Amy Gunther interview with Todd Bratrud

“Growing up in the middle of nowhere in a town called Crookston, Minnesota, there really isn’t much to do unless you’re into football, hunting, or throwing things off of the bridge. Designer/illustrator/artist Todd Bratrud wasn’t into football or hunting, and throwing things off of bridges got old after about 14 years, so he got into drawing and skateboarding as a way to entertain himself.



“Now he’s all grown up, and KCDC just got the opportunity to have Todd design our new shop T-shirt. It came out sick, and he was cool enough to let me interview him. You want to know about Todd Bratrud? Check the jump for our chat.”


-Amy






“Todd began his career working for Consolidated Skateboards, where he created iconic board graphics like the exploding mosquito; “Rainbows Don’t Mean Shit”, the “Good Luck” deck, and my favorite, the “Accident Series”. These days, Bratrud does art on a regular basis for Flip Skateboards, Volcom, The Skateboard MAG, enjoi, Nike SB (with whom he has a new sneaker coming out soon), Familia Skateboard Shop and he sort of runs Teenage Runaway Urethane and all kinds of odds and ends for Burlesque Design of North America. Oh yeah, and he just did our awesome new shop shirt, which you can buy in our online shop (psst… click over there on the top of this page!).



“I met Todd about five years ago through a fellow Minnesota-ite and mutual friend. He was nice enough to participate in one of KCDC’s first art shows in 2003 and again a few years later with Clint Peterson at our current location. Todd is one of my favorite artists and I’m honored that he has partnered with us to do a series of tees. I also got to quickly interview him to see what he’s up to these days.”



STATS: TODD BRATRUD



Full name: Todd Lexi Ann Bratrud


Stance: Upright.


Favorite Vert Trick: The Wicked Twister


Favorite Street Trick: The Reverser


Favorite Color: HOT PINK




Todd’s work at KCDC a few years back.



A: What would you like our readers to know about you?


T: I’m totally BADASS.



A: Oh great. What projects have you done that you are most proud of?


T: Proud? That’s a tough call, off the top of my dome I’m gonna say the set of sock puppets I did through Volcom.



A: Ha! Those are awesome. Anything cool that you are currently working on?


T: I’m working on art for a release party/art show in support of a new Nike SB dunk high that is coming out this month… BRAIN WRECK.



A: What brands have you worked with?


T: Volcom, Flip, the skateboard MAG, enjoi, Girl, Nike SB, the 7th Letter, Teenage Runaway, Familia skateboard shop… ive worked with a lot as a freelance “artist”, but those are some of the ones I’m most happy to have worked for and with.



A: You work in so many mediums, which do you like best?


T: I really like just a pen and paper, maybe a little watercolor. I love it all, screen printing, acrylic, digital, photography, its all rad, but I like best to just loosen up and draw without any finished product in mind.



A: How did you get into the skateboarding industry?


T: Pure luck.



A: Where do you live and why?


T: I live in the OC. Why? Good question… I try not to think about why I’m here, cus I don’t have a good answer and it depresses me that I don’t live in a cabin in the woods of northern MN… someday.



A: When’s your next visit to New York and more specifically to KCDC?


T: No plans, but the sooner the better!



A: Do you have any good New York stories?


T: I’m not much of a storyteller, or even much of a story rememberer for that matter. Every time I go to NY its just one big assed rad blur! That says a lot I think.



A: Any Thank Yous or anything else you’d like to add?


T: KCDC and the small hand full of LEGIT skateboard shops out there that keep it really real.