Check Out Travis Koenig’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Travis Koenig.

Hi Travis, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In the late 90s I was obsessed with lowbrow art. Skateboards, concert posters and shirts, album art, anything counter the mainstream acceptance of art.
Tattoos, and tattoo art were absolutely awe inspiring.
The living art, personal expression and decoration was mind blowing to its limitless possibilities.
I came into tattooing at the sweet spot. The limitations of street shop biker flash were being overlooked for the new custom art and tattoo shops that were emerging.
I immersed myself in tattoo magazines, and shop culture, and pretty much annoyed my mentor until he took me under his wing.
I loved tattooing from the start. So, I focused mostly on tattoo art, it wasn’t until my later years that I started branching out to painting and other mediums.
Even now that I am loving all other art forms available to me. Tattooing is my primary focus and still drive and push myself daily to get better.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh goodness, the struggle has been real. Developing a name for myself in the 90s and early 00s was an entirely beast different to grapple with. Granted, it’s not easy today. Just the tools available were different. All while trying to develop my own brand, while myself and my art matures and expands is a constant process to this day.
I will always be my biggest critic, and I am never satisfied.
I am so inspired by some of the newcomers to tattooing. There are so few limitations anymore, and these younger kids have such a unique vision and approach.
I constantly feel like I’m learning from the old and young alike. Plus, the feeling and knowing that I will be better every day teeters between insanity and excitement.
So, the unceasing urge to grow will always be the biggest obstacle, but I’m forever grateful to be a part of this struggle.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’d have to say that my style is truly my own. The impressiveness of others work being done today, and in the past, between all mediums inspire me in some way or another.
I like to play with all types of imagery, and evolve the art as it suites the best visualization. Morphing some fine line with traditionally bold imagery has been an exciting way to give an image depth. Adding organic elements into a strict and rigid image is a great way to build visual contrast.
Overall making things more fun to look at. I want people to enjoy looking at my work, as much as I enjoyed creating it.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
As far as a memory that is art related. My aunt took me to the Denver Art Museum quite a lot as a kid. Maybe she saw something in me that I didn’t discover until much later. I can only imagine that my admiration, and respect for all types of art came from those visits.
Otherwise, for something non tattoo related. We had a little community dirt BMX track not too far from my house growing up. It was clearly something made by kids from past generations, totally unsafe, and we might have been trespassing a bit. But summer days crashing, and getting scraped up were totally worth the excitement and thrill of flying a bike through the air. Sadly, I eventually got my drivers license, and my teenage self, left those days in the past.
I wish I had them back now though.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://traviskoenigtattoos.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travisktattoos/