Interview with Travis Broyles | tattoo art life & music 29/11/2012
Hello Mr.Broyles! It's a great honor to talk
with you!
Creative, innovative, passionate, dedicated and really talented
artist, these are just a few words to describe you!
Apart from the tattoo art, you are one of the founders of the record
label "Robot Monster, Inc " and you've been working as web and
graphic designer. Influenced by horror art and the alternative
music, I bet your art journey has many great stories,
but let's start with the basics...
Q: What made you to become an artist? Was
that like a dream profession or it just came spontaneously?
A: I have always been into art. As a kid, I always seemed to be
drawing on placemats at restaurants, and enjoying the arts more than
the other classes. It wasn't until high school that I really started
to devote a lot of time and energy into art. At that point, making
art would have been a dream profession. I was already doing a lot of
graphic and web design for large companies and musicians and I was
able to showcase it in those ways. I actually started tattooing
while I was in high school, so a lot of the other media was pushed
back to focus on tattooing. It wasn't actually until recently that I
got back into painting.
Q: What was the first art addiction,
graphic design, drawing, tattooing? How did you get into? Give me a
little description.
A: Definitely drawing. I always found myself drawing, and blocking
out the world. I'm sure I was one of those kids who got in trouble
for drawing on the walls haha! At the time my brother use to draw a
lot, and I always looked up to him - and wanted to be an artist like
him. Later down the road, I started teaching myself how to use
photoshop, and programming. Keep in mind I started doing this
between the ages of 8 and 12. Around the age of 14, I started doing
a lot of web, graphic, and merchandise designs for a lot of very
large companies and bands. I was able to showcase my artwork on cd
layouts, t-shirts, and etc. By the age of 16 I was working for a
record label and working with Blasko (current bassist for Ozzy
Osbourne, ex bassist for Rob Zombie, Danzig, Prong, Cryptic
Slaughter, and etc.) Blasko really opened my eyes and gave me a lot
of opportunities to do design work for him, and other
bands/musicians. By the age of 17 I really got into tattoo art, and
began my apprenticeship that year.
Q: What kind of art interested you at the time? Do you have
any influences, role models that have helped you in developing your
own art style?
A: Early on I was really into cartoons. I have always been a fan of
cartoons, and that illustrative style - so that seemed to show
through a lot. As I get older, I think my style develops more, and
becomes less cartoony. I am still very passionate about it and love
that imagery, but I am trying to expand myself, and my abilities as
an artist.
Q: It seems like your passionate in doing American
Traditional, Neo-traditional, Illustrative, Cartoony, Realism, as
well as Black and Grey tattoo designs. Do you remember when the
impression for this kind of work first began?
A: It has developed over the years into this. When I first started
tattooing, I mainly focused on cartoony imagery, and traditional
tattooing. I think a lot of the traditional end came from my
apprenticeship. The guy that taught me how to tattoo, really pushed
for me to do American and Japanese traditional imagery, and I was
definitely into it - so I think that is where a lot of that came
from. Over the years I have become more technical with my drawings,
and I think it was spilled out into my tattoo work - while pulling
inspiration from almost anything.
Q: Do you consider this type of work as your
specialty, something that people can expect from you?
A: Definitely! I am an artist, so I will always evolve and do new
things, but I do not think I will stray too far from how it sits
currently. I have been touching on realism lately, and I really like
doing that - but I really like being able to draw everything my way,
and with realism being so specific on objects, it is limiting at
times.
Q: Nowadays, there are lots of people coming with some crazy
ideas for a tattoo? Are you always supportive to your client's idea
or there are some designs you simply don't want to tattoo?
A: Absolutely. I try to work with every client to obtain the perfect
tattoo for them, but some things just will not work out. My name
goes behind every tattoo that I do, and that is always a reminder
when drawing out a tattoo. I also do not want to be that guy, that 5
years down the road - my client can't get a job or really hates the
tattoo that I did on them, simply because it was an outlandish idea
they had from simply being young. I am usually pretty good about
nailing what each customer wants, and enjoy working with them during
the design stages.
Q: What are the most interesting experiences with the
customers? What reaction from a client makes you happy after
finishing the tattoo?
A: I have never had a customer say they hate something I have done
on them (knock on wood) and that is good enough for me hahaha!
Really though - I am lucky enough to have the customers that I do,
and am lucky enough for them to wait for me when my schedule is
hectic. That itself shows leaps and bounds to me. Without them, I'd
be nothing!
Q: Tell me about the making process. Do you
use sketchbook?
A: I usually start by taking a tracing of the area that they are
looking to get tattooed if I need to. If the area is open, then I
just begin drawing. I try to find an overwhelming amount of
reference for what they are looking to have tattooed. I usually rely
on books rather than internet. I pick the references that suit best,
and begin drawing. I usually sketch on plain printer paper, with
various colors of pencils. Once I have a few decent sketches down, I
will import the sketches into Photoshop, and then tweak it all in
Photoshop - sometimes using a Wacom tablet. From there I can add
certain things, take away certain things - make objects bigger,
smaller etc. It helps to cut back on a lot of time wasted in
redrawing for me - and I am definitely a computer geek. Once I have
a final sketch, I make a final line drawing on paper, vellum, or
tracing paper with prisma pens. For a lot of the more realistic
tattoos (wildlife, portraits, and etc), I rely mostly on Photoshop
for arrangements and rendering. I am able to take one object, and
put it with the other 3 elements that they were looking for in their
design. I print out the tattoo, and I will then make a hand stencil
by simply placing the print out on a piece of carbon or thermo fax
paper, and draw what I need to make the tattoo on top of the
printout. It’s quite simple really. Although I am doing something
that is more realistic, I still try to draw in certain objects as
much as I can to put my twist on an image that is very specific such
as animal portraits, and etc.
Q: How do you get inspired? Do you use some other art
mediums to get inspired, such as painting, photography
etc?
A: For years I would just draw - nonstop, literally all the time.
That is probably the most important thing any tattooer or artist can
really do. I cut back on that for a while, and it was noticeable in
my tattooing so I started that again. Through the years I have
always kept up in painting in some way or another - mostly acrylic,
watercolors, and liquid acrylic. Lately I just started doing oils
again - and I am very pleased. Painting is very relaxing for me, and
sometimes I really need to wind down, or find inspiration in myself.
Oil painting helps me with that the best.
Q: So many customers, drawings in your life, what keeps you
being creative? Can you be permanently creative? What's the trick?
:)
A: I think staying on top of everything is the most important part.
I constantly take pictures of anything I see that I could use for
reference, and am constantly buying books. I can spend hours in a
bookstore. I stay inspired by viewing art of other people, even if
it isn't tattoos. I think I pull a lot of inspiration and creativity
off of the guys I work with daily.
How do you keep things fresh and innovative, while
maintaining your style?
A: I think loosing yourself in art is the best way to stay fresh.
Focusing on yourself, but always trying to push your personal
boundaries and levels. If you keep pushing yourself, and your
abilities, everything will remain new and your creativity will
balance and further - rather than diminish.
Q: I even read on the website that you've been tattooing
Michale Graves (former singer of the Misfits) wow! That's an honor!
What was the feeling to tattoo him? What was his tattoo?
A: Michale is great friend of mine. I have actually tattooed him on
a few different occasions, as well as nearly all of the members of
his bands. I have tattooed the stitches on his shoulders and around
his elbow and I also did an endless knot on his forearm. Rather than
having it a typical knot, we did it so that it looks like it is
carved into his skin - so it flows with everything else he has on
his body. At the time he only had the one set of stitches on his
shoulder - and they were looking pretty faded. In one day, I
literally gave him 3 tattoos haha. Tattooing bands is always
something I am into, and I have tattooed a lot of bands including
members of Darrow Chemical Company, Gotham Rd., The Banner, Suburban
Scum, The Doomsday Prophecy, Knock Out, Blitzkid, Mister Monster, B3
The Shark, and etc.
We've been lucky enough to interview Michale Graves too, check out our interview.
Q: What is most challenging part in
being a tattoo artist?
A: The most exciting part is actually having an eternal impact on
someone’s' life and being able to travel. Tattooing is the best
thing in the world. I have never worked a day in my life! The most
challenging things with tattooing for me are my scheduling. I tattoo
for long hours daily, and it has a toll on my body. I don't get to
see my family nearly as much as I would like to, and I would
absolutely love to spend more time with my girlfriend. Although I do
set my own schedule when it comes to booking appointments and
traveling - I just love tattooing and I have to stay busy, so I
suppose I make it challenging in those aspects.
Q: Is there any "dream" piece that is still undone?
A: Not really. I am fortunate enough that my customers know my work,
and they know what I am into - so I get to do tattoos that I am into
daily.
Q: Apart from being a creative tattoo artist during the day,
you are also one of the founding members of a record label called
"Robot Monster, Inc ". That must be fun journey!
A: It definitely was! I love working with bands and musicians - but
I just don't have the time for it anymore. Running a record label
takes a lot of time and dedication for it to go anywhere. I use to
work with another record label some time ago now - and I was very
unhappy with how the owner was treating the bands that he
represented. Not only that, but I was doing the majority of the work
for him, while he collected all of the royalties, and none of the
bands saw a profit at all. I left that record label, and presented
the idea to start a new record label to my friend Jake Hades. I flew
up to Seattle (I was living in Virginia at the time) and we began
the initial process to start Robot Monster, Inc. A few years later
and we had released 11 albums from bands spanning the globe. We had
many issues with distributors filing bankruptcy, stiffing us on
cash, and being a huge pain to work with. Those issues were really
taking a toll on myself, and making it hard for me to focus on my
career as a tattoo artist. I had to quit working with that label,
which was one of the hardest things I had ever done. I was not only
letting down a lot of bands, but also my friends. I think all of
them understood my reasoning, and were all very supportive of my
departure. Robot Monster, Inc. is still active.
What are the basic goals of the "Robot Monster" label?
A: To release great horror punk/rock music, and make sure bands are
taken care of. A lot of these bands were some of the best we had
ever heard - and that was the problem. No one had heard of them -
and if they had then the bands were really not getting what they
needed to continue being a band as far as promotion, royalties, and
etc. were concerned. We bridged the gap to make sure bands were able
to tour with minimal effort, had merchandise, had albums available,
promotion, and were making the money they deserved.
Q: Horror music is something that you guys relate the most.
Is that like the only music style you prefer or you're open for any
other types of artists to collaborate?
A: Personally, I listen to everything. Although I seem to favor
older reggae, ska, and punk - you'll find everything on my iPod from
death metal, to classical and jazz. Robot Monsters' focus was
horror. It can be punk, metal, rock, goth - as long as it is good
music!
Q: Do you feel overwhelmed by the popular media and society?
A: Nah - I mostly just keep to myself. I always try to promote
myself to stay afloat and travel as much as I can. I am definitely
honored when any company features me, or wants to interview me.
(Thank you!!)
Q: As an artist, what are some of your greatest challenges
or obstacles you face?
A: Time seems to be the roughest obstacle for me. There aren't
enough hours in the day. I find myself drawing as soon as I wake up
- working all day and drawing until I fall asleep. Then again, as I
said - I set my own schedule so I make things harsh on myself.
Q: Web & graphic design, tattooing, music - art! What
gives you most creative freedom? Where do you find yourself the
most?
A: Tattooing definitely allows me to be the most creative. I think
knowing in the back of my head that it is permanent and I can't work
on it for 4 weeks, pushes me to do more. Painting allows for a lot
of creativity, but I often find myself working on a painting for 6
hours, then not working on it for a few weeks, then going back in. I
think the creativity is there, but I only paint when I am inspired
to paint.
Q: Art could be a great influence on someone's personality.
What is the best lesson that you've learned from your art journey?
A: Draw, paint, and tattoo as much as you can. Lose yourself in art,
and it will pay off. Listen to critiques, and don't be afraid to ask
questions.
Please feel free to share your feature plans about your work
and your website.
Next year I am doing a bit more traveling than last year. So far I
will be tattooing at the Philadelphia Tattoo Arts convention in
February, Ink-n-Iron in Long Beach California in June, Hell City in
Phoenix Arizona in August, and the Seattle Tattoo Expo in August. I
literally just started booking all of my travel stuff for 2013 so
please stay tuned to my website, Facebook, and instagram for updates
on where I will be as I will be adding A LOT more to my schedule. I
just got an offer to tattoo at a few convention in the United
Kingdom, in which I will definitely be doing that again. I hope to
do the Paradise Gathering in Colorado again as well, and am
currently working on tattooing at that show again! If you'd like to
me to tattoo at your convention, please email me ASAP!
I have some prints and a sketchbook coming out soon - as well as
more t-shirts and new designs. I think I will also be re-doing my
website too!
If you've got instagram, follow me - travisbroyles13
facebook:
http://facebook.com/descendingcorpse
website:
http://travisbroyles.com
email: contact@travisbroyles.com
Shop: Sunken Ship Tattoo -
http://sunkenshiptattoos.com