Age: 34Currently Residing: Denver, Colorado
Currently Listening to: Coliseum, God's Iron Tooth, Red Sparowes and old rap.
Shop: Think Tank, Boulder, CO
I’ve known William Thidemann for about 15 years, way before his tattooing days. He is an extraordinary artist and distinctive painter. William has toured many parts of the world and it is reflected in his art. What I like about his tattoos are the intricate landscapes that he creates. His pieces are detailed and his use of color creates pieces that are of another time and another place.
He is continually showing his art and progressing in his pieces both in tattooing and painting. He’s has been featured in magazines such as Prick and Tattoo Artist Magazine as well as been participant in many tattoo conventions across the country. He also just designed his owned skateboard for TNS Industries Skateboarding Co. (see left )and is soon to be featured in a Scandinavian magazine next month. I caught up with my old friend as he was kind enough to answer my questions.
How long have you been doing art and when did you decide that you wanted to take that art into the tattoo world?I have been working on drawing since I was a kid, I started painting about 16 years ago when I started college and I have been tattooing for about 11 years.
How would you describe your style?
In tattooing, i just try to make graphic images, I pull a lot from Art Deco, Art Nouveau and traditional Japanese and Chinese traditional painting; in painting influences comes from everywhere.
Do people generally know what they want when they come to you or is it quite frequent you help them
come up with ideas?People usually have some idea of theme but not too much in the way of depicting it, they might tell me in what style but by and large I get a lot of latitude to make decisions, in fact most people kinda just let me go.
What was the moment that you realized you were good at what you do?
I'm still waiting.
Most challenging piece?
I try to find at least one new thing in each tattoo or painting to try to work on, to push things so every time I work it might be the most challenging.
Have you turned away people before and why?Any reason I want, I only want to work on people I can stand, money is only good for so much. I decided a few years ago that if I only worked on people who I like and respect then other people who are like-minded will follow.
What tattoo artists are you most in admiration of or are influenced by if any?
Aside from the usual guys to name, mostly my friends, some older, some younger... it just depends on the day, inspiration comes a lot from places I do not expect.
Some tattoo artists enjoy complete silence while they are working, are you a talker or you more of the silent type?
mmmm...... kinda quiet, sometimes, depends on my mood or lack of sleep.
You've done some traveling, how do you feel other countries view tattooing in it's art form?
It depends, in Bali or India, Nepal... people get amped they are fascinated by the mix of tattoos and white skin, they can't believe the color. In Europe it is a more subdued reaction but there is a great respect for it, some places, usually places I wouldn't want to be, you feel some static but more or less people are always intrigued.
How do you feel about reality shows such as "Miami Ink" and "Inked"?This is a big question lately, overall I am not too excited about it, TV and mass media involvement in anything just fucks it up, period. Although I am trying to look on the bright side, maybe if people who watch them decide that they are more interested in the art or the personal aspects of it and stay out of drama or greedy, back-stabbing action... maybe it could educate people but I realize that I might be acting naive... we will see.
What'd you have for breakfast?
I skipped it today... bad habit.
So if you're ever in the Boulder area you should definitely drop by Think Tank and book your appointment with William. You won't be disappointed.
To find out more information on William Thidemann visit his WEBSITE.
To book appointments: 720 932 0124
Visit William at Think Tank Tattoos.
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