Today we’d like to introduce you to Ian Rydquist.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
From the time I was a kid I always enjoyed drawing and art, but it never felt like a solid career choice. I moved to Colorado from Santa Cruz CA in 2004 to go to school to be an aircraft mechanic. I soon met and got tattooed by a tattoo artist named Caveman who had a studio in his garage. I would bring my art to show him and eventually he asked me if I wanted to learn to tattoo. He got me set up and soon enough I was tattooing out of my house. I didnt know it at the time, but home tattooing is looked down on by pro tattooers, and I eventually sought out an apprenticeship which I found under Jason ‘Kermit’ Mirault. It took some time to break some bad habits, but now I was tattooing at a real shop. During this time I was also a full time aircraft mechanic, and was burning the candle at both ends. It was time to make a decision on my career path. I didn’t want to be the guy wondering what could have been, so I went to full time tattooing in 2010 and haven’t looked back. Most of my career has been in Aurora but I did move back to Santa Cruz for about 5 years. Currently you can find me at Art With Heart Tattoo in Aurora.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Tattooing is an unconventional life that is full of ups and downs. We have steak and lobster nights, and we have mac and cheese nights. Its not a 9-5 with a steady paycheck. We have busy seasons and slow seasons, and if you aren’t at the shop, you are missing out on business, so I have had to miss lots of social and family events over the years. As an artist its impossible not to compare yourself to others and there is always a question of being good enough. The advent of social media and trying to keep up and stay relevant without getting burned out is real. I’ve never really been one to perform my life at strangers on the internet, but that seems to be the world we live in now. So through tattooing I get to share real world connection with people on a personal level.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My favorite styles of tattooing are American Traditional and Japanese. I love using bold lines, bright color., and dynamic composition. I love the whole process from concept to drawing to committing the art to the clients body for life. Each stage of the tattoo feels like an accopmlishment-placing the stencil, nailing the outline, building it up with shading, and bringing it to life with color. There is a bittersweet feeling in the moment of completion, happy that the piece is done, a little sad that I dont get to work on it anymore. I think I am most proud of my clients who keep coming back, and refer their friends to me. It’s a sign that I’m doing a good job and they are happy with my work.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
To treat every clients tattoo with the respect it deserves. Whether it’s a back piece for my portfolio, or a simple name for someone who lost a loved one, and I may never see that person again, tattooing is a sacred art and owe it to my clients to do the best job possible.
Pricing:
- $100 minimum
- $150 per hour for large, multi session work
- One shot pieces will be quoted a flat rate
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cocreate.ink/artists/shredquist-41
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shredquist
- Other: https://www.redbubble.com/people/spiders-eye/shop
