Introducing the Paul Tooth x Critical Slide capsule – a collision of art, surf, and street. Sydney-based artist Paul Tooth brings his bold linework and twisted humour to a limited run of tees, trunks, and a resort shirt. Each piece is a canvas, loaded with character and cut for good times. From beach to back alley, it’s all killer no filler. We caught up with Paul Tooth to get an understanding of how his mind ticks. To set the soundtrack, Paul has pulled together a playlist. Hit here for a listen.
Your work looks like the lovechild of a fever dream and a well-executed plan. What’s the secret sauce—chaos or control?
The secret sauce is a mystery, but it’s mostly chaos and throwing ideas onto a page until something feels right. Exploring all the terrible, weird and wonderful ideas generally leads to something unique.
You’re given an unlimited budget, a blank wall in any city, and zero creative restrictions. What do you paint, and which city?
Zero creative restrictions is mentally crippling! Not exactly a mural but destination branding of an abandoned city like the Chernobyl exclusion zone would be wild.
They say design is just problem-solving with better outfits. What’s the most absurd or unexpected problem you’ve had to solve through your work?
I would say branding a psilocybin mushrooms research company. Convincing corporate investors that the business was not about going full Mario mode in the kaleidoscope kingdom, while still retaining an edge graphically, and not looking clinical. Did I solve that problem? Who knows.
You’ve dabbled in branding, murals, illustration—where do you feel most at home, and where do you feel like an imposter?
Imposter syndrome still pops its head up now and then. I feel most at home when working on branding projects that have a large artwork component that’s a little off centre and I am the target market for the business - usually restaurants, bars, products and select fashion.
What’s the worst piece of creative advice you’ve ever received? And what’s the best?
Hands down the worst was in my first design job with stereotypical art directors who swore and lived by ‘the grid’. Fuck the grid I say, who cares. Be loose and fun. Best advice was from those same art directors, which was to be considered with your craft, take it seriously, and learn the fundamentals before going rogue on your own.
Design trends come and go like bad haircuts. What’s one trend you’d like to see obliterated from existence?
Tribal tattoos, keppers, and most importantly Y2K graphics. Not to be too neg on that style, it can look cool depending on the application, but there is no way I would ever go back to what I was whipping up on Photoshop 6 in year 12 D&T. Well, honestly, I dabbled a little recently and felt ridiculous…
Music and design are strange bedfellows—both structured, both lawless. What kind of soundtrack fuels your best work? And possible to put together a 10 track playlist for us, something that’ll keep the toes tapping.
As I’m probably a little neuro-spicy, like a lot of creative people, I find electronic music is my go to. Subconscious zaps, bleeps and drums are best for me when working. That said, I grew up into hardcore bands, then went to raves in the late ‘90s/’00s at the disgust of my punk friends, so I dabble in both of those contradictory spaces.
If your playlist were a person, what kind of trouble would they get into?
Galactic trouble.
What’s one song on your playlist that people might not expect—but absolutely need to hear?
A weird electro remix of Django Django - Don't Touch That Dial (feat. Yuuko Sings). No idea what she’s saying, but the vibe is hypnotic.
What would you have etched as your epitaph?
“See you in the next sim.”
