Full Name: Timothy Hoyer
Age: 38
Currently Residing: Brooklyn, New York
Currently Listening to: Stars of the Lid
When I was younger, a lot younger, which was only like 4 years ago...I used to hang out in a tattoo shop called Way Cool Tattoos in Richmond, VA. I would just go there to hang out, help out if I could, and make fun of people who didn't know how to spell their girlfriend's name. It was here I met the likes of Jason Hobbie and Jeff Eden. I knew I was destined to get tattoos. It was so ingrained into my social circles that it was inevitable. I just liked the culture and it was a very underground thing at that time. I watched my friends get inked and pierced on a regular basis while I thought of things I wanted and how I would hide it from my very strict mother.During those years I ended up hearing about and meeting briefly a tattoo artist by the name of Timothy Hoyer. Barely settled in Richmond and he was the talk of the town. It was years ago since I've seen Timothy and I'm happy to know he's alive and well and tattooing skillfully. Most importantly he's back in New York and working again with the magical Chris O'Donnell at New York Adorned's new Brooklyn studio.
His skin art is as distinctive as his paintings. His work reminds me of a vivid dream in a foreign land in an era far, far away. They are eloquent and strong images, mythological if you will, almost nightmarish.
Although Timothy seems to be concerned about his gaining years, which I can totally relate to, he still is quite youthful. The truth is, his wisdom is written on his sleeve and in the art he creates. I am truly privilege to have this feature as I have a ton of respect and adoration for this guy's work.
Welcome back to New York...how does it feel?
I can't even describe how good it feels to be living in New York again. It's almost a relief in a weird way..I've been thinking about moving back for so many years.
What do you feel you are known for as far as your tattooing style?
I have no idea anymore. I started off doing these kind of painterly, rendered tattoos in the beginning but in the past few years I've gone completely the opposite way. My work now is much more stripped-down and traditional. I do know that people come to me with pretty good ideas most of the time, things I can sink my teeth into.
What are you really into now?
Lately I feel the best when I'm oil painting. It's so unrestrained compared to tattooing and I can really let loose and experiment.
What's something recently you've been challenged with?
Everything. I've been trying to be a better designer and streamline everything, refine things a bit more.
As many years as you've been tattooing, you've seen a lot, how has that made you the artist you are today?
I think it's a just a bit of a deeper pool to draw from, having all those experiences. One of the benefits of getting old!
Have you traveled recently and if so where was the last place?
Not much traveling lately, I'm staying in New York for awhile to get established and get some painting done over the winter. I used to drive cross country every summer and there's been some talk of doing it again in summer 08 but we'll see what happens.
What's your overall perspective on tattoo conventions?
I don't really attend a lot of conventions these days so it's a little hard for me to comment....what can I say, they used to be great!
How does it feel working for a place like Brooklyn Adorned? You've known a few of those guys for a while, is it comforting to be in that environment?
I love Brooklyn Adorned and it's amazing to be able to work side by side with so many great people and see their work every day, in the flesh. Nothing looks like a tattoo in person, the photos never do them justice. You can't really see the color saturation and movement on
the body in a photo. It's very hard not to be intimidated by all the good work I see but it makes me want to try harder and it makes me proud to say I work there.
Tattoos have become quite mainstream these days, do you think it will ever be an "underground" thing again? How would you classify your clients?
I would be very surprised to see tattooing go back underground anytime soon. It's such an ingrained, accepted part of our culture these days and it's been made safe, homogenized, and easily digestible like everything else in our culture. They held the tiger down and filed it's teeth off, and in a way it makes me sad because I've seen the essential character of tattooing largely disappear over the last couple of years. I think it's up to all of us to keep the spirit alive and hold onto what's left.
Favorite fictional character and why?
Mad Max. He's just the first one I thought of.
Want to know about the talents of Timothy Hoyer? Want some work by a real artist? Feel free to check him out at the New York Adorned Site or visit his website HERE.
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