Teefury

4th up in the BRC series is Bortwein. Bortwein has won over at Threadless and DBH and has always created eyecatching, clever designs. This one is no exception. We may have seen the tie and collar shirt before but this is a clever twist that will have your coworkers smiling. Ditch the real tie and just wear this instead. Plus spill as much coffee on it as you like. Welcome Sir Bortwein.

First of all how did you enter the circle of awesome known as the Black Rock Collective?
I was in contact with Grayehound back when the original 6 were first doing the theme group submissions. I wanted to join in the fun of the themes so I emailed him about it. He kept me in mind for the next time they were going to set up a theme and when the group started to come together I was there. That later turned into the BRC thanks to the forum that Stinger set up.

Tell us a little bit about your ‘BRC series’ design.
Decaf Disaster depicts an average necktie that sweeps down and as it does a ghostly arm reaches out spilling a coffee cup out onto the lower part of the nice clean white shirt. If worn with a coat jacket the shirt could be seen as an average necktie but waiting underneath is the disaster that seems to always be the doom of a nice clean white shirt... that is Coffee.

Which BRC project has been the most interesting to you as an artist?
The monster mash poster design that we created for Threadless to me was very interesting. From start to finish it was great to see it go from sketch concept to the addition of everyone's monster. Then to see the extra large print being given to Threadless was very cool. I wish I could have been there in person when we gave it to them.

Who is your favorite member of the BRC? (Don’t be shy, I’ll be asking all the others too ;)
I think I'd have to say Mr. Rocks. He is a really great guy and extremely talented.

Which members of the BRC have you met?
Streetwise and mikemills because we all live in Austin TX.

Give us one piece of inside gossip on the BRC.
I don't really have any gossip.

Do the BRC have a secret handshake, if so what is it?
Nope, no hand shake.

What’s next for the BRC?
It could be anything and that is what makes the group so exciting.

Which member of the BRC would you most like to collab with?
All of them. I know it's not really an answer to the question but I think being able to work with any one of these talented artists is truly an honor. I have already had the chance to collab in the big group projects as well as Art Direct one of them. Currently I am collaborating with aeiko (funkrush.bigcartel.com/) on a project.

Hit us with a link.
homepage.mac.com/bortwein/

Black Rock Collective website