Tim Decker.

Because our Grafton branch is less than a quarter mile from the town of Cedarburg, which is well known for its artists and art festivals, the branch has hosted an Artist of the Month since opening eight years ago. “We host a large range of talent, from groups of special-needs students to a person who worked for companies like Disney, and all kinds of artists in between!” says district manager Cristen Baumann. “We have seen oil paintings, pastels, clay, photography, multimedia, and even digital art.”

For July, the branch’s Artist of the Month will be UW-Milwaukee’s Tim Decker. Tim has worked in animation for decades, on projects for television, movies, and video games, and for brands including Disney, The Simpsons, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Grafton teller Caroline Holzer, a former animation student of Tim’s, talked to him for Shorelines.

Tell us a little about the work you’re putting up in our gallery.
These are some fun paintings I created from sketches I’ve done over the past nine months. They are a bit whimsical, colorful, and fun! I try to create art that makes you smile.

What mediums do you work in?
I work a great deal in pen and ink for sketching. I love to paint in oils, but my patience is no longer compatible with oils. So I have been painting with acrylic the past few years, and of course, I teach digital art to college students.

Tim’s studio.

What shows or studios have you worked for?
I was fortunate to draw military cartoons in the Air Force. I have worked on The Simpsons, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Knowledge Adventure, Mark Kistler’s Imagination Station (an Emmy Award–winning artist who teaches kids and adults how to draw), and for Disney Interactive.

How did you get the opportunity to work for those shows and companies?
It was because of my persistence and a lot of luck!

What is it like to work with other artists at that level?
It’s always amazing to work with other artists! You learn a great deal about new techniques and different approaches, and other artists tend to generate more creative solutions together.

What’s one of the challenges you’ve had to deal with as an artist?
The social attitude that artists are always starving and are considered crazy! Besides that, the challenges are always life lessons.

What do you love most about the work you do?
I am driven to create these fun-loving, good-feeling pieces that make me embrace each day in the studio with a smile!

Tim’s work goes up at the Grafton branch tomorrow, and can be seen through July.