An Interview: Ryan Tymesen. BitB's Feb Featured Artist.
February. The second month into the year that has become 2011. Well, with a new month, we will always have a few new designs. This month we have the pleasure of featuring Ryan Tymesen, a Minnesota local artist. Well, I suppose we can get rolling with the interview. I hope you all enjoy the conversation and artwork this month!
This month’s featured artist is yet another Northerner which, in my book, makes him crazy. I don’t know how people handle all that snow. Geographical location notwithstanding, he’s also another of my folk—that is, the tattooed/tattooer type. It’s sometimes difficult for me to do these interviews because sometimes I like to talk smack. It’s easy for me to get carried away with bad-mouthing all of the negative things I see going on in that culture. BUT! We’re here to talk t-shirts and other assorted tomfoolery, not about me being a jerk, so let’s get to it.
Ryan Tymesen says that he’s been drawn (Get it? GET IT?!) to the process of creating art since the tender age of 2, when his grandmother would bring home giant rolls of newsprint from the school she worked for and unleash the kids on it with a mess of crayons and markers. The rest, as “they” say (whoever “they” are), is history and at this time Ryan says he’s done a little of everything from computer design to graffiti and of course, the tattoos. Clothing isn’t a new medium to him either. He tells us that in high school he would create new clothes by reassembling pieces of old articles of clothing or using things like bleach and paint or tears in the fabric to design a new look. He also made a little extra cash by airbrushing hats, shoes, and backpacks for people. When asked what inspired his designs for Bored in the Basement he said that while his offerings for this month do reflect the styles of art he’s familiar with, he can’t think of any specific inspiration behind them. In fact, he says he can’t think of any specific inspiration behind any of his art—he just puts “pencil to paper” (literally or figuratively speaking) and lets it happen. When asked about those styles of art he's familiar with, or rather, his favorite mediums, Ryan said he really can't name a favorite since he hasn't tried it all yet. Fair enough. He did however cite a specific fondness for graffiti and the artists who create it, noting that it is indeed a shame that most people don't consider that true art.
I just couldn't resist throwing a few tattoo related questions into the mix, the first of which was "If you could tattoo any person, living or dead, who would it be?" Interestingly, Ryan's selection was Kat Von D, a popularly known collector of tattoos herself. He says that he once had the pleasure of meeting her in person and that she was very personable and friendly, also saying that she often lets her friends tattoo her and so that if he were to be adorning her skin with some permanent art, he'd like to think that means she considered him a friend. Again, fair enough-- she's a character, to be sure. I also asked him what he thought about the tattoo reality show trend (although that seems to have died down a little in recent years), and whether he thought they portray a positive or negative image of the industry and lifestyle to the viewing public. Ryan told me that in his opinion, the shows do a good job of making it more acceptable to be a collector and ink enthusiast.. although he does feel like they could show a little less of the drama that inevitably goes on in shops and a little more of the actual process and experience of tattooing and being tattooed. (I have to say that I agree with him, there.)
And of course, I also had to toss in a question that is largely unrelated to anything. I was curious to know what Ryan's anti-dream job would be.. You know, how most people say "If you could be anything in the world, do your dream job for the rest of your life, what would it be?" I feel like that's too easy, so I wanted to know the opposite-- What job could he never imagine himself doing, not in his wildest dreams, for the rest of his life because it's just so NOT him. His response? He could never be a politician, due to the fact that the job description basically requires one to lie on a daily basis. Interesting answer, Ryan.. and well spoken, sir.
Mr. Tymesen is not currently working in a shop, as he is completing training (on top of the 3 years and 145 hours he's already got under his belt) to satisfy Minnesota state requirements for licensed tattoo artists. He did however tell me that he's always looking for new artistic outlets and ways to expand his 22-years-in-the-making skill set and portfolio (which includes music as well as the visual arts!) Anyone is welcome to contact him via Facebook by searching for his name in order to view pictures of his work and commission custom pieces-- be it for tattoos or other uses.
Thanks again, Ryan, for allowing us to showcase your work as Bored in the Basement's February Artist of the Month! Good luck with completing your training and finding an awesome shop to work in.. although with your experience and portfolio, I doubt you'll have much trouble finding somewhere pretty quickly.
Until next time, Internets.
-RR
