]]>How was the name "Strumbellas" born? Was there a name that was almost picked instead?
To be honest, I don't like our band name very much! It was created a long time ago when I was driving in my Honda Civic going to university. I was just thinking up band names and it just popped into my head. We had a few other options like 'Great Bear National Park' and 'Alaska' but in the end we stuck with The Strumbellas.How would you describe your style of music?
I like to think of it as Folk Pop Grass. Or Funeral pop. We basically try to infuse pop production into folk/country songs.How did you guys find each other? Who has known each other the longest?
Our band actually started on Craigslist! Dave was the first person to show up to my door after putting an ad out when I was living in Toronto. However, some of the people in the band are from my hometown and we got connected just because we knew each other back in the day.How do you guys motivate and inspire each other?
I think we motivate each other by all having the same goals. Everyone in the band takes our jobs very seriously and we are just trying to get our music to as many people as possible while being nice to everyone we meet along the way.You're touring now, is there any place you're especially excited for?
The band always loves visiting the Southern States because we love to eat BBQ! Food is a big part of The Strumbellas culture and we are always trying local foods and restaurants of the area we are touring in.Will anyone be getting any new tattoos along the way? Who do you often go to for tattoos?
Funny you mention that. Our tour manager is a big mean looking guy covered in tattoos however his mom doesn't want him to get any knuckle tattoos, so now I'm going to get knuckle tattoos just to upstage him! I love tattoos and I'll get them on and off on the road, but mostly I get them in my home town from the same woman that designed our new album cover with the rattlesnake on it. She's my fav!
What do you hope fans take away from your music?
Music has helped me so many times in my bouts with depression. I just hope our music helps others who are dealing with hard tines in life. I just want to make people smile and feel good for 3.5 minutes of the day like my musical inspirations did for me!
What's your advice for people pursuing a career in music?
Get ready for a long, hard journey. One thing we are proud of in our band is that our road to having some success didn't come easy. We toured very hard and worked relentlessly in order to make this band work. Never stop working!Any special message to our readers?
Just that we are very thankful for anyone who listens to our music and comes to our shows.This is a fun, kind of random final question: there are movies like the Avengers and TV shows like Friends, what fictional group of characters do you feel is like you guys the most and why?
It is funny that you mentioned Friends because it is my favourite TV show of all time and I have watched every season 10 times! In terms of who we are like, I would say our tour bus is basically like watching any comedy movie. Lots of jokes and clowning around.
TRUE!
How did you decide to start working with body art & makeup?
I didn’t really decide, it was more of a natural transition. I was always drawing on myself or sneaking over to the makeup counter at my job. Skin was an accessible canvas to me with many options so being an illustrator, it just made sense to draw or paint on people.
When did you first get into Makeup & Body Art?
I was drawing on myself since I was little but it really became more obsessed with it as a young teenager. I started doing henna temporary tattoos on myself around the age of 14. By the time I was 16, I began to design tattoos for friends. At the age 18 I got into doing makeup at the counter of the department store where I worked. I didn't actually work in the Makeup Department, I would just sneak over to the makeup counter during my breaks and do my makeup or help customers. I used to get in trouble by my Manager all time for it and eventually they fired me.
How did you learn this awesome skill?
From high school into college, I was still doodling on my skin and doing more henna designs because that was all I knew I could do at the time. After I got fired, I found a job in news paper looking for temporary tattoo artists for parties. I didn't really know what it meant at the time so I went and did a "training" where I put ink transfer tattoos on some of the other applicants. My mind was blown away and instantly fell in love.
I got the job on the spot and everything went from there. First, I started doing tattoos for kids parties and then eventually it lead into doing temporary tattoos for tv, films and fashion. When I realized it's potential, I was determined to build my career in this world. I didn't really know anyone else who was doing this so I tried to find tattoos magazines and tribal body art books to get better idea of how to make the tattoos look more realistic. I watched every movie I could find with temporary tattoos and just practiced like crazy. Practice is everything! It's important to keep your skills sharp and advance with modern techniques otherwise you plateau.
You specializing in Temporary Tattoos, Airbrush & Body Makeup. Which do you enjoy the most?
Temporary Tattoos has always been my first love, but they all have so many different aspects to them that I enjoy. I like to mix it up so that my skills stay sharp in all. I airbrush the majority of my tattoos so those two are married together. It's nice to have a range in variety. Not only to have more creative outlets, it gives my clients more options.
What's a challenge you've run into in your profession and how did you overcome it? Time. In the beginning, the tattoos I made were completely custom and all done by hand. Real tattoos are done in sessions over long periods of time. I don't have that luxury on a film set or photoshoot so I have to constantly complete very complex designs in a short amount of time. Over the years there have been more advancements to improve the application process but still takes time.
Which would you say is more difficult, working with films/tv, in magazines, or on the runway? They all have different challenges. I always try to give a lot of attention to detail in all venues but the challenge with editorial is that more mistakes can be spotted since it's a still image. The runway has to be done very quickly to get the models onto the runway on time and since it's a live show there is no way to make adjustments once the models are in front of the audience. TV & film is now in Hi-Def so you need to be sure to your colors match the lighting properly and things on the skin are more flawless. We have also have more days where we shoot multiple actors that we need to have great continuity to match all their characters scenes.
Is it ever intimidating working with celebrities?
Not usually, I’ve always felt like I should treat everyone with the same respect and professionalism. Celebrities are regular people too with the same feelings and concerns most people have. They just have higher profile jobs. I just want them to have a pleasant experience when we work together.
Do you have a favorite experience with anyone in particular?
I really have been so lucky to have such amazing experiences with each individual, it's very hard to pick just one. You can connect with people on different levels, especially if they are artists or performers. There is a mutual understanding about your ambition and drive for your craft. I provide a specialty so if it's the first time someone is doing tattoos or body art, the client is pretty excited. It's almost always fun and a good time. I like that I can make people happy with a unique experience.
How does it feel to open a magazine and see your work inside?
Thrilling! Still to this day, it's one of the best feelings in the world. There's a sense of pride in sharing your art with the world. I feel it must be similar to looking at cave paintings. Leaving your mark in the world is the oldest art form.
Your work has also been featured in films and tv shows, what are some films/tv shows you've worked with?
I've gotten to be on set for some and others I've designed. A few are The Today Show, Nurse Jackie, Elementary, The Amazing Spider Man 2, The Bounty Hunter, Her Smell, No Alternative and a new movie coming out next year called The Outside Story.
Lastly, what's your advice for others trying to break into this competitive field? Work your ass off! Many give up quickly because it is a lot of hard work and long hours. Anything worth having takes a lot of time and effort. If you or someone else thinks that you can't do something, work as hard as you can to figure out a way to happen and proof to yourself that you can. New comers usually want a quick fix to immediate success. It took 20 years to become an overnight success. Be a leader not a follower. Create things that are new and inspiring. Define yourself the way you want, not the way others expect of you. I've always aimed for respect over fame. Fame can be fleeting but respect has more longevity. Protect your reputation, in this business it's more valuable than your next paycheck.
Do you want to see more from the amazing Jenai Chin? Check out her website & Instagram!
IG: Jenaichin
]]>You build bikes, you travel, you photograph. What would you say is your formal job title?
I pay the bills bartending at 2 super rad strip clubs in Portland, OR, Lucky Devil Lounge and Devils point. Both spots are really unique, we have all sorts of events like Stripperoke (yes you can karaoke there on stage while some foxy babe strips to your most likely terrible rendition of some 80's hair metal song), charity bikini car washes (essentially a real-life Whitesnake video), lube wrestling (better than anything you’ve seen on WWE) not to mention all the girls are insanely talented some award-winning performers. We have a poker game running every night and neither club is your typical hustle-y strip club. Just 2 awesome bars where you can gamble, drink, eat great food and there just so happens to be 6 insane babes dancing every night if you're into that too... which who wouldn’t be.
What’s been a new discovery for you in 2018?
I spent a lot of 2018 immersed in planning, training and going to Everest. However S&S Performance Cycles graciously hooked me up with a new top end for my Sportster engine that blew earlier in the year. It's allowed me to open up my engine and learn so much more about the mechanics of my bike versus the stuff I already feel comfortable with like fabrication, electrical and general maintenance.
What's your next trip?
Every other year I do a big motorcycle trip or a hiking/backpacking trip. Since I just got back from Everest, 2019 is all about a big motorcycle trip. Nothing planned out yet though, I have some ideas but currently in the middle of building a new bike.
When did you first strike an interest in bikes?
I've been interested in bikes for years because of my Dad, but I’ve been traveling so much since then owning one wasn’t a priority. I've only owned my own bike(s) since 2016.
What was your first experience like riding a motorcycle?
I can't remember my first experience riding a motorcycle, but I vividly remember my first motorcycle trip. I bought this purple Sportster with an Indian horse head airbrushed on the tank from a little old lady out on the Oregon coast and immediately starting planning a trip to ride it to the Grand Canyon by myself, before even getting comfortable on it. Within 6 weeks I was off to Yellowstone, Tetons, seeing Willie Nelson in Salt Lake, heading south hitting up antelope canyon, monument valley, Zion, arches, canyon lands, the Grand Canyon and back up north through Death Valley, Yosemite, and Crater lake, being filthy from the road and camping the entire time. I've been to all those places prior to that trip but seeing them from a bike is so different, I didn’t expect that at first for some reason. Doing trips like that on a bike forces you to constantly be present, engaged and experiencing everything. When you’re in a car you don’t think about things as much, you zone out to the radio, you’re comfortable in air conditioning, shielded from the weather, not worried if you hit a pothole or road-kill, there's a giant metal barrier between you and the world around you. It's almost the difference between watching a sport on TV versus being in the game.
And when did you start traveling?
I started traveling a lot when I joined Suicide Girls. It was a very different type of traveling than I do now though, it was more geared around cities where nowadays I really only travel to hike.
Speaking of Suicide Girls, when did you first get into modeling?
I joined Suicide Girls in 2008 and stayed with the company for 5-6 years. Did a lot of things with that company, everything from modeling, shooting, photo assistant work, styling, recruiting, and worked endless comic & tattoo conventions and even was the model coordinator at one point.
Having a large following on Social Media, are you recognized by people in person?
It's really far and few between, which I'm really thankful for. I easily get shy and awkward when approached in the wild haha. I rarely post photos of myself nowadays and mainly share my hobbies. Back in the day when I was posting a lot about SG (Suicide Girls) and going to conventions, it was more frequent.
Tell us what you think about Social Media, the good and the bad?
I love it. I use Instagram for multiple things; keeping up with friends I've met through traveling, my family, inspiration on my motorcycles, look for motorcycle parts on IG even, I check geotags to see what the snow level is on certain alpine trails before hiking them. I do a lot of trip planning though Instagram in general.
And what do you prefer, being in front of or behind the camera? And why?
100 percent behind the camera. It's so satisfying to hike, climb or build something and share your point of view, capture it in a way that makes it look as grand as it feels to have accomplished it. The older I get the more reluctant I am to shoot, not because I'm insecure about being older, I feel better than I ever have, it's just I'm more reluctant to feel vulnerable or judged. I know who I am and how I feel and modeling just makes me feel like I'm being put under a microscope to only post and have an open forum about how others view me physically in the comments below; I welcome that same open forum when it involves my hobbies, interests, and passions. I like engaging when it comes to that. Reading comments about inspiring people to get outside or build something versus having strangers approve or disapprove how I physically look is way more satisfying.
Now let's talk about tattoos, what's your favorite style and why?
I like a lot of different styles of tattoos, some of the stuff artists today are putting out is mind-blowing. There's so much talent out there. I personally started getting traditional tattoos in my early 20's and have tried to stick with that so it looks cohesive.
Tell us about your most recent tattoo?
My most recent tattoo is some script saying “higher than the sky” on the side of my right hand and “ deeper than the ocean” on the side of my left.
What inspired it?
It was a phrase my 6-year-old sister picked up from a cartoon, she started saying “love you higher than the sky, deeper than the ocean” so frequently other members of my family started saying it as well. Despite living across the country from my family we’re all really close, I'm super thankful for that.
Do you get most of your tattoos from the same studio/shop or on your travels from different artists?
The majority of my tattoos are from 3 different artists in the midwest. I try to make them look like the same person did them all so one doesn’t stand out more than the other. Part of me wishes I would’ve gotten tattoos while traveling though, it's just when I started traveling I kind of stopped getting tattoos. I try to juggle only one expensive hobby at a time haha.
What's your best piece of advice when it comes to traveling? Experience a non-western country at least once in your life.
What are three things you need with you on the road? Well, it's dependent on what kind of trip I'm doing. If it's a motorcycle trip then 1. Tool kit because there's never a day that goes by where you’re not tinkering on your bike on the side of the road. 2. Spare gas, the tank on my chopper only gets me about 70-75 miles at a time, depending on where you’re at it's easy to find a stretch of highway where you don’t pass a gas station for 100 miles. 3. My boot knife, I mainly use it for practical reasons but I do travel alone most of the time so it doesn’t hurt to have something for protection as well.
So my first question is, was MMA fighting, was it like love at first sight for you? Um, I guess, yeah, it kind of was like, I wanted to, I knew that if it was something that I was interested in that I would fight but it was something that I picked up relatively quickly. So I knew that down the line like I was going to fight, but really it was more of just like self-defense. I kind of was just seeing if I like it. And I did.
And you just got started with the bark box affiliate. What is that exactly? It's super exciting. So it's every month they send you items based on your dog and his breed, his age or her age and they send you treats and toys for them every month. And it's great because they have, like if you have a dog that's a really big chewer and chews through everything they have toys they have like their super chewer kind of pack. Like for Odin, he's a puppy. So they're going to send him like a lot of stuff that is going to help with teething and all that kind of stuff. It's really, really great. I love it and I'm excited to keep getting it.
What job do you think that you'd have if you didn't get into MMA?
I really have no idea. I never really had like any, I don't have any qualifications or anything like that. Um, I've been to uni or college, is what you guys call it here. I'd been a few times that I have, I've almost completed a few degrees that those never really anything I was interested in I guess like if I really, if I really had to think about it, I'd love to work with like troubled teens and stuff like that because I feel like, you know, my story and my upbringing and I feel like I'm able to relate to them a lot, and maybe help them in some ways. So that's probably something that I'd be interested in if I wasn't fighting.
And do you have any tattoos right now that represent your MMA career? Um, no I don't.
Do you have any ideas in the making? Not really. I never really thought about getting an MMA tattoo. I just have everything else!
One thing that you have that we liked, is you have the word life behind your ear, what inspired you to get that in that location?
So my dad is Scottish. He was born in Scotland and what it is, it's a "Pictish" symbol, which is the ancient people of Scotland. It's a symbol for life and I really like it. I got it behind my ear because it's something small. It's like a place that like you can kind of see it, but sometimes you can't, like keep my head down and stuff like that. So it's kind of hidden but not if my hair is up. I was going through a really, really hard time and I had been in the hospital for mental health and stuff like that and I, you know, I was, through it and it was kind of like I got that, I think when I really like really okay, like I got through that period in my life and I was kind of like on the other side.
And another amazing one is you have a tattoo of a woman's face on your leg. What inspired that one?
Well, on my leg I'm trying to do my whole leg sleeve and it's Viking themed. So the girl and the side is the Valkyrie. Um, I really liked that, you know, that I have her there because, you know, valkyries are like warriors. They're, they're strong, they're amazing women and I feel, you know, I aspire to be strong independent, like someone who inspires people and I hope that I can help other people, you know, feel that way about themselves as well.
What's your favorite tattoo?
I have this really small tattoo and a lot of people kind of miss it because it's on the inside of my wrist, it was a filler piece that came together kind of last minute while we were filling in the spot. It's like a mini graveyard like it has tombstones and it's like on a hill. It has a fence and a tree with no leaves, the full moon, and one of the tombstones says R.I.P. It's really cool. That's my favorite.
And going back to what we talked about earlier, if you didn't get involved in MMA, you used to do reception/administrative work. What you do now is obviously more physical, do you prefer having a more active job?
Yeah, I do, it used to drive me crazy. You're sitting in a desk all the time and like it, it really also depends on the job, like, sometimes you get a shitty boss or work gets a little bit more tedious. I definitely like having a more active job. Admittedly though like it is a lot more tiring and sometimes I need a nap in the middle of the day because I'm so tired, because I train all the time. But I definitely like being physical with my job now.
And when you first started and then they fighting, what did your family and friends, were they surprised? My Mom was kind of really surprised and she thought I was gonna, like eventually just quit and do something else. And it was just something that I've stuck with and eventually I kept winning fights and she was like, oh, well maybe you are kind of okay at this. They've always been supportive. They've supported my move over here, they supported everything. So I'm super grateful for the support of my family.
And fighting can be dangerous. What's the worst injury you've gotten so far?
I've never really gotten any injuries. Um, I've never been injured in a fight, but I know I have been injured in training. I've dislocated my shoulder and tore my ac joint a few years ago. As well as uh, what else did I do? I've torn my ankle, the joint of my ankle, ligaments and that wasn't pleasant either. But that's really the extent of my injuries. There's always like muscle soreness and that kind of stuff or like you get a knee to the thigh and you're like, ouch, but that's kind of was really it. I've been pretty blessed when it comes to being injury free.
And becoming a well-known fighter and having fans what's like the weirdest experience you've had with a fan approaching you?
Um, I've had like people at like, like I was at Freddy's a few weeks ago, like right after my fight and I had a fan come up to me and try and tell me everything I needed to work on and stuff like that. It's like, "...okay," like it's fine. Like I'm used to people coming up to me and stuff like that it's just still like a really weird notion to me that like people recognize me and like it was just so weird, because I was with a friend eating and this person's like interrupting our dinner to tell me what I needed to work on. And I was like, oh, can we... can we not do this? I just want to eat my burger.
I always get people online and be like, oh, can you knock me out? I want to be punched really hard. And I'm like, you are weird, sir.
So before you joined MMA, were you a fan of any particular MMA fighter?
I'm not really. I never really had an idol or anything like that in MMA and I still really don't. There are people that like, I liked their fighting style and stuff like that, but I never really, I guess idolized anyone or looked up to anyone. I'm like a firm believer that like we're all our own individual. So I'm like, I don't, I'm not a big fan of people trying to emulate other people. I understand like there's parts of different people that you can take, that you know might work for you or you like how this person interacts with the public or how this person speaks, but like I think, you know, we're all individuals and you should embrace that. Don't try to be like anybody else.
And working around other women with a mix of personalities. Was it difficult to make connections or friendships with other people? (other women that you work around or that you see when you're doing training or do you train mostly by yourself? )
I've mostly trained with guys, like there are a few girls at the gym but they're all like a lower weight class. So like I don't really train with them. Some of them I actually helped coach and like I'll do stuff with them and there's a lot of them are just starting out their kind of MMA career. I try to help them out as much as I can and kind of impart that knowledge that, you know, I just wish somebody had told me back then.
It's good to hear women supporting each other women and not being jealous of each other because you see a lot of that like in social media sometimes.
And like admittedly there are times like I look at like, I have a lot of my own issues and stuff like that. There's like, I have a lot of issues with the way I look in my own insecurities. So sometimes it is hard going on social media and seeing other people who I think are, you know, amazing and they're pretty and I'm like, man, I wish I was like that or stuff like that.
But it's like they're on their own journey and I'm on mine. They're doing what they're doing, it doesn't have anything to do with me and what I'm doing has nothing to do with them. So I just have to realize like, my time will come and I will get the recognition I deserve and I'll get that by putting in the hard work.
I feel like we all are inspired by people and also have our own insecurities. So it's like this weird kind of cycle that we go through. Like someone I think is inspiring or might find me inspiring and like vice versa, like it's just so crazy how we all kind of like interact like that.
And for women or girls out there facing like on social media, what's your advice or your words of wisdom for them? Bullying online has become more common, because now bullies can hide behind their computer.
Oh, I know. I've had a lot of that. I get that, a lot of that, every post I put up has someone who always got something to say honestly. There's no point in trying to like pretend it's not there. It's so hard because you tell someone not to look at the piece of paper but like that's what they want to do. They're going to. They're like, oh, I need to look at it. It's just ingrained in their heads like, oh, someone tells me not to do something, that's what I want to do. So it's hard to try and tell people, like young women, to just ignore it because that's a lie. Like you're going to see it, you're going to see it every day, like even if you don't try to you; it just happens. You're going to see a comment here and there and like it's going to get you down.
But honestly I think the biggest thing for me was, these are people who don't know you, you've never met them and they don't know who you are. They don't know what type of person you are, they don't know your work ethic, they don't know how much of an amazing person you are. All they see is what they want on social media and like you have to really think about it being this: this is someone that really shouldn't hold any value in your life.
This is someone who you've never met. So it's really, I guess it's really more about learning to accept who you are as a person and only valuing the people that really matter. Like your family. We find people like your close friends or coaches or teachers or whoever you can really confide in, or that you trust implicitly with like helping you grow or helping your career, or helping you become the person you want to be like, you find those people and then they're the people that you trust. They're the people that you listened to.
Photos by Steve Prue
Little intro question, where were you born and raised?
I was born in Orange County, CA and raised in Monroe, LA and now happily terrorizing the mid-west in Louisville, KY.
What started your interest in art?
I’m not sure if it was ever "started" so much as it was always there. I was handed a crayon or other writing tool well before I could even talk. Art is pretty much all I have ever known…it is me.
When did you know you wanted to turn that into a career?
To be honest, I don’t ever remember wanting to do anything else…well, maybe becoming a stuntman but I do that on my own anyway so, yeah…both life goals reached. (Hahaha)
You've worked with a variety of companies, large and small, what's been a favorite experience and why?
I have been very lucky to find myself in way out of my league but somehow it always seems to work out. Working with big companies is almost always easier than working with some individuals and especially easier than with small companies. I guess the big ones just don’t micromanage as much because they don’t have as much on the line so they are usually almost absent from the process, pay on time, and expect only what they paid for… probably one of the reasons they grew to be a big company.
How would you describe your style of artwork?
Handcrafted stupidity. (Hahaha) I’m just having fun and I don’t take myself too seriously, however, I do take my craft very seriously. Really in the end the only thing that matters is the art. I don’t concern myself with labels and genres to attach my work to, it is what it is, call it what you want.
Can you name some of the influences/mentors you've had in your career?
Wow… this question is always hard because with the way information is so easily shared these days, everyone influences everyone. As for mentors, never really had any, I just dive into everything head first and get it done. Sure there have been a few folks that showed me a thing or two but nothing worth mentioning. In fact, most folks who step in to “show you how to do it “ mislead you, bullshit their way through it, and simply aren’t good enough to show you anything. I think we have all encountered those guys. I always think that if you figure it out yourself through trial and error (mostly error) you are better in the end.
What do you enjoy focusing on the most posters, stickers, t-shirts, hot rod paint jobs?
Not to be cheesy but, my family is the main focus, art is just me…there is no separation for me. As for what I like to do most…drawing and painting. I am very analog, I believe real art requires dirty hands and not carpal tunnel from sitting at your computer.
Now let's talk about tattoos: What's your most recent tattoo?
I just received a new tattoo last week from my good friend, Jeana (@jeanajanetattoos ) of a fun little family totem on the back of my left calf. It is of a fox head, a skull, and a light bulb to represent Sarah, myself, and our son, Edison.
Are your tattoos influenced by your own artwork?
My tattoos are a collection of different artist’s work and a few of my own pieces, I like seeing other folks art around me and on me.
What's your next tattoo endeavor?
Our next visit to a tattoo shop will be for Sarah’s new piece. It is a shoulder/ 3/4 sleeve that she and I collaborated on…not sure she could be more beautiful but if it is possible, this tattoo will do it.
What's the next overall project for you?
I am actually working on three separate series of paintings that are not only completely different than each other, but totally different than any work you have ever seen from me in the past. I really had to shake it up a bit because I have been feeling really bored with my normal work. It’s a good idea to throw a creative wrench into your well-oiled machine from time to time. I say all the time, “Grow or Die “ and I mean it. Nothing in life stays the same, nothing. Life is always changing, the world is always moving, we are not in control so we must take control of all we can and rock it with all we have.
When did you start creating art with your wife, Sarah?
Sarah and I have been working creatively in one way or another for 16 years. We met while I was working a gaming convention airbrushing computer cases and life just took over from there. She is my muse, my best friend, the love of my life, and definitely a badass artist with or without me.
Would you say your styles are similar or contrasting?
I would say our styles are very different but the connecting force is our obsession with detail and color. We are both pretty determined to make the world look the way we think it should and that is often totally different but equally as valid.
Together how do you guys come up with ideas or keep each other motivated?
We definitely interject our thoughts but neither of us have much need for motivation from outside forces… we both seem to suffer from having way more ideas than we will ever have time to get them all done.
What's your advice for artists who are just starting out?
Commit 100% and don’t have a backup plan… die trying. Having a backup plan is like a safety net… knowing you can fall without harm, you aren’t going to try nearly as hard. Having options within your creative career aren’t back up plans, they are just more ways to move forward or facilitate your next step. Always look to the next stage of your art/career, don’t dwell on the past… you aren’t there anymore and you will never be there again… know that. While we are on this subject, I would like to address a major piece of bullshit we have all heard… “ If you sell your art to ( insert company, person, etc… here ) then you are a SELLOUT! “ This is like a mental cancer that people with no fucking clue like to tell people who are actually doing it. Selling your art makes you a PROFESSIONAL ARTIST. The “artist” who works some other job and doesn’t make art to sell because they don’t want to be a sellout is the perfect example of someone who knows they can’t sell their art and has actually sold themselves out. When someone tells you “ you can’t “ or “ You shouldn’t “ that just means they can’t or they shouldn’t… you alone decide what you can or should do, fuck them.
Bonus Question:
Can you tell us about how you got into screenprinting posters? What's the biggest challenge with that and the biggest payoff or benefit?
Screen printing has been part of my art in one way or another since the late ‘80s, but I first noticed screen printed posters in the early ‘90s and I knew that was something for me. I worked with other printers for many years before deciding to print my own posters. So in 2005, Crackhead Press was born with two friends… Justin Kamerer and Bill Green. We printed hundreds of gig posters and art prints all the way up to this year when I sold out my half of the shop to Justin. I really wanted to focus on my paintings and other art. Bill had already moved away about 10 years ago. Screen printing posters is a serious undertaking, very time consuming and generally a huge pain in the ass. The posters themselves are rarely the actual pay off but they are like a super rad, giant business card. Obviously, there is some monetary gain but mostly it’s just the cool factor of working with the bands I like and seeing my art out in the world. Art prints have been a real passion for me, letting the art speak for itself without a band name or event tied to it… a true test of art and artist. I still love making prints but will not likely be printing with my own hands for a while if ever again… I will just hire one of my crazy print ninja friends to do them for me.
Check out more amazing artwork by Jeral by clicking here!
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Photos By Dizzle and Izzy
Let's talk about that 80's and 90's nostalgia. What are a few of your favorite things you remember from your childhood?
I clearly remember me being such a huge fan of Masters of the Universe; that was my go-to toy, my Mom went out and bought doubles in case I ever broke them. A matter of fact,
I still have a carded He-Man and Battle Armor He-Man that my Mom had duplicates of.
Those things obviously had an influence on the radical products you bring to the masses now, what are your favorite projects you’ve worked on so far? Any crazy stories behind an idea?
So one of our best selling tees was the Rap Ninjas and I was so against it. My partner, Alex, said trust me; it took a day or two to sleep on it. We clearly decided to design it and once released people went crazy for it, we now have to do pre-orders to make sure everyone that wants one gets one.
Name your absolute favorite Arnold Schwarzenegger film (before 1999)
Kindergarden Cop (duh!) or I guess Terminator 2.
You go to a lot of comic/pop culture cons ...any you haven't been to yet that would
(Arnold Schwarzenegger voice: ) Pump you up?! Or be on your bucket list?
I try to attend as many as possible where I live (Miami, Florida.) I did just get to meet Alan Oppenheimer (voice of Skeletor) that's was probably a bucket list meet and greet.
You also do a lot of collabs with really awesome artists, especially fat, heavily tattooed bald guys whose name might start with a T...how do those come about and what's the process like? Any future plans to do that more?
Oh yeah, worst experience ever!!! Totally kidding, Thom Bulman is awesome. Was actually following his work way before he became an A-list celeb after Ink Master. (Hahaha)
So I usually will just reach out to artists that are into what we stand for. Once they see our page they’re hooked. So with Thom, it was instant collaboration.
We’ve done 2 pins so far which have done amazing and we just might be working on something else… Let's see!!
Your He-Man line launched in August and it appears to look like a big hit! What's on the docket for later this year? Ever consider a Madball line? You can't go wrong with mutants, ooze, snot, and monsters!
Our Masters Collection was a success!!! We got a few things cooking at the moment, make sure to follow @ToySnobs on Instagram for sneak peeks!!!
Madballs is definitely a line we'd love to work with, a matter of fact, I reached out to the licensing company a few weeks back to inquire some information to work with them. TBA
True or False...you have a Pee-Wee Herman tattoo
This is true and yes! I grew up watching him and memorizing the movie (Big Adventure) So it was a given I get it tattooed.
What future tattoos are you looking to add to your collection and any artists you're looking to get tattooed by? (*cough, me *cough )
I totally want to do a Hero vs. Villains piece on my thighs. That's in the future for sure. I’d love to get it done by Thom, maybe we can figure something out!
Thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy day to do this interview... 1 last question...if there was a dream brand you wanted to work with who would it be?
No, thank you so much- this was so much fun! We are really cool with a lot of brands out there but if I had to say one it would be Creepy Co. They’ve been so supportive since day one. Let's see what the future holds.
Plug time! Where can the cyber nerds find you and your sweet threads?
Please check us out a
WWW.TOYSNOBS.COM and make sure to stalk us on all social media @toysnobs
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Being a street artist, you run the risk of having your art covered by other artists’ work/painting. Does that ever deter you from wanting to continue working in the graffiti world?
My work gets painted over all the time and over the years it bothers me less.
it's not like I'm going to stop painting if someone lines me out; it would be pretty funny if I did though. Maybe if I had another job, I might have a tantrum and quit (haha.)
You have a solo show coming up in August to celebrate the anniversary of the discovery of helium - how do you generally prepare yourself for shows? Any quirky superstitions or routines?
My show in August is approaching fast, as usual, last min travel for work jobs have come up in between so the usual last min panicking and painting 24/7 is going to happen. That seems to be tradition, I work better under pressure.
Do you have a favorite city you enjoy working in the most?
I don't have a favorite city to paint in but I think Berlin, as a whole, has become one of the best places to produce work due to the number of like-minded friends I meet up with when I'm there.
You have #highfive repeatedly found on your Instagram account- any particular relevance or personal affiliation to your art?
The "high 5" is just a tacky gimmick of mine to throw up in high places around the world. (If you let go of a helium balloon - it floats up high.)
So, painting fives in high up places like mountains or skyscrapers seemed to make that gimmick/throwie make sense.
What other artists or people have you been inspired by?
I am inspired by my friends, not directly from certain artists, but maybe the mindset and drive of some of them. I used to struggle with controlling my urge to party while I painted, finally got that under control and it's down to my friends. They know who they are.
What's the hardest part of your job?
I'd say the hardest part of my job might be getting enough sleep, as an insomniac that travels through time zones. That and eating properly and not living off of pizza. Also, paint orders seem to have messed up quite frequently recently and when you are the other side of the world with nothing else to do, that can turn out to be a nightmare.
What was it like seeing your work on Fox Five news?
Someone sent me a screenshot of my work on fox 5 news. To be honest, it doesn't mean too much seeing that, they never credit you as an artist and they say whatever they want about it, so it makes no difference whatsoever.
what's the best advice you've gotten on your work or before you did this professionally?
I think the best advice has been there for years without me noticing it. It's only when I'm doing things properly that I get occasional flashbacks from old teachers' advice telling me to do stuff properly. My Grandad always said "try and be sensible," that's still the best advice I think I've ever had.
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