Carson Hill
Newbury Park, CA.
www.carsonhilltattoos.com
Dear Readers,
This is my idea of good tattooing.
Sincerely, Veronica.
XO
Veronica: How long have you been tattooing and what sparked the start? Do you enjoy it?
Carson: I have been tattooing for about 8 years now, including about a year of apprenticeship. I have always done artwork in some form or another, but it was until I began tattooing that I began to take art seriously. Nowadays, my life revolves almost entirely around art, so I suppose I have tattooing to thank for that.
V: Tell us where to find you.
C: I currently work from a private studio in my home, in Newbury Park, CA, which is about 30 miles north of Los Angeles. The best way to reach me these days, is through email and/or my website. My email address is tattoocarsonhill@msn.com and website address is www.carsonhilltattoos.com.
V: Who/What are some of your artistic influences? Favorite tattoo artists (Have you been tattooed by them?)?
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C: Nature plays a big part in inspiring me artistically. To tell you the truth, there's not a lot that doesn't influence me one way or another. People and their ideas on life and the different levels of importance they place on the elements of the world and/or universe, visual interpretations of the environment(s) I find myself in, dissection of the physical and spiritual worlds, projective thought and speculative interpretation of the mysteries and phenomena of life and existence, dreams, provoked by sleep, or creation, or drugs, etc. As far as tattoo artists, I try and take influence from as many of them as I can, but there are a few that dominate in my own world of preferences. For example, I'm sure that it is visible that I admire and take influence from the biomech/organic artists primarily, namely Guy Atchison. He has been a major source of inspiration to me throughout the years, and a few years back, I started collecting both tattoos and paintings from Mr. Atchison, so that now I may also wear what I admire. There are many artists that I wish I could list in an interview such as this, but I am sure that it would be impossible to name them all. The people I work with, or have worked with in the past have been the m most closely inspiring sources, and I will mention them. As well as Guy, Mike Cole has provided me with a great deal of influence, having worked with him for about a year at Tried N True Tattoo. Mike and I became close friends and spent much time picking the brains of one another, which I believe to believe to be helpful in the development and evolution of my own mind. Working with astonishing portrait guys such as Mike DeVries and Mike DeMasi have been helpful in understanding color theory a bit further, while also providing motivational inspiration. I also had a chance to work with Bob Tyrrell briefly, but long enough to gain some more influence from him. I have also worked briefly with Nick Baxter, who I'm sure we can all agree is helping to lead the tattoo world into yet another dimension. Nick did a tattoo on my neck, and I plan to have him tattoo me some more soon. Jon Clue, Corey Kruger, Cory Kudney, Kari Barba, Paul Booth, Robert Hernandez, James Kern, Aaron Cain, just to name a few more, are also great sources of inspiration throughout the years, and have had a chance to meet almost all of them.
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V: Describe the particular style you feel you cater to most.
C: Most of the stuff I do these days is in the biomech arena, whether it be mechanical, morphic, organic, geometric, or any combination thereof. I try and convey my messages as often as possible in tattoos.
V: What are some favorites you have done (or in progress)?
C: There are a few sleeves that I am very happy with, and a couple backs. The two frontal torso pieces that are both still in progress have been a lot of fun to work on. A girl named Sierra who I tattooed almost her whole frontal torso, which is still in progress, has been a lot of fun to work on. Lately I have been doing some guest spots around the country and have had the chance to tattoo some really cool design ideas on some cool people. I really have been having fun with just about every tattoo I do these days.
V: If you could do any tattoo, what would you choose? (maybe you have done it...)
C:: Not sure. But I would like to see one of the portrait greats do a George Bush roast-type tattoo, maybe with lots of misspellings and errors, maybe with a severed head, lots of blood, etc. I mentioned this in a previous interview I did once, but I guess they didn't like it, or maybe they were Bush fans, cause they didn't print it. So- if any one tattoo could make me real happy seeing, I suppose it would be that, done by one of those amazing tattooists were familiar with.
V: What are some of the benefits of the industry you work in? What are some of the negative aspects?
C: It is nice to be able to make a living doing exactly what you would be doing if you made no money at all doing it.
V: What are your goals as an artist?
C: To improve. To make my point. To express my thoughts and feelings through my arts. To bring all I can to the art world, and to take as much inspiration as I can. To help the rest of the art and tattoo world accept tattooing as a socially appropriate art form.
V: Can you offer any advice to those seeking tattoos, or even becoming a tattoo artist themselves?
C: Don't fear the reaper. Life is not a dream, so, beware. And beware. And beware.
V: Tell us about your nifty machine..
C: Well, the neuma is something I came up with one day while high on pot. Honestly, right? It is a pneumatic (air-pressure-operated) tattooing device that I have been using exclusively since 2000. I came up with the idea, patented it, and with the help of about a dozen engineers and one very rich investor, we came up with neuma2, which is just a refined version of the first. It is about 7 years in the making, and still going. Look for my new website coming soon, being done by the great people over at Tattoonow.com, to be launched early March of next year. It will likely be called neumatattooing.com or neumatattoo.com I am proud to say that I have some really good artists on board, using them exclusively. Some of these include Mike DeVries, Mike DeMasi, and Mario Roseneu. Some other amazing artists have also used it, such as Guy Atchison, Nick Baxter, and Kari Barbra, and with good results.
V: What are the benefits of it? Differences? Cons?
C: Well, there are quite a few differences between my machines and machines of other types, the main benefit being its very low weight and size, lack of necessity to tune and/or maintain, and durability. Another benefit is that of its autoclavabilty aspect. The entire machine can be autoclaved, even cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, due to its lack of electric components, coupled with the tolerances of the materials used to make them.
V: What have you so far gained from your career that you are most proud of?
C: The ability to travel, while doing what I enjoy doing most. Even without the traveling part, I would be grateful. But now that I am able to move around the globe to do what I live to do, lets just say life is good.
V: What efforts do you take to constantly improve?
C: I must be constantly challenging myself, trying new things. I seek to improve by reminding myself of how new I am to this, and how far I will need to go in order to be satisfied, which is a really long way. I have a lot to learn, and art is my teacher.
V: What do you do in your spare time?
C: I have very little spare time, due to the fact that I tattoo 6 or 7 days a week, as well as keep the business (Neuma) going as well as I can. So, I guess my spare time is filled with shipping packages to the wonderful people around the world who have decided to give pneumatic tattooing a shot.
V: What are some of the favorite tattoos you have on your own body??
C: Guy Atchison did my whole back. Id say its maybe the best, if not very close to the best, back piece on earth. I am very proud of the tattoo, and would change nothing about it. I also have a lot of work from Mike Cole, including a collaborative sleeve that Atchison and Cole did together on me. One side of my neck was done by Mike Cole, and the other done by Nick Baxter, and I am very happy with both. Bob Tyrrell did a portrait of Albert Einstein on my chest, and will be completing it with 2 more portraits.
V: Why should someone get tattooed by you?
C: Whatever they want
V: Anything you want to ask? Plug? Punch me for?
C: Nope, you're awesome, Veronica. Thank you for the interesting questions.
