Meet Ryan Kopf

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Kopf.

Ryan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
One of my first memories is sitting at the kitchen table with my dad drawing in our drawing books together. I drew a lot when I was a kid, mostly nature themed subjects. But drifted away from it during high school and college. Up until my senior year, I was an athlete and got injured forcing me to quit most physical activities while I healed.

One night while cleaning at home I saw my old drawing book and decided I’d try to do a sketch. I worked on it all night and was pretty pleased with it when I finished. Basically from then on, I was drawing nonstop which then evolved into painting as well. I rediscovered a childhood passion right as I was graduating college with degrees in psychology and criminology. At that point, art was still just a passionate hobby and I decided to go to graduate school for counseling psychology while doing commissioned drawings and paintings on the side.

After a year I realized I need to give a full-time artist in a serious try, I could always go back to school and was having fair success without any training in any art form just driven by the joy of creating. So I dropped out of grad school and worked at an art store to learn more about different materials and mediums. My goal at that time was to make a living through creating every day. After a few years of being a freelance artist on the side and working full-time, I developed confidence in my drawing abilities and found a focus, tattooing.

I had friends who were tattoo artists and had been tattooed a lot at that point so I knew I could do it if I really gave it everything. So I found an apprenticeship in Lakewood, CO and did that six days a week while also working full-time for six months. I would fall asleep at my drawing table most nights during that time. I was crazy motivated. Eventually, I started tattooing, after about a year I found a technique that is similar to my drawing and enjoy doing. That’s when I figured out “my style”. As time has gone on I have gained awesome clientele who come to me for mostly floral, plant, and animal tattoos. It blows my mind that as a kid I loved drawing anything in nature and now I am honored to make a living by doing the same thing. well, basically… haha 🙂

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has certainly been a roller coaster ride, lots of ups and downs. The struggles have always come from personal life events though and tattooing/creating has always been what helps me get through those struggles. I was once left without my home to stay in, just my car, a bag of clothes and some drawing stuff after experiencing the biggest betrayal of my life. I stayed at the tattoo shop and just drew and painted my emotions out. I get oddly motivated to create when I experience a really difficult time. Some of my favorite paintings and other creations have come after personal life struggles.

We’d love to hear more about your art.
I am a full-time tattoo artist in Boulder, CO. Currently tattooing out of Auspicious Tattoo. I’m known for primarily tattooing nature-inspired subject matter. I’d say my style is an illustrative style with stipple/dotwork shading. I do mostly dotwork shading to capture the details in my work and I think that sets me apart from most others. I do both black and grey and color work, but most often black and grey. I’m proud that people enjoy my work so much that they trust me to permanently decorate their bodies with it. That is such an honor.

What were you like growing up?
I was super shy. Usually quiet and kept to myself except for some good core friends and was terrified of being the center of attention. Always exploring the outdoors and competed in several sports up through college (mainly hockey and running). As I got older I became less shy and a bit more out-going, but still a little socially awkward. Tattooing has really helped me grow in those areas.

Contact Info:

• Email: ryandkopf@yahoo.com
• Instagram: @_ryhno_

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