Artist Q&A with Ten East Read

1). So. Since May 14th will be your first time at the Ballston A&C Market, tell us a little bit about Ten East Read. 
Ten East Read is a small, Arlington-based t-shirt company. We're committed to delivering funny and cool tees that make people smile, and that we'd want to wear ourselves. We're a three-person collaboration and each of us brings different interests to the table.

• Eric's interests include nature photography and robots.
• Sheridan's tend towards literature and puns.
• Christiann is a comic artist whose jokes range from technological to darkly adorable.

If you look at our website, our designs are divided into two categories: Sheridan and Eric mostly work in cahoots as the Bad Nanobot collaboration and Christiann's designs are primarily based on her awesome comic, Sticky Comics. Our t-shirts are screenprinted by hand on 100% cotton shirts, and we use durable, water-based inks because they feel softer and are better for the environment. Basically, we're into making products we love -- and we're happy when we find people who love them too!

2). You have so many clever (and funny!) tee shirt designs! My favorite is F. Scott Fitzgerald tee. (I mean, who wouldn’t?) Which design is your favorite? Any reason? 
Thank you! The I Want To F. Scott Fitzgerald tee is definitely a favorite. Since each design has a special place in our hearts, it's hard to pick just one. We have a lot of ideas in the works, including some products that have not yet been officially released, so some of those are already new favorites. We love the designs that make people laugh when they first look at them, like the F. Scott shirt or the Kindle Will Assimilate Your Books shirt. Also, the Sunset Tree tee is just so pretty, most of us have at least two of them for ourselves.  

3). Have you always been into designing wearable art, or is this something new for you?   
Each of us has always been into unique fashions in our own right. Christiann and Sheridan used to design and sew funky clothing as teenagers (they're twin sisters, by the way) and Eric got into vintage clothing around the same time. We're all into various arts and crafts as well, such as painting, papercraft, carpentry and drawing, and we love funny t-shirts. So, we thought it would be fun to screenprint our own designs. It turns out, it is!  

4). What three words would you use to describe your craft? 
Fun. Cute. Awesome.    


5). Where can we find your craft outside the Ballston Arts & Crafts Market? 
Our products can be found on our website and in our Etsy shop. We also sell Ten East Read merchandise in person at other art and craft festivals and Sticky Comics merchandise at comic conventions. We are members of The Soundry and our products are available at their boutique and also at their art festival, Art Carnage. Ten East Read products are also available at Christiann's Sticky Comics appearances, which are currently planned for ConnectiCon in July, Philly Alt Comic Con in August, Intervention Con in September and the New York Comic Con in October.

Random Bonus Question: Who would win in a fight--a yeti or a ninja panda? 
Definitely the yeti. A yeti is as quick as a ninja panda, but blends in better with snow. Obviously, this battle would be in a blizzard. (Well, or course.)