Today we’d like to introduce you to Chauncey Kochel.
Hi Chauncey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always had a knack for the arts for as long as I can remember. Growing up, my interests were in drawing and music, eventually switched focus to tattooing. I started my career as a tattooer in a small town in western South Dakota while juggling a career in music, eventually moving to Galveston in 2010. In the beginning, things were a struggle. When you are new to a place, you don’t have any clientele, friends or family support so you have to rely on your own hustle and the quality of the product you are putting out to succeed.
Thankfully the community embraced me and my art style which really helped push me to new levels in my career. Without the local people of Galveston, I would not be where I am today.
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?
I think with any career/business, you have your financial ups and downs. You just have to stay positive and keep grinding. I think the hardest I’ve had to struggle with on the art side of things was just finding my style and not plateauing. Staying motivated to keep learning and progressing can be very challenging. I’ve found that attending conventions can really help re-motivate you as an artist and kick you back into gear.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a tattoo artist based out of Galveston, TX. I’m best known for very bright and saturated color pieces, large gradient blends and pieces with an illustrative realism/surrealism twist.
I think the level of saturation and just the style of art I do sets my work apart from most people.
In tattooing, every piece is special, so it’s difficult to say what I’m most proud of. It’s always a humbling experience to permanently alter someone’s appearance and to have them trust you to mark them for life. Whether you’re tattooing them to memorialize a lost loved one or simply something that they want makes every experience special.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Luckily for me, Covid-19 didn’t alter much for me or my studio. We have always maintained a high safety standard. Masks were the only real adjustment for us.
Pricing:
- $200/hr
Contact Info:
- Website:www.vonstriga.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/cktattoo
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/VonStriga/
Image Credits
Chauncey Kochel
