Meet Tristin Cole | Artist + Sound Bath Practitioner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tristin Cole and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tristin, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
My work / life balance has changed considerably in the last 3 years since 2020. I went from working full-time as an in-studio animation artist and commuting through LA traffic 3 hours a day to an office, to suddenly working from home full time. And then, after a corporate merger, layoff, and strikes in my industry this past year I’ve had to learn to pivot, switch gears, and do other things to make a living. It is fun figuring it out! I’ve never spent so much time at home, with my family, and in my community, getting the rest I need to, and doing the things I always wanted to try. During this past year I put my skills as a yoga teacher (RYT200) and sound bath practitioner into effect, as well as sharing my skills as an art instructor for kids. Some of the highlights of this past summer were participating in an artist residency in Toronto, Canada with my son, and assisting a muralist on a giant mural for The District in Tustin. With more time to paint my own paintings, I participated in 3 art gallery shows in Laguna this year. I continue to illustrate my children’s books and am getting ready to publish one in 2024. While looking forward to the SAG strikers coming to an agreement and the studios ramping up projects again, I enjoy staying open to the flow of life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Lately I’ve been experimenting with painting rockstars in their moments of bliss. I just love seeing people happy, doing what they love. It reminds me of the feeling I get when I am connected to the flow through my art or sound. I always listen to music while I am painting my backgrounds for animated projects or personal projects. I also have many friends in the music industry that are an inspiration to me. I have always been a fan of acoustic and improvisational music, I love the warm tones of natural instruments played in a stream of consciousness. I became a certified yoga instructor (RYT200) in 2017 and discovered the world of sound healing. At the Integratron I connected deeply with the sounds of the crystal singing bowls, and learned the positive impact that vibration has on the body and mind. I really enjoy participating in a variety of sound healing related events, and guiding people in meditative sonic journeys to experience the benefits of sound as therapy. My goal is to help raise the energy, frequency, and vibration of my community through my art and music. Tides come in, and tides go out… the tide will come in again. New beginnings can open the doorway to greater blessings, so I am staying open and leaving space. Sometimes we need things not to work out the way we want them to so we can see where we are meant to go.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We are so lucky to have the ocean in our backyard, so the beach is definitely the number one place we would go! Sitting on the sand, watching the waves, maybe spotting a pod of dolphins or a whale, and seeing the sun set behind the horizon. The only thing better than that might be to have a drink, dinner, or live music right there with a view of the ocean. A drive down the coast to The Cliff Restaurant in Laguna is a favorite for sure, as well as a gallery walk, and music at The Skyloft on a Thursday night.

For a more meditative experience, I find the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades is a special place to visit mid-week to contemplate among the garden and swans on an afternoon. If we are feeling adventurous, a morning drive out to the Integratron in Landers for a sound bath would be amazing.

If we are in the mood to exercise and move then I would recommend a round of disc golf in Huntington Beach, and maybe a stop at Flashpoint Brewery or 4 Sons Brewery afterwards.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have no doubt that synchronicity has played an essential role in my life. Magical things happen when you lead with your heart! I would like to dedicate my shoutout to the following magical people and organizations:

I have had the pleasure of working with many wonderful people in my animation career. My artist friend Jerry Eisenberg comes to mind as there is a new book about him just recently published this year that I had the privilege to contribute some pages to. He has always been encouraging of me and my art, inspiring me to illustrate my children’s books!

Stemming from our love of live music, my dear friend @AstiajSamadiYoga connected with me after hearing some of my drum and flute recordings, and we have been collaborating on monthly soundbaths, along with reiki master Leslie Manly @JaYoga in Long Beach, for almost a year now. It is so rewarding bringing peaceful, good vibes to our friends in the community through our sounds and energy.

Big shoutout to the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. They provide art instruction to the community, and I have had a lot of fun helping teach drawing, painting, and animation to kids, sharing some of my knowledge and helping to inspire the next generation of artists.

Shoutout to Artscape Gibraltar Point and Sarah Cullen with Mothra for providing a creative space for the child inclusive artist-parent residency.

Shoutout to Morgan Zion for giving me the opportunity to paint with her at new heights and scale, and to Las Laguna Gallery and LagunaArt.com gallery for showing my work, and especially to Laguna artist John Chaney for inspiring me to put my two passions of music and art together.

So many shoutouts! To my friend Brett Davis of the bands Grampas Grass and Deep Space Revival, inspiring me to take my sounds to a whole new dimension of sonic bliss.

And a very special shoutout to my manager Andrew Beattie for always having my back and keeping me on track!

Website: https://www.sonicjourneys.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kynd_designs/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristinpaintsalot/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SonicJourneys111

Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1462910/

Image Credits
Jim Stidham Photography