 18:30h – 21:00h
Paris – Element Shop – October 3rd – 19:00h – 21:00h
Paris – Bestreet Weeknd, Grande Halle de la Villette – October 4-5th – including Timber! live painting and photobooth action in collaboration with impossible project.
You might like
“Like skating an amphitheatre”: 50 years of the South Bank skatepark, in photos
Skate 50 — A new exhibition celebrates half a century of British skateboarding’s spiritual centre. Noah Petersons traces the Undercroft’s history and enduring presence as one of the world’s most iconic spots.
Written by: Noah Petersons
On Marrakech’s outskirts, a skatepark reimagines possibility for local youth
Tameslouht — Built on the grounds of the Fiers et Forts orphanage, a new spot is providing space for connection and purpose, while incubating top-class talent. Ellie Howard reports from its banks.
Written by: Ellie Howard
Venice Biennale will not award artists from Israel & Russia due to war crime accusations
Art Not Genocide — Both countries will still be allowed to exhibit work at their respective pavilions, but be excluded from judging considerations, as they have leaders facing arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court.
Written by: Noah Petersons
“I didn’t care if I got sacked”: Sleazenation’s Scott King in conversation with Radge’s Meg McWilliams
Radgenation — For our 20th Anniversary Issue, Huck’s editor Josh Jones sits down with the legendary art director and the founder of a new magazine from England’s northeast to talk about taking risks, crafting singular covers and disrupting the middle class dominance of the creative industries.
Written by: Josh Jones
Eating concrete with London Skate Mums
Parental steeze — Founded during the pandemic, the group has ballooned into a community, giving mothers of various ages and abilities space to pull tricks, fall and express themselves. Sydney Lobe meets them at the legendary Southbank Undercroft.
Written by: Sydney Lobe
Joe Bloom’s View From a Bridge
More stories, more human — The artist and creator of the vertical video generation’s most loved storytelling platform explains the process behind creating the show, and the importance of bucking trends.
Written by: Isaac Muk
