Get to know me

How would you describe your artistic style?  

My artistic style is constantly evolving. I started more as an abstract artist and moved more

into representation with hints of abstraction. I like to think my stuff is saturated and loud

whether referring to my paintings or my tattoos. I aim to make people feel something when I create anything.

When did you begin creating artwork & tattooing?

I tell everyone I started arting when I was zero. I think we are all artists from the beginning

but most of us just outgrow the urge which is a shame to be honest. My tattooing career

started in 2016 when I was teaching at Manson. Kolt King took me under his wing as an

apprentice up in Wittemore, Iowa and now I’m almost 10 years deep into this thing which is kind of crazy to think about.

What is your artistic background? Education/Training?

I attended Oswego high school from 2001-05 at which point to made the move to Pella,

Iowa where I majored in art. I took glassblowing and took a focus in painting and mixed

media as well as art history. I studied abroad in Leiden, the Netherlands in 2008 where I

caught the travel bug and have been flying around the world ever since looking for

landscape and all the incredible things man has created.

Growing up, were you artistic? If so, in what ways? Hobbies?  

I’ve had a love for art since I can remember. It has always given me a way to get lost and

focused at the same time. I did a lot of drawing and played with any media I could get my

hands on early on. I found art in just about everything. I used to love skateboarding which is

why I can’t get off my one wheel now. Riding, like art, is very liberating.

What do you most enjoy about the creative process?

What I enjoy most about creating and its process is how there is no one path. The way I do

it can’t be wrong because it’s how it works for me. I enjoy the ability to pursue solutions

knowing that there is no wrong answer. 

Growing up, was your family interested in the arts?

I got the artistic bug from my grandparents. I can’t say my siblings or parents really had an

interest in it but for me it was always something I was (pun intended) drawn to. Both

grandma and grandpa were artists and I found that to be very reassuring. The fact that I’m

almost 40 and made a career out of doing art is something I am forever grateful for. 

Previously, you have been an art instructor, and an artist living in the Fort

Dodge area, tell us a little bit about those experiences?

I found my first teaching job in Webster City where I met a bunch of wonderful and influential people who helped push me forward as an artist, as a human and as a fan of music honestly. Dave Niggemeyer was my mentor at Webster and really helped me find my

passion for teaching. I coached with Tony Bussan who in my opinion is the best coach/life

motivator Iowa has ever seen. After 3 years there and some not so great life decisions, I

reassessed and found my home in Manson Iowa where my teaching career reached a peak.

I was able to coach cross county and track for countless wonderful young people alongside

some other great coaches. I was able to lead field trips abroad through EF where I shared

the world with some of my favorite human beings. I had the privilege of teaching next to

some of the most incredible teachers in all of Iowa where I feel like I got the most out of my

students by just sharing ideas and encouraging them to find their own passions their own

way.

Tell us about your impression of the arts scene in the Fort Dodge area

community.

The art scene in Fort Dodge from my perspective is saturated with countless creative

humans. I am floored by how one small town can house so many souls who are so insanely

gifted at expressing themselves both musically and visually. I am a huge advocate for the

musicians in town and lucky enough to call most of them my close friends/family. I also truly believe that the visual arts talent in dodge is constantly getting better. The youth that has invigorated the scene is both inspiring and encouraging for what the future holds. The tattoo scene has definitely seen a surge in talent the past couple of years starting with Hayley

Studyvin who has redefined what the standard is in Fort Dodge. I believe Ky and Gabbie at

Crave are also helping to build passion and expectation for the tattoo industry. Jeremy Ober, Caleb Ferry, Alex Travino, Ox, Isaiah, Scott kirkhart, Jesse Wilson, Kris Karr, Jordan Reuter, the Schoon boys, Cole Smothers and the list goes on and on and on. I could literally name 30 other artists who locally have rocked the art scene and brought endless joy to Dodge. 

On occasion, you come back to town to work at Crave Tattoo, how can

someone find out if you’ll be in the area to get some work done?

I am fortunate enough to be able to take field trips back home to tattoo and galavant

because my wife is pretty darn wonderful and knows my soul needs it. I stay pretty booked

up with clientele built in my time living there so unfortunately I am not taking on a lot of new clients and I book everything myself. The good news is we have two great artists at Crave along with a number of other great artists in town who can do what I do and sometimes, more often than not, better than I can. I feel humbled and eternally grateful to be as busy as I am when I’m home with people who I sincerely care about and appreciate getting time with. I am very lucky to be in this position and for business to be going as well as it is down in Jacksonville with my brothers at True Till Death who also sometimes come up to do guest spots and bring limitless talent with them. Wink wink. 

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in pursuing a

career in tattooing, or as an artist?

Advice to anyone pursuing tattooing; it’s not for most. It’s a daunting road and takes every

single ounce of yourself to not only make it, but find peace and joy in doing the work every

single day. There are artist and there are tattooers, you want an artist poking you. You want

someone whose sole purpose in life to create beautiful things because they have to. It

sustains us and drives us in all that we do. I can’t imagine doing anything else. I tear my

tattoos/art apart on how they can be better. I lose sleep because of it. The artist low is a real

thing and when we get stuck down there, crawling out can take weeks or months. Finding

ways to stay motivated is the key and for me music, travel and family/friends are what help

me stay on track. 

What, or who, inspires you?

I find my inspiration in young people. I find it in artists who do things I can only dream of

doing. I find it in music and the people who make that music. I find it in trying new things. I find it in failure. Inspiration for me comes in all shapes and forms. People are inspiration to me, from teachers and students who I’ve been able to work with. Gena at Crave is a huge

inspiration to me in that she has been a huge pillar in the Fort Dodges scene for years.

Humans who give with the intention of giving and receiving nothing in return. I am far from perfect and I have many people in my life who can testify to that, but finding a way to be better by being good to other people keeps me moving forward. Encouraging others in their endeavors and dogs are my absolute favorite endeavors. Karma is very real to me and I aim to feed her every day I walk this earth. 

What’s the biggest difference between painting on canvas and painting on

skin? Literally & Creatively.

The difference between painting on canvas and poking people is vast. I work much bigger

on canvas and have so much more freedom to experiment and go at my own pace. With

tattooing the process is laid out for me completely before I start. There might still be some

happy accidents along the way but for the most part I have a clear road map for tattoos and

being efficient as to respect my client’s time is very important to me. I will tattoo as long as

my body lets me and I will paint until I die. I can’t imagine not having that outlet and I thank mom for pushing me when she saw I had a slight interest in art from a very young age.

What color best describes your personality, and why?

What color best describes me… gotta be my favorite color; orange. It’s always been the

color I’ve been most drawn to. I love how it pairs with everything. I love the happiness of

orange and fruit is quite delicious as well. 

Describe yourself in one word.

If I had to describe myself in one word.. hmmm.. optimistic. Mom told us long ago it could

always be worse. Life has not always been ideal but we make the most of it. We find the

paths that lead us to better things. We work for what we want. We focus and drive. Running

helped me really embrace that idea. Goal setting and striving to bring people into your life

who enhance your experience will bring us all to better circumstances. Not everyone you

meet needs to stay in your life but the people who make you smile, who genuinely want to

see you succeed through it all, those people are the ones who bring true happiness. Don’t

let go of them. By having those people in your life it becomes remarkably easy to stay

optimistic about what is ahead and continue dreaming.