To Rock the Coffin ’til I’m dead and Rotten

3 Aug

Artist Dick Starr

1.What is your name?

Dick Starr

2.What is your quest?

To rock this coffin ’til I’m dead and rottin’!!

3.What is your favorite color?

Obviously, I’d like to say black…but color-wise…red.

Benedict, Art by Dick Starr



4.You create with paint, ink and digital mediums. What is your favorite to work in?

I love working with ink. I’ve never been very big on digital. In fact, almost EVERY digital piece of mine is still done with a pencil and pen in my sketchbook first.

5.Your best known for your horror art, is that the subject you love working with the most?

Oh yesss!! I’ve been in love with horror and scary stuff since I was a little kid. I’m also a huge fan of comedy. If I gross someone out, cool. If I can make someone laugh, great. If I can gross them out AND make them laugh…I’m happy.

Blood Brothers, Art by Dick Starr

6.What has been the most rewarding part of traveling across the country to different conventions to show your work?

Meeting fans. I’m surprised constantly by the level of support from them. I’ve been able to meet and mingle with so many different people and make so many new friends, it’s incredible.  Nothing is quite as flattering as when someone shows me THEIR tattoo of MY work. Meeting the celebrities can be fun too. ;)

7.You have a book being published, tell me more about it.

Yeah, it’s a labor of love.  A tribute to Shel Silverstein and Edward Gorey.  I’ve basically written 40+ whimsical poems involving all sorts of weird and interesting characters under the pen-name of Skipp Magnificent. Almost every poem has an accompanying illustration. It’s kinda my way of inspiring kids to draw and create in the same way that I did when I was young. It’ll be a good gift for my niece and nephew too.

8.What are your 3 biggest artistic influences?

Other artists. Paying Bills. Pain.

Flasher, Art by Dick Starr

9.What are the last 3 albums that you downloaded?

Wu-Tang-Legendary Weapons, Cool Kids-When Fish Ride Bikes, Kendrick Lamar-Section.80

10.What’s a typical day like for you?

Shave my head, shower, COFFEE, check my e-mail & FaceBook, do art, watch T.V./movies, do art while watching T.V./movies, work at the coffee shop if I’m scheduled, MORE COFFEE, do some more art, surf the net. Sprinkle some Mary Jane on top, and we’ve got a solid day.

Artist Dick Starr

Some excellent ways to stalk Dick Starr are on his website and Facebook. His Children’s book will be published and on book shelves everywhere next year.

Special thanks to Ashleigh Skaggs for offering up her skills and creativity as  makeup artist. You and Lisa look fantastic dead and covered in blood <3

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You Skully Girl You

27 Jul

Mr. Tidwell was nice enough to let me drop by and see what he’s been working on recently at the studio…..it was love at first sight!

He has just released 2 Skully Girl Prints  and word has it this will be a set of 8 prints total. That was enough to make my day but then he let me snag a copy of the newest Ink Alchemy as well. I am one happy lady :) Check it out for yourself  and feel free to thank me afterwords.

Click HERE to delight your eyes with more candy.

Telephone Poles. Rats. Love. Life. Patterns.

23 Jul

The lovely and talented artist, Miss. Emily "Lou Rat" Adams

1.What is your name?
My name is Emily Louise Ruth Adams. AKA Emily “Lou Rat” Adams. In art school I went by the nickname Lou. Recently, a close friend of mine confessed that she thought the “R” actually stood for “Rat”. Ha! I love it, I thought, I’ll keep it. Rats have always been a part of my life; from my first tattoo, to the reoccurring image of rats in my artwork, it only seems to be a natural fit for my name.
2.What is your quest?
My quest is to share. To share experience, memories, excitement, confusion, you name it. We’re in this thing together, so let’s do this thing together. I get so excited about different experiences and ideas that I desire and feel the need to share the intensity of it all. The best way that I know how, is to make art about it. At its essence, art is communication. The more accessible and a part of daily life that art can be, the more open dialogue we can share.

Photography by Emily "Lou Rat" Adams

3.What is your favorite color?
Rust is my favorite color. Basically any variety of deep warm earthy burnt orange reddish hues. I like rust color because it is warm, dark and bold, yet the reality is that rust is fragile decay. Evidence of time, rust is a living thing/dying thing.
4.Your known around town for your paintings and screen prints. How long have you been working with the two mediums?
It was high school when I became more serious about developing my technical skills with drawing and painting. But it was not until Columbus College of Art and Design that I realized how passionate I am towards printmaking. This was eight years ago. As I recall, you couldn’t drag me out of the print lab if the building was on fire. To this day, I simply feel euphoric working with the medium. The layering of images and the stages of processes give endless possibilities for style and aesthetic of a printed artwork.

Screen Prints by Emily "Lou Rat" Adams

5.What inspires your designs?
I am a list maker, so here we go: City Streets. Telephone Poles. Buildings. Trains. Rats. Love. Life. Memories. Time. Loss. Death. Paradox. Freedom. Politics. Tattoos. Color Schemes. Faces. Handwriting. Power. Decay. Impressions. Patterns. Punk Rock. Make-up. Bicycles. Old Cars. Religion. War.
6.Any awesome project that you’re currently working on or anything you’re looking forward to in the near future?
I am extremely excited about my latest series of photographic screen prints. I have spent the last couple of years setting up a studio where I can efficiently create works using my own photographic images. The process requires a darkroom, high water pressure and a decent amount of space. The images I work with either come from my “resource library” of previously taken photographs, or if I need something specific, I’ll go out on a photo shoot. Once I process everything digitally, I burn (expose) it to a screen that has been treated with light sensitive emulsion. My next series are the Ohio River bridges on wood panel. These will be the largest in scale that I have ever worked in screen printing.

Miss. Lou Rat in her studio

7.Who are your 3 favorite artist?
Barbara Kruger – Her bold style and poignant messages are truly engaging, confrontational and thought provoking. Her work would not carry the same impact if it weren’t for the way in which each piece is displayed site specific to the message. She is a crucial part of art and modernity.
Diane Arbus – I both love and feel a kinship for her ability to photograph people in their natural state of existence. Her images arrest the soul and capture universal truth of the beauty and a grittiness of life.
Shepard Fairey – I am inspired by the fluid visual aesthetic in his work. His style is bold and demands attention. He is an artist who has shown the world that art is something everyone is a part of. His strong work ethic is something to admire as well.

Art by Emily "Lou Rat" Adams

8.What music do you listen to while you work?
When I’m working, generally I prefer lyrically heavy music. I tend to listen to a lot of 50’s and 60’s rockabilly. When I get tired of this I switch to hip-hop. It’s funny, but when I get into a project I need to be somewhat distracted from my analytical thought process. It’s easier to enjoy the act of creation and critique it later.

Art by Emily "Lou Rat" Adams

9.Where can we find you and your work on the interweb? Any shops here in town caring your handmade goodness?
My newly updated website:www.loulandunderground.com
I’m not selling at any shops at this time, but I have been putting together an exhibit called The Undertow Artshow. The theme of this group show is “Against the Current”. My goal was to get artists together who are making work that deals with controversial topics. Times are difficult for most everyone these past couple of years. Let’s see the response from artists, let’s get together and talk about it.
The Undertow Artshow will be at The Art Store in downtown New, Albany, IN 205 W Market St. Saturday, July 30 from 2-11pm.
10.What’s a typical day like for you?
In the mornings I do what computer work that I can. Either updating my website or preparing and printing images to burn (expose) into screens.
Then it’s off to work at the day job for a good 6 hours.
Once I’m home, fighting the falling sun, the real work begins.
Here are a few different scenarios:
Woodshop – Preparing surfaces to be screen printed onto. Or building the next part of my print lab such as a 4-color t-shirt press, or my next big project, a light exposure unit.
OR
Darkroom – Using light sensitive photo emulsion to burn (expose) my images into the screens. Or cleaning old images from screens for the process to begin again.
OR
Studio – Printing, listening to Jack Scott, Janis Martin or JoFo and dreaming up new projects to get started on.

Artist assistant hard at work in the studio

If your looking to an awesome local artist for a show/exhibit at your shop, business, show, etc. Contact Emily about showcasing her work! I’d love to be drinking coffee while completely surrounded by her art…..wouldn’t you!

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A Mouthful of Marshmallows

1 Jun
1.What is your name?
My full name is Selena Chanel Saltsman.
I like to go by Selena Chanel, only because my last name has always fit a bit funny in my mouth. I like to compare it to having a mouthful of marshmallows and trying to talk (which is fun, but not ideal for everyday conversation). It just feels odd to me.  Selena Chanel just suits me better.
2.What is your quest?
In life? I have NO idea, mostly I just meander about hoping not to screw things up… and that’s hard, because I’m clumsy as hell (I attribute that to being lost in my own head most of the time). In art? To purge myself of all the dark & scary things that constantly inhabit my brain. Better out than in. Painting helps with the purging.
3.What is your favorite color?
I adore color, especially the bright electric neon blue/pink/green types. But then on the other hand, I relate to dark colors- rich blacks and deep bloody, festering reds. Mmmm, yes. I love them all. I’m partial to shades of blue. Blue makes me smile. Also, I’m really into tribal colors lately… the way a vibrant teal looks with orange and white and red… YAY COLOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The lovely artist Miss Selena Chanel

4.How would you describe your work to someone’s grandmother?
I dread having to describe my work to anyone- let alone someones grandmother. Usually, unless it’s someone I’m extremely close to, I make up a fluffy cotton candy story & hope they take my explanation for what it is & cross my fingers that they don’t ask for further details. However, if I was forced to -like if this particular grandmother was holding a gun to my head- I’d just smile really really big and in one dainty breath, say “Oh, yeah, sometimes I paint naked girls and drippy bloody weird things because I had a dream and I saw them and they picked at my brain until I plucked them out on canvas, hehe!” & then I’d watch her quietly back away while shaking her head in disapproval. Or at least that’s how I imagine it would probably go. I’ve yet to figure out how to be comfortable talking about my work, mostly because when I do it leaves me feeling naked and dirty and scared.

Painting by Selena Chanel

5.You paint using a variety of media,–is there one you prefer over the other?
I’m crazy about texture. I love wax. I love the whole process of heating it up and dripping it over the canvas and the way it burns my fingers. I use tons of tissue paper, I hoard it. There’s drawers and boxes full of it scattered around my house. I also have an obsession with hair. We have this love/hate relationship- hair and I. I use it whenever I get a chance. It’s important to me that my paintings have a story hidden beneath the surface… because… well, we all do. We all have those secret parts of ourselves that no one knows about, that we like to keep hidden if we can. That’s the drippy stuff- the things we hide. To me, the drippy parts are the best parts.
6.Why do you choose females as your main subject matter?
I like to think of my girls as little extensions of me- everything that I can’t outwardly be, my girls can. My girls are dark and weird and creepy and troubled and they don’t have to pretend like they’re not just because they might be looked down upon for it. They’re me, only really they’re not. They’re my attempt at trying to understand the more confusing, mysterious parts of myself and the world, my own drippy parts and the drippy parts of everything and everyone around me.

Painting by Selena Chanel

7.What kind of music do you listen to when you’re painting?
It depends on what type of mood I’m in, but once I latch on to a song, I can’t listen to anything else other than that particular song until the painting is done. Sometimes I watch movies while I paint, and it’s the same thing. I obsess very, very easily. Lately I’ve been listening to Sleigh Bells. Give me a few weeks (or a day or two) and I’ll be on to gushing over something new.
8.What are your top 3 movie picks?
Beetlejuice (always at the top!)
Ghostbusters
Carnival of Souls

Painting by Selena Chanel

9.What’s a typical day like for you?
I’m an incredibly boring person. When I’m not at work (I work part-time at Down Syndrome of Louisville, you’ll find me there every Monday, Wednesday and Friday) I’m at home with my cat. I’m not particularly fond of leaving the house- being in public makes my tummy do nervous flips. In short: I function on coffee (lots of honey and cream, please) and horror movies, good music, kitty snuggles and paint. Most days, all of those things come together and make me a very, very happy nerd girl.

Painting by Selena Chanel

10.Can we find your work at any shops around town or on the interweb?
Hopefully some time in the near future I’ll be putting a few paintings up for sale in Izzy’s Little Creepers at the Mellwood Arts Center. I was contacted by Pure Uncut Candy to have my piece “Rotten Cotton” featured in the May issue of their magazine. Other than that, I just set up a facebook page. I still feel odd about that, but it seems to be the thing to do, which makes me somewhat of a lemming, but whatever- keeping up with the times is a necessary evil. I haven’t had a lot of time to post much on there yet- it’s a work in progress. Also, my “portfolio” can be found here:http://selenachanelsaltsman.daportfolio.com/ I’d love to have my own website eventually, but there’s that whole pesky matter of being able to afford it.

Miss Selena Chanel

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More Foresight than Contemporary

23 Apr
1.)What is your Name?How did you guys come up with it?
I have an old beat up bass case in my basement with “The Revenants” spray painted by Jason and John in red circa 1996. The sentiment and idea seemed to be put in place before the songs were even written. However pretentious it may seem,there is an atmosphere and pointed take on existence that we created. You don’t have to “get it” but we’ve fought and worked hard to protect it.One word of advice to bands starting out,do your research before you get attached to a name. And copyright it.

Jason, singer for The Revenants

2.)What is your quest?
We want to stay busy, travel, write & perform as much as can be offered or made to occur. The thing about being in a band is that you should have a real message that needs to be urgently shared and expressed. The message may not be received at the time but well I think you should all read our lyrics! We may be more foresight than contemporary. Will says,“The quest is to establish the ground rules for the aftermath. It’s all gonna come down and we will be the messengers.”

Will, vocals and guitar for The Revenants

3.)Who’s in the band and what instruments do they whore out?
Jason -vocals
Will-guitar,vocals
Roger-keys
Gabrielle-bass
Chris-drums
4.)How would you describe The Revenants sound?
This is always our most feared and dreaded question. We grew up on old school punk, metal, death rock, ect. We tried to mix the three and create an atmosphere with keys that could be unique. Thrash when we want, fast drive and dynamic. We want to put ourselves in a position to do what we want on a whim and still “feel” like The Revenants. This confuses some people. They tell us we sound like whatever is most identifiable to them at the time. I know every band says they have their own sound but I also know we actually do.

Gabrielle, bass for The Revenants

5.) How long have you guys been playing together?
The Revenants have been an active band since ’97. We’ve had a few lineup changes!! But we’ve also expanded our sound, gained a lot of experience and become better players.
6.)Three musical influences for the band?
This could differ wildly! Minute to minute, day to day, member to member. We listen to some things people might not expect. Without inserting generic band names how about we go with genres? Or better yet a mix. Mostly I think we could all agree on….
Punk-think Iggy Pop meets Fear
Deth Rock-think The Damned meets 45Grave
Metal-think Black Sabbath meets Ihsahn
Actually maybe this would have worked to describe our sound!

Roger, keys for The Revenants

7.)You guys have been working on a new album,is there a date set?
I wish there was one for sure that I could tell you. We recorded an EP with Kent O’Bryan(Badass engineer,sound tech and bass player)
and then kept on writing. We’re debating in this fucked up music industry the best way to release anything. Cd, digital downloads, vinyl or a mix. Also being a DIY operation it’s hard to turn your creative brain on and off to work on a product. We’ve always been more of a live experience and I think Kent has nailed it. When it hits we’ll be all over the place back to back promoting. We’re plotting. Our last release was actually a comp for Dead Records in Australia. We really need desperately to get overseas distro to back us up.
8.)If you could pick ANY three musicians/bands-dead or alive to play on stage with who would they be?
Hhhmmm…..I’m curious are we opening or are they joining in? Ha. We’ve been honored to share the stage with some serious idols of ours (Some of them are already dead). Gwar, Type O Negative, The Misfits, Rotting Christ, Cthonic, The Undead and Dinah Cancer. Not all of them were our biggest shows but definitely the most coveted.
How about this scenario just for me:
We’re on stage with (Fuck only 3!! I’ve already changed my mind 10 times!!)
Okay for sure I want Lux Interior, Wendy O. Williams and Lemmy–Maybe all at the same time.

Chris, drummer for The Revenants

9.)What is a normal practice like?
That kind of depends on what happens to be on the horizon at the time. We practice twice a week for a few hours at a time. If we have shows booked we spend a lot of time thinking about set lists, rotating songs to make sure they are up to par, throwing out a cover for fun or switching it up per our mood. It isn’t always productive time but we’re friends. We talk often regardless. We’re hard on each other. Lots of caffeine, insults, talking about new music we’ve heard and smoking too much. You get the picture. But when it’s go time we’re on it. Everyone wants to be their best and help each other nail it. Personally for me if we don’t practice, my life is shit. I think we work well under pressure. Everyone wants to have a goal in mind but I think the best part of our band is when push comes to shove: everyone excels. We’re best live because everyone is present.
The meaning doesn’t have to be rehearsed.You’re witnessing it.
10.)Where can cd’s,tshirts,ect be found?
Locally, we have Ear X-tacy and Underground Sounds for cd’s. Ear X-Tacy is jammed with shirts right now. But of course we’d love for you to come out to a show and get them from our merch table as well.
On the web the best bet for music is:
www.cdbaby.com/revenants downloads and physical copies
Recently we also made streaming videos for our last full length album on YouTube so you can listen for free anywhere. We’re on iTunes as well.
For show info or up to date news:
Next show dates are:
Friday April 29th at Cahoot’s, Louisville
Saturday April 30th at The Green Lantern, Lexington

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Expensive Brandy and Fancy Chocolates

15 Apr
1.What is your name?

Christina Robinson

2.What is your quest?

My quest is to become truly ‘ok’ with the fact that my quest is constantly changing. I can convince myself of almost anything depending on the time of day or what mood I am in.
However, I do have a couple of constant strivings:
To be kind to people.
To drink expensive brandy and eat fancy chocolates.
……two of the above rarely occur.

3.What is your favorite color?

I don’t really have a favorite color. I go through phases where I appreciate some colors more than others. Right now I’m in a burnt orange and grass green phase. Oh, and gem tones too.

Paintings by Christina Robinson

4.You work with such a variety of materials. How did you get your start in sculpting, sewing and painting?

Painting:
Growing up as an only child of a single working mother, I found many ways to entertain myself. My earliest memories of enjoying being creative involve drawing the covers of my mom’s Cosmo magazines. Sometimes I would read the sleazy stories but generally I just stuck to the covers. My first experience in actually painting faces as opposed to drawing them was in art class in high school. I remember being so intimidated because I was so used to drawing…..I thought that painting was only something ‘serious’ artists did. But after I tried oils I was hooked.

Sculpting:
A few years ago, I thought I would try my hand at making paper mache dolls. Waiting for the layers to dry before moving on with the project was a little frustrating for me. I’m one for instant gratification. I had heard about polymer clay so decided to give it a try. I like being able to bake and continue….bake and continue.

Sewing:
I used to crochet a lot during the winter months. A few winters ago, my hats and scarves really took off and I began getting several orders for them. After a season of constant crocheting, I started getting wrist issues. I ended up buying a sewing machine so I could continue making scarves which eventually evolved into my neck warmers. I am very happy to have taken the turn because I find that I can be way more creative with my warmers. I appreciate the structured look I am able to achieve much more than the crochet items I had been making.

Sculpture by Christina Robinson

5.I adore your unique sculptures! How do the ideas for each character develop?

Thanks! Interestingly, sculpting is a completely different process for me compared to painting. I am generally pretty obsessive about getting my paintings to look just right. With my paintings, I often work from photos and feel that a work is never complete. However, when I sit down to sculpt, I normally don’t have any particular idea in mind. I just let the face take shape and go with it. I do get very involved in perfecting the tiny details but I don’t have expectations for them…I just try to refine the expressions that emerge.

Painting by Christina Robinson

6.Why do you choose to paint portraits?

I suppose this goes back to how I used to draw the Cosmo ladies. Aside from trying to develop a skill, I think I chose to focus on portraits because I was searching for something to identify with. Growing up an only child can get pretty lonely! It really means a lot to me when someone else appreciates my paintings. It makes me feel like the emotions I am trying to express aren’t as unique to me as they sometimes feel. Any way to let others know they aren’t alone is a good thing.

7.Name 3 of your biggest artistic influences.

I can’t really say I have any major influences. I am actually pretty ignorant about art in general. I know what I like when I see it…..whether it is a particular color, shape, style, or etc. I find that I am very much influenced by music. I will never tire of the sweet sweet sounds of Warren Ellis’ violin.

Scarfs and Wraps Sewing by Christina Robinson

8.If you had to choose one type of fabric that best describes your personality what would it be?

Well…I couldn’t think of an answer for this so I had to turn to my husband for help. He said it would be corduroy. When I asked him why, he said, “because you’re up and down.” Hmmm. Good answer.

9.Can we find your work at any shops around town?

I currently have some of my spring neck wraps at Consider Boutique and Revelry Boutique in Louisville and at Thorpe Woodworks in New Albany.

Custom cake toppers by Christina Robinson

10.What’s a typical day like for you?

Up until this week, I was working as a full time artist/craftsperson. My neck warmers had been keeping me really busy up until it started getting warm. I had pretty much turned myself into a one person neck warmer factory since last August. I just took a position with a property management company in the Highlands. I’m hoping this will free up some time so I can focus more on painting and sculpting, if that makes any sense?? I think the guarantee of a paycheck will enable me to be more creative so I’m not having to constantly rely on what I think people will buy in order to make my living.

The lovely and talented Christina Robinson

You can keep up with Christina on her website and blog, feel free to contact her for custom paintings and sculptures! You can also visit her Etsy Shop to buy her handmade goodies.

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Solidarity Tattoo

17 Feb

Artist Karl Otto in his studio, photo by Brittney Cat

1. What is your name?
Karl Otto
2. What is your quest?
When it comes to my work, my quest lies in fully experiencing what modern tattooing offers  I seek to meet people through their work and my own  I hope that tattooing will afford me the privilege to be tattooed by some of the field’s finest so that I may learn from them. Maybe one day, if I feel qualified enough, I hope to pass on what I have learned.
3. What is your favorite color?
I have never really had a favorite color. However, I am currently enamored with the gold tattoo ink from Classic Color Systems.

Art by Karl Otto

4. When did you start getting serious about art and when did you start tattooing?
I took art every year I was in public school; it was my main focus specifically through high school. Before I graduated in 2003 I was given the opportunity to apprentice under Rodney Adams at Twisted Images and I started tattooing that summer. I went to art school at UofL for quite a while, but dropped out as I got more into tattooing. So in 2002 or 2003 art switched from a hobby, and something I did in school, to the direction I wanted to take my life.

Tattoo by Karl Otto, Photo by Lisa Oechsli

5. You recently opened up a solo tattoo studio, Solidarity Tattoo, tell me about it.
I was tired of working in a “shop” setting and really wanted to strike out on my own for a variety of reasons. I wanted to be closer to my family, be my own boss, and focus on my goals when it comes to tattooing. Solidarity Tattoo is where I can realize and pursue my art form. It’s a one room studio. The color scheme was inspired by the Elvish city Lothlorien from The Lord of the Rings, because that city was a safe haven for the fellowship on their quest to destroy the ring. I wanted it to be comforting and cozy for myself, my clients, and guest artists. I have plans to feature tattooers from outside our fine city as guests of honor in my studio in the coming years.

Solidarity Tattoo

6. When it comes to your personal art, what subjects are you most inspired by?
I am most inspired by the fantastical. Tales of warriors, griffins, dragons, wizards, and all. The Lord of the Rings played a huge role in recognizing that as a passion of mine, and was supported by adventures in the Chronicles of Narnia. Currently I am reading “The Complete Chronicles of Conan” by Robert E. Howard, and the rich imagery has given me all types of ideas. I am also into the legends of gladiators, Greco-Roman warriors, the gods, and vikings. After being really enchanted by Asian tattooing and its imagery, I thought that we westerners don’t have that ancient imagery in our tattooing like the people of the east do. The traditional tattoo movement is the closest thing that we have to that in my opinion and I love it.  In the last couple of years I have truly discovered Sailor Jerry and he has been a huge inspiration. Traditional tattooing, and tattooing in the west in general is still pretty young compared to the long lineage and ancient traditions of the east. I have the stories and legends of Europe’s long history in our blood. Part of my quest is that I want to bring those topics to my tattooing with the same principles and foundations that Asian and traditional tattoos are based upon.

Tattoo by Karl Otto, Photo by Lisa Oechsli

7.Your family is a big part of your life and your art. How do you feel they influence your work?
The birth of my children (one at a hospital, one at home) has had a huge impact on my art. I have done art directly relating to birth and family because of the priority they have in my life. They influence me in other ways, too. My 3-year-old son (Abel) is really into tattooing already. He loves getting temporary tattoos and draws on himself, his parents, his little sister, and anyone else within arm’s reach. He really inspires me to loosen up and be more fluid and carefree when I am drawing. My wife (Samantha) created some art (her first two pieces of “real art”) for the “Birth” art show at the opening of Solidarity. She made some beautiful mixed media pieces and I was inspired to let go of some of the puritanical art notions I had picked up over the years and think up crazy projects that involve glue guns and spray paint and junk mail and thrift store knick knacks. Luna Vay (our 6-month-old daughter) reminds me to enjoy the moment, to not get bogged down in all the stuff I have going on, or want to have going on. She smiles at me and I compelled to stop, take a break and hang out for a while.

Art by Karl Otto

8. I’ve been told you say, “Give me ‘the what’ and ‘the where’, let me take care of ‘the how’”. Explain what you mean.
I kind of paraphrased this from a conversation I had with another tattooist who goes by the moniker Shagoo. When I worked in a “tattoo shop” setting, I took on any tattoo anybody wanted me to do, and I would let them guide me, sometimes too much. I still do that sometimes. It is going to take me a while to get out of that mindset, but I am working towards putting more of myself into the tattoos I do. I don’t feel like a have a body of work that can be recognized as coming from me. To get that I need to ask more artistic freedom from my clients, turn down or rethink projects that don’t spark my interest, and build a body of work on paper that shows people what I am into and what I can do. When people come to me for a tattoo I want them to tell me what they want and where on their body they want it, but not exactly how they want me to do it.

Tattoo by Karl Otto, Photo by Lisa Oechsli

9. Who are 3 artists you currently can’t get enough of?
Filip Leu, Kore Flatmo, and Sailor Jerry. 

10. What is a typical day like for you?
My days are always centered around family. I get up when the children do, we play games, we clean when we can, we watch movies, we dance to music, we draw, we worry about bills and taxes and governments and aliens and conspiracies and 2012 and all types of other things this wonderful world has to offer. I usually tattoo about 4 days a week and try to work on art whenever I can. There is plenty of laughter and always a few tears.

Artist Karl at work in his studio.

Want to know how to stalk Karl? Become a fan on Facebook :) If your interested in making an appointment give him a call at 502-472-7003 or shoot him an email if you’ve got questions karlispokey@yahoo.com.

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