POST YOUR TREEFORT PICS DIRECTLY TO OUR BLOG FROM THE FESTIVAL

Throughout the entire Treefort Music Fest we will be linking Instagram photos with the hashtag #thecityoftreefort directly to our blog homepage.  Use them smartphones to share Treefort from your point of view.  To get an idea of what we mean, check out our page right now and you'll see the images for #thecotboise

The C.O.T. Shop Restocked For Spring

Our online store, The C.O.T. Shop, has been restocked for spring, just in time for Treefort Music Fest.  We've got some rad new designs including our "Outline" tee and our "Oboise" tee.  Plus new colors in our most popular designs, the "Idahome" and "Skyline" tees.  The Idahome tee is also available in a super soft tri-blend women's tee in two really cool colors. New Idahome Onesies and baby tees.  Did we mention snapbacks are back?  Fitted is old newz, snappers are what's hot right now and we have some killer new colors.  We'll also be adding two new t-shirt designs this week.  Some of the original colors are available at The Record Exchange plus some others only available at Backcountry Pursuit.  

Click here to do some shopping

Photo of the Day

Location: near military reserve

Taken by: Streeter Johnson

Boise Skyline Tee, Treefort Style

Super stoked that the Treefort peeps gave us the go ahead to design an official Treefort Music Fest t-shirt. These puppies will be available at the mainstage merch tent all 3 days. Limited quantities.

C.O.T. Artist Profile of the Month - James Titus McKain

James Titus McKain is one of those artists who is a super cool dude that is also making some incredible art here in Boise. I got the opportunity to meet him at last month's First Thursday at The Crux and was able to chop it up a bit and even purchase a piece of his art for my own collection. I emailed James some questions so that we could get to know the artist behind the "Fish With Beards". I need to publicly thank James for being so damn patient with me as I delayed posting this over and over again. Cheers to you James! So check out his art, love it, and repeat. For the full James McKain blog experience please click here. 

1) How did you end up in Boise?

Born and raised here. But I left for a couple years while I was in the military. I came back here once I was done with that to get back on my feet. Then I decided to finish up my college degree at BSU which I just accomplished last semester.

2) Why stay here in Boise?

I think the art scene in Boise is growing pretty quickly right now. The support for the arts is rising and there are a lot of local opportunities to jump on board with. It’s also super easy to start your own thing and get other artists involved, which is always exciting.

I have considered leaving to pursue my art career somewhere else but right now I am just too excited about the networking connections I have been making and the opportunities I currently have. Also with the capability to connect with people all over the world, you can really base yourself just about anywhere you desire. I think it’s important to find a community you enjoy and right now the community I have is enjoyable.

3) When did you know you wanted to become an artist? What/who were your influences?

I knew after I got back from the military that I wanted to pursue my art career. For a while I was just spinning my gears trying to decide what to do and I took some non art related classes at BSU but nothing excited me. I was very interested in art as a kid and filled a lot of sketchbooks but once I got to college I realized it was the only thing that would make me happy. I was right, too, because now looking back I would not trade my college experience in the art department for any other.

When I first started my college career I was influenced by video game artists. I thought I was going to go into the concept art world but that changed for me pretty quickly. Now, I think what influences me the most are artists with a strong work ethic. It’s so easy to get discouraged and stop working. So when I discover an artist that displays a great work ethic I get excited and gain a ton of energy to work harder on my stuff. Peer pressure is a great thing sometimes. It can really motivate a person to work harder if they respond positively.

 4) The newest pieces feature fish with beards. What prompted that?

Fish have been popping up in my work a lot lately. They are a great catalyst for different types of metaphor. More simply though I just like drawing them! The beards happened because I have my own beard to tame and fish with facial hair just look cool. I was also inspired to make work that I could provide at a relatively low price but that is high quality. I was motivated to do that because business practice is also part of making art if you want it to support your lifestyle.

Click below for the rest of the interview and more art!

Street Fever - Passion Cycle (video)

Here is a totally radical new video from Louie Bash's (Shades, Blurred Vision) new side project "Street Fever."  My Subaru doesn't seem so cool anymore. 

From the vault

With winter coming to a close we thought we'd share this rough design we did awhile back. This is for all you still prayin' for snow.

2013 Payette Brewing Co. Beer Calendar

The best kind of calendar

The Wondrous Bughouse Arrives Tomorrow!

Youth Lagoon's sophomore album, The Wondrous Bughouse, comes out Tuesday 3/5.  You can listen to the album via NPR right here.

Artist Profile: Trevor Kamplain

Is every Trevor in Boise talented?  Probably not, but Trevor Powers (Youth Lagoon) is getting a run for his money from local collage artist and creator of beautiful sounds, Trevor Kamplain (Mozam).  We've snagged a few of our favorite works from Kamplain's Tumblr page.  They're way rad and you can probably guess which one we like best.

 See em all here