Tyson Estes

Biography

Estes was born in Hoquiam, Washington, and graduated from Eastern Washington University with a Filmic Art degree, after which he moved to Los Angeles to pursue work in film and television. After many successful endeavors as a producer and art department specialist, Estes decided that a more personal approach to art was needed, and traded his entertainment career for a paint brush and canvas.

Estes uses a wide range of materials in his art: acrylic on canvas and wood, paper materials, wood veneer, natural waxes, coffee grounds, sawdust, and everything in between. He draws inspiration from both nature’s quiet beauty, as well as the chaotic byproducts and imagery of industry. His process is defined by his meticulously layered pieces, which are often built, then deconstructed almost entirely to create the raw, industrial look for which he’s known. His creation space looks more like a construction site than a painting studio, and his tools range from fine sable brushes to blow torches. His modern deconstruction technique yields pieces that are rich in texture and vibrant color.

Estes finds inspiration from American Abstract Artists such as Jasper Johns, Jackson Pollock, Helen Frankenthaler, and Hans Hofmann, to name a few. He loves their innovative techniques and the unconventional materials they used. His continued passion for art, paired with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, keeps Estes busy learning new techniques, as he spends hours experimenting with new ways of manipulating the materials with which he is already familiar. Tyson lives in Southern California with his wife, Jess, where they enjoy hiking, traveling, gaming, and cat wrangling.