Interview with tattoo artist Matt Jordan
Hello Matt Jordan! Thank you so much for taking the time to
do this interview. Please start by telling us something about
yourself, when did you start doing tattoos? I started tattooing around 8 years ago, I was 18 at the time and
was sick of the work I was doing. I knew what I wanted to do, so I
took the plunge and committed to tattooing.
Q: Why a tattoo artist?
A: My dad was also a tattoo artist so I always wanted to try it. I had
an obsession with tattooing from a very young age. I had a pretty
artistic background in a sense, my dad passed away when I was young
but I still loved art and tattoos. I spent a lot of my life drawing
and painting. My older sister, Bonnie, was also an artist so we used
to draw together a lot when we were young.
Q: What kind of art interested you?
A: When I first started tattooing I was into every kind of art I
saw! I found inspiration in all kinds of things and I still do. I
think this is very important if you want to truly make the most of
it and progress as much as you can.
Q: Favorite artists?
A: Too many to list... haha! Some of my favorite artists from the
start were Paul Booth, Robert Hernandez, Fillip Leu, then from there
the tattoo artists just started popping up all over the place. To
this day I still find new tattooers and painters that blow my mind!!
Q: Some people say that it is possible to be self though
artist. Your thoughts?
A: I think it’s possible, although I think (with the odd exception)
you will never reach your full potential. The more you watch what
other tattooers are doing and get tattooed by others the more you
will learn about how it works. I like to think I learn something
from every artist I meet good and bad, you know what I mean?
Q: How your style changed
over the years?
A: I tattooed flash art for around four years and then I started working
in realism style. From there I have tried lots of things, sometimes
to stay busy you have to do all kinds of tattoos! I still don’t think
I have found something I feel I want to call my “style” every tattoo
I do, I approach differently.
Q: What tattoo designs you like the
most?
A: Some tattoos that are not portraits but are realistic are my
favorite. I love when a customer says “I want you to do
something e.g. a skull but do it with any color you want!” 9 times out of
10 when this happens, their tattoo will end up 100 shades of pinks
and purples ha-ha...
Q: Tell me about the creative process.
A: I like my customers to give me a guideline to follow. I will then
come back to them with images I think will work best and work from
there, to make a compromise if I need to. Normally they just let me
do my thing though.
Q: What kind of tattoos people like the most?
A: In New Zealand realism is just starting to take off now witch
suits me just fine!! I am getting a lot of statues and such at the
moment which is great fun but very hard work! I also see tons of people getting phrases and lyrics tattooed on them
at the moment. Day of the dead stuff is FINNALY starting to die
down. I have seen many trends in my short time tattooing and I’m
sure there are countless new ones on the way. I think wizards are
going to come back hardcore soon... Well we can only hope.
Q: What are the most interesting experiences with the
customers?
A: Hahaha… So many! Some are a bit personal though, maybe one day I
will write a book about the weird shit I have seen and heard. I will
have to ask my customers first though.
Q: Any strange requests?
A: An elderly man (about 80) once asked me to tattoo a pair of red
and black lacy underwear on him with “Spank me, fuck me, please.”
written on the bum.
Q: What are the most important things that
every single artist should know in order to become successful and
respected?
A: Don’t be a dick, don’t be a rock star, be friendly and be
humble. If you think you’re the shit you’re not, there are a
thousand artists out there that are better than you so try harder
and never stop learning.