If you’ve been by the shop this week, you’ve surely noticed Tyson Bodnarchuk’s crazy colorful work on our chalkboard. Wanting to get to know him a little more, we asked him a few questions:

Who is Tyson Bodnarchuk?

I am an artist from Winnipeg that moved here to Montreal 10 years ago. I work mainly in watercolurs and inks now but still use acrylic from time to time. I love old cartoons, comic books, horror films and punk music. I’ve always been a huge fan of monsters and the fantastical, so that’s usually the theme behind my work. I’m not really sure why but if I pick up a pen, my first instinct is to draw some monster eyes and go from there. October was always a favourite time of year as that’s when all the Halloween specials were on TV.

What are your main artistic influences?

A lot of my major artistic influences are from my childhood. Murice Sendak, Alex Toth, Jack Kirby, Jim Henson and then some current ones are Aya Kakeda, Garrett Van Winkle, Jordan Van Sewell and Tim Biskupp.

What’s the story behind your Vans board piece?

Well, these days I’m really into doing these flowing mass forms of creatures. I liked the idea of book ending the display with these waves of battling monsters.

I love your Star Wars themed work. What is your favorite character from that universe and why?

All the cantina creatures where big faves as well as Jabba The Hutt (just because he’s huge and gross). So, I would have to narrow it down to Greedo, Ponda Baba (Walrus Man), Momaw Nadon (Hammerhead) and Snaggletooth. But if I can only pick one it would be Greedo because I always like his colour pallette. Oh man, it just got nerdy in here!

Who shot first, Han Solo or Greedo?

Solo, of course.

You can catch up with Tyson and view more of his work here and here.