If you are familiar with the craft beer scene on the Sunshine Coast, or have ever had the pleasure of dropping into Blackflag Brewing Co after a cheeky surf in Coolum or Mooloolaba, chances are you’ve seen the sick work of Tammen Willmott.
From skeletons in the surf to mermaids, tides, pirates, and a snake sinking its fangs into an IPA, his illustrations give life to many of the cans, t-shirts, murals, and branding that make Blackflag stand out as one of the most charismatic breweries around.
Truly, his art is the kind of stuff you can’t help but gawk at, with a lot of it being influenced by the surf and skate culture of his childhood.
Surrounded by the beaches and bush that line the Central Coast of New South Wales, Tammen said he grew up the fun way – exploring rock caves while running around on 12 acres of farmland in a sleepy holiday town called Killcare.
“My mum and grandmother had a studio where we would all just create. I experimented with oils and watercolours, sculptures, drawing, painting, and any other wacky craft I could think up.
“I was hooked on surfing and hellbent on learning after I was given my first surfboard. The name of the board was long gone because it had been repaired so many times, but it was a home job – a broken, yellow, put-back-together single fin.
“My friends and I used to travel up and down the coast searching for waves in my mate’s red second-hand 1989 Mercedes Benz Sedan with all of our boards hanging out the boot.
“We had plenty of secret spots from the Central Coast all the way up to Newcastle, and would spend most weekends surfing anything and everything before we would just hang out in car parks eating, skating, and simply enjoying life.”
Tammen refers to surfing as the place where you both lose and find yourself, and said it has always been a big part of his life, even after he moved up to the Sunshine Coast.
“We used to surf crazy big point breaks, blown-out, weedy, wedgy corners, and stupid stormy closeout beaches with two inches of water. But these days, I can’t go past a nice and sunny two-foot left-hander mal wave by myself or with my kids.
“I love the joy of being in the water and teaching the kids how to surf with the sun on my back and the salt on my skin – just having fun and forgetting about the pressures of life for one more session.
“For me, it’s not so much about the perfect wave anymore. It’s about being in that flow state – close to nature and the energy that the water, wind, and sun hold.
“My favourite breaks in New South Wales are Killy wedge, Macs point,
Avoca point, and Pelicans, which is a bit of a secret. In Queensland, I love surfing the Kawana stretch, Point Cartwright, and Noosa as long as there’s no one, haha.”
For those as curious and nosy as we are when it comes to surfboards, Tammen currently rides a Bourton Shapes Mojo Pipedream 6’0” x 20 3/4” x 2 9/16” round tail with a cathedral channel from the nose to the mid rocker. He also has a 5’10” of the same kind and often nicks his daughter’s 7’0” for the smaller days.
Australian born of Swiss descent, we were delighted to hear that Tammen loves the cold and snow as much as we do, with snowboarding being one of his favourite things to do when he has the chance to visit the snowfields or the European Alps.
“It’s just another extension of surfing – you feel free and can take in the energy of the mountain. I also skated as a teenager, but I couldn’t keep going with the smashed shins and tailbones, haha.
“I loved the skate culture though, which drew me even more towards the art side of things. I was in awe of 80’s and 90’s skateboard and snowboard graphics and often wondered, ‘Who creates all this stuff?’.
“Santa Cruz, Jim Phillips, Ben Brown, Mambo, Quicksilver, and anything that was bright,
grungy, and had skulls were my go-to favourites. I started off creating free logos for people and just having an almost stupid obsession with designing cool graphics for brands and businesses.
“I have managed to pursue my hobby, make it into a career, and see my visions come true. Now, I design for clothing brands here in Australia and abroad. The Prodigy, The Wombats, and The Mad Hueys are just a few that I’m the most proud of.”
After being captivated by the sheer coolness of his life and career, it was quite a shock to hear that Tammen actually suffered a devastating stroke 15 years ago. In addition to his doctors listing out a whole lot of things about his body that needed fixing, they also said he wouldn’t be able to surf. or snowboard again, as he couldn’t walk in a straight line.
Fortunately, thanks to a whole lot of rehab, time, therapy, and willpower, he was able to get back on his feet and carve it up once more – apparently, with an even better backhand snap than before. As it would seem, Dave’s not the only one with a penchant for seriously injuring himself and dusting it off like nothing happened.
(Actually, as we were pulling this edition together, Tammen mentioned not being able to
get out on the waves due to an infection in his knee caused by a bite he got while travelling in the Amazon Rainforest. How crazy is that? But anyway…)
Above all else, Tammen said that being able to funnel his energy through art and design has helped him overcome whatever life throws his way.
“The past few years have been mentally draining on all levels. Managing kids, family, work, and life in general when the one closest to you is going through a disease that is a continuous struggle is tough, so it’s easy to see how you can fall over. But surfing, meditation, clean eating, spiritual endeavours, being in nature, and my art has continued to pull me through.
“The family – that is, my workmates – at Blackflag have been super helpful, and I can’t thank them enough for the support that has been given to me and my family. We all struggle in some way or another, but we just need to remember to listen, talk, and ask for help.
“I’m also thankful to live in such a great place here on the Sunshine Coast. People love being outdoors with family and friends, many eating, drinking, and making great memories with a craft beer in hand. Honestly, I think a lot of people up here are just sick of drinking sh*t beer.”
Known for pushing the boundaries not only with their creative and innovative beer styles, but also with their outspoken branding steeped in surf and skate culture, Blackflag is indeed a force to be reckoned with in Australia’s kaleidoscopic craft beer industry (and is a favourite of the Smorgasboarder office).
Alongside fellow artist Ross Holloway, Tammen makes up the brand’s in-house design studio, which is affectionately known as The Doodle Crew or Team Etch A Sketch.
Tammen said that Blackflag’s signature style, which is effectively the aesthetic of a bunch of grungy, punk rock pirates, which actually ties in really nicely with the brewery’s eclectic selection of beers.
“We nail everything from traditional ales to experimental brews, and try to cater to a range of palates while matching the flavour profiles to the eye candy that is our can art. It’s super fun to come up with something wild and out-of-the-box for every new beer we produce.
“Ross has solidified the brewery’s aesthetic with his very recognisable mural street art style, but with both of us grinding and pushing the limits of the brand’s look, I think together we can forge a very strong and eye-catching brand direction.
“Sometimes, there is an urge to pull away from the norm and create something a bit different that will keep it fresh and make people want more. Depending on the workload, Ross and I will either work together or just go ahead with a design that the crew thinks will work best for the brand.
“For me, I love having the freedom to just be super creative with minimal restrictions. I like reflecting back on my style and seeing how I can apply it to a certain outcome, whether that be a beer can, t-shirt, festival banner, or any graphic element for the brewery.”
Honestly, nothing seems more fulfilling than living a life surrounded by art, surfing, and a bunch of cold crafties with mates. So, in the wise words of Tammen, don’t let your fifth-grade teacher tell you it’s a waste of time to doodle skulls and surf logos in the back of your English book.
“Who’s laughing now, Mr Riley? But seriously, creating massive designs and branding is a buzz. Winning and placing in creative comps and industry awards year after year goes to show we are on a winning path.
“The flow state is constant and is a testament to Ross’s brand direction. Every day is fun coming up with cool new ideas.
“My passion is design, so every year I donate my time and art to the Moss Foundation Skaters to generate funds that go towards helping communities in Swaziland have access to fresh, clean water.
“Me and a bunch of other great artists paint skateboards for this auction, but last year was a real highlight for me, as I had a live paint battle against my hero, Ben Brown.
“Working with the Blackflag family is truly a dream job – great people, beers, and drawing skulls most days can’t be beat. Ark Eleven is my brand and side hustle, where people can catch my other work, but Ross and I love making eyes pop with sick art for the brewery, and we hope to continue for years to come.”