chief108
25th March 2010, 14:30
SOURCE (http://www.prickmag.net/feature.php?name=keithciaramello)
By Lyndsey Sargenthttp://www.prickmag.net/spacer.gif Photos courtesy of Keith Ciaramellohttp://www.prickmag.net/spacer.gif
From the September 2009 issue of PRICK Magazine
http://www.prickmag.net/images/Sep09/keithciaramelloefeature1.jpg http://www.prickmag.net/pixel.gif
This month’s Artist Spotlight features Keith Ciaramello, an award-winning tattoo artist who owns Kustom Kulture Ink in Baldwin, N.Y. Ciaramello’s impressive work specializes in color realism and illustrative tattoos. One our writers was lucky enough to ask Ciaramello about his thoughts on tattooing, art, and life.
Can you go into your background as a tattoo artist?
I had always drawn since I was a little kid. I used to do all the flyer art for the metal bands I was in back in the ‘80s. After realizing that my career as a heavy metal drummer was costing me 8k a year, I started looking for other options.
The first thing I did was bring my drawings to comic book conventions.After a few runs at that I realized it wasn't for me. Then my older brother Kenny wanted me to custom paint motorcycles. The problem was that everyone I knew who painted bikes back then was all goofy from breathing in the fumes [laughs].
God called me to tattooing. I didn't believe in God at the time, but looking back I have to admit the thought just came from outside of me..."be a tattoo artist." My brother introduced me to a guy named Frank Delisi. Frank liked my drawings and let me hang around his shop. Eventually he gave in and taught me the fundamentals. He also helped me get my first set up. It was still hard to get into the tattoo world back then.That was 1993. After Frank's I went on to work alongside of some of the best tattoo artists on Long Island at several different shops. I was lucky to get in when I did.
http://www.prickmag.net/images/keithciaramelloefeature2.jpg
How did you go about opening your own shop?
What was the decision process like? After about ten years of tattooing and managing a few shops for other people, I was getting burned out. I worked in a lot of "get 'em in and out" shops, and was doing tons of flash. I didn't feel creative at all.A custom tattoo for me back then was a piece of flash with a few changes.
I decided to leave tattooing and go into commercial art. During that time I worked for marketing and advertising companies, a lot of freelancing too. Eventually, I landed a job at World Wrestling Entertainment. My stay at WWE was great. I was treated very well and worked on high profile creative projects that are now a part of the WWE legacy. It was pretty hard to resign from WWE, but tattooing was calling me back. I had also seen a lot of layoffs in the commercial art world. It was time to open my own business, on my own terms. Kustom Kulture Ink was born.
What are the ups and downs of owning your place, of being the boss?
In the last six years I have literally had a dozen different employees. I have just taken on another very promising group of artists, potentially the best yet. I try to see things from a teacher's prospective. I show them tattoo technique, machine tuning, art theory, painting technique, design, marketing, publicity...everything I can offer them.When you're a teacher, students will come and go.At best you have about four years to make an impression on them. You'll have some "graduates" and some "drop-outs," but in the end you can only be responsible for yourself.
http://www.prickmag.net/images/keithciaramelloefeature3.jpg
What would your job be if you weren't a tattoo artist?
A non-artist job? I would be a small claims court judge, with a TV show of course. I've also imagined myself as a detective for the police department.
How is life now compared to ten or fifteen years ago?
Fifteen years ago I was suicidal, using drugs, drinking, smoking, lonely, depressed, mourning the loss of family and friends, lying to people, completely self-centered and believed in nothing. Now, I'm blessed. God has changed my entire life. Clean, sober, happily married, successful, serving the community, true to myself, nothing to hide, filled with passion, filled with hope, wanting to share my gifts with the world. Life is completely different now. I love my life.
http://www.prickmag.net/images/keithciaramelloefeature5.jpg
I saw on your website that you occasionally do live painting and art. Is your shop very art-centric?
Art-centric? Sure. It's Art-o-riffic! I try to make working here "art fantasy camp" whenever possible. I take the guys on outings to gallery shows,museums, seminars, and into the studios of other artist friends of mine.This is on top of all the guest tattoo artists and painters who already come to the shop to visit and give their seminars and workshops.We go out to other venues and paint live as well. There is always something going on to keep everyone stimulated and inspired. I'm always looking for young artists who are stuck and trying to get to the next level with their work/career. If that's you and you are reading this you should contact me.Working here has helped many artists just like you.
What is in store for the future of Kustom Kulture, yourself, and your employees?
Well, first of all we have moved to a bigger more luxurious location. A beautiful two-story building, around the corner from our old shop. The new place houses a library for reference books, a spacious tattoo studio with flat screen TV in each area, a full fine art and digital production studio upstairs and a twenty-seat classroom space for future seminars and workshops. In the coming months I will put up the new calendar for ‘09-‘10.We will continue to hold all of the seminars, classes, and events we have been known for, and more incredible guest tattoo artists are on the way.The new space has allowed me to consider some new ideas that will surprise you. Go to the website and join our mailing list for updates via e-mail. This year I am doing a lot of commissions, paintings for shows, and editions. The editions are signed and numbered, hand enhanced, low run (twenty pieces), giclees on canvas. I'll post them online as they become available. I will also bring a few to conventions. Also look for me to do more painting demos at upcoming conventions.
I am happy to give PRICK the scoop on two huge announcements. First, a project six years in the making; "The Kustom Kulture Gallery Years Book." We have taken well over 30,000 photos in the last six years from all of the happenings at the shop.We are taking only the best photos and making the ultimate eye candy experience. This book will be a limited edition, slipcased, hardcover with DVD and an exclusive signed and numbered art print included. Second, I will be releasing my first two instructional DVDs, Keep it Simple and Keep it Real. The first will be a recap of tattooing fundamentals. I've been blown away by the number of experienced artists that I've come across who don't know about something as important as using an eye loupe to check their needles.This DVD is for people who are already tattooing professionally, but feel like they want to be sure they are doing everything they can to practice their art safely and professionally.The second DVD is a version of the seminar I've been giving at conventions, but with a lot of extras. I'll make them available individually and as a set. Pre-order info will be available via our emailing list. Please go to the website and join www.kustomkultureink.com.
http://www.prickmag.net/images/keithciaramelloefeature6.jpg
By Lyndsey Sargenthttp://www.prickmag.net/spacer.gif Photos courtesy of Keith Ciaramellohttp://www.prickmag.net/spacer.gif
From the September 2009 issue of PRICK Magazine
http://www.prickmag.net/images/Sep09/keithciaramelloefeature1.jpg http://www.prickmag.net/pixel.gif
This month’s Artist Spotlight features Keith Ciaramello, an award-winning tattoo artist who owns Kustom Kulture Ink in Baldwin, N.Y. Ciaramello’s impressive work specializes in color realism and illustrative tattoos. One our writers was lucky enough to ask Ciaramello about his thoughts on tattooing, art, and life.
Can you go into your background as a tattoo artist?
I had always drawn since I was a little kid. I used to do all the flyer art for the metal bands I was in back in the ‘80s. After realizing that my career as a heavy metal drummer was costing me 8k a year, I started looking for other options.
The first thing I did was bring my drawings to comic book conventions.After a few runs at that I realized it wasn't for me. Then my older brother Kenny wanted me to custom paint motorcycles. The problem was that everyone I knew who painted bikes back then was all goofy from breathing in the fumes [laughs].
God called me to tattooing. I didn't believe in God at the time, but looking back I have to admit the thought just came from outside of me..."be a tattoo artist." My brother introduced me to a guy named Frank Delisi. Frank liked my drawings and let me hang around his shop. Eventually he gave in and taught me the fundamentals. He also helped me get my first set up. It was still hard to get into the tattoo world back then.That was 1993. After Frank's I went on to work alongside of some of the best tattoo artists on Long Island at several different shops. I was lucky to get in when I did.
http://www.prickmag.net/images/keithciaramelloefeature2.jpg
How did you go about opening your own shop?
What was the decision process like? After about ten years of tattooing and managing a few shops for other people, I was getting burned out. I worked in a lot of "get 'em in and out" shops, and was doing tons of flash. I didn't feel creative at all.A custom tattoo for me back then was a piece of flash with a few changes.
I decided to leave tattooing and go into commercial art. During that time I worked for marketing and advertising companies, a lot of freelancing too. Eventually, I landed a job at World Wrestling Entertainment. My stay at WWE was great. I was treated very well and worked on high profile creative projects that are now a part of the WWE legacy. It was pretty hard to resign from WWE, but tattooing was calling me back. I had also seen a lot of layoffs in the commercial art world. It was time to open my own business, on my own terms. Kustom Kulture Ink was born.
What are the ups and downs of owning your place, of being the boss?
In the last six years I have literally had a dozen different employees. I have just taken on another very promising group of artists, potentially the best yet. I try to see things from a teacher's prospective. I show them tattoo technique, machine tuning, art theory, painting technique, design, marketing, publicity...everything I can offer them.When you're a teacher, students will come and go.At best you have about four years to make an impression on them. You'll have some "graduates" and some "drop-outs," but in the end you can only be responsible for yourself.
http://www.prickmag.net/images/keithciaramelloefeature3.jpg
What would your job be if you weren't a tattoo artist?
A non-artist job? I would be a small claims court judge, with a TV show of course. I've also imagined myself as a detective for the police department.
How is life now compared to ten or fifteen years ago?
Fifteen years ago I was suicidal, using drugs, drinking, smoking, lonely, depressed, mourning the loss of family and friends, lying to people, completely self-centered and believed in nothing. Now, I'm blessed. God has changed my entire life. Clean, sober, happily married, successful, serving the community, true to myself, nothing to hide, filled with passion, filled with hope, wanting to share my gifts with the world. Life is completely different now. I love my life.
http://www.prickmag.net/images/keithciaramelloefeature5.jpg
I saw on your website that you occasionally do live painting and art. Is your shop very art-centric?
Art-centric? Sure. It's Art-o-riffic! I try to make working here "art fantasy camp" whenever possible. I take the guys on outings to gallery shows,museums, seminars, and into the studios of other artist friends of mine.This is on top of all the guest tattoo artists and painters who already come to the shop to visit and give their seminars and workshops.We go out to other venues and paint live as well. There is always something going on to keep everyone stimulated and inspired. I'm always looking for young artists who are stuck and trying to get to the next level with their work/career. If that's you and you are reading this you should contact me.Working here has helped many artists just like you.
What is in store for the future of Kustom Kulture, yourself, and your employees?
Well, first of all we have moved to a bigger more luxurious location. A beautiful two-story building, around the corner from our old shop. The new place houses a library for reference books, a spacious tattoo studio with flat screen TV in each area, a full fine art and digital production studio upstairs and a twenty-seat classroom space for future seminars and workshops. In the coming months I will put up the new calendar for ‘09-‘10.We will continue to hold all of the seminars, classes, and events we have been known for, and more incredible guest tattoo artists are on the way.The new space has allowed me to consider some new ideas that will surprise you. Go to the website and join our mailing list for updates via e-mail. This year I am doing a lot of commissions, paintings for shows, and editions. The editions are signed and numbered, hand enhanced, low run (twenty pieces), giclees on canvas. I'll post them online as they become available. I will also bring a few to conventions. Also look for me to do more painting demos at upcoming conventions.
I am happy to give PRICK the scoop on two huge announcements. First, a project six years in the making; "The Kustom Kulture Gallery Years Book." We have taken well over 30,000 photos in the last six years from all of the happenings at the shop.We are taking only the best photos and making the ultimate eye candy experience. This book will be a limited edition, slipcased, hardcover with DVD and an exclusive signed and numbered art print included. Second, I will be releasing my first two instructional DVDs, Keep it Simple and Keep it Real. The first will be a recap of tattooing fundamentals. I've been blown away by the number of experienced artists that I've come across who don't know about something as important as using an eye loupe to check their needles.This DVD is for people who are already tattooing professionally, but feel like they want to be sure they are doing everything they can to practice their art safely and professionally.The second DVD is a version of the seminar I've been giving at conventions, but with a lot of extras. I'll make them available individually and as a set. Pre-order info will be available via our emailing list. Please go to the website and join www.kustomkultureink.com.
http://www.prickmag.net/images/keithciaramelloefeature6.jpg