Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Oberpriller.
So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I always wanted to do something with my art other than it is a hobby. Over the years, side jobs here and there related to art would pop up. I would draw a logo for a small company or design t-shirts for softball teams but I had no idea how to make that a constant thing. I’ve been working since I was pretty much 14 one day, I got tired of working the jobs I was. I’ve been a waiter, stocker, mover, warehouses, graveyard shifts, all types of odd jobs… laying floors, painting walls, landscaping, you name it and I’ve probably done it. I just thought am I just gonna work this job, then that job and repeat this cycle? I asked myself what did I want to do? I wanted to do something art-related. Turns out the answer was in front of me the whole time. I started getting tattooed at the age of 20 or 21 and kept on and still do to this day. I always thought it was cool but never thought of it being a thing I could get into. I would hang out at shops and had a couple of friends who did it but I never thought about it seriously. I don’t think I wanted to it was just fun hanging out. I got a machine and a couple of times, I tattooed friends or trade tattoos or even tattooed myself a couple of times but I kinda stopped. It was one of those things that just seemed like it would happen it was just a matter of when.
When I decided to try to tattoo for real the guy, I wanted to teach me just started teaching someone. Not wanting to go back to work I would decide to attend The Art Institute of Houston. The joke was on me cause I would still work full time while I went to school. I would work by day and school at night. After getting an associates degree and working for a couple of little print places here and there I landed a job at a print shop as an Art Director. It was a good position, good pay for everything I could want for that time of my life but it wasn’t enough. I did that for about seven years I think. I got tired of thinking about it and decided to make a real push for it. Around the time, the possibility of tattooing came up again. I took that chance and it paid off. I would work Mon – Fri 8 – 5 and from 6 pm till sometimes 3 am and weekends. I would draw and practice and help at the shop and start apprenticing. I’d turn down hangouts, trips, shows, parties and didn’t have much of a personal life for a good 2 -3 years and that was just to draw and not even be helping in the shop. To sum it up, it paid off.
Now, I’m tattooing full time at Zen Body Art and Adornment in League City. It’s cool going to “work” and not dreading it. I just started a little side thing called Death and Paradise. I’ve done coffee mugs, sticker, shirts all the things I wanted to produce for years. Basically, drawings from my sketchbook printed on different objects. If I’m not drawing for tattoo appointments then I’m working on designs and layouts for Death and Paradise. It took me a while but I’m in a good spot and I feel I deserve to be in this position.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s never easy, if it’s too easy it might not be worth it. Of course, things never go as planned. You’re always gonna be dealt something and ya just gotta be ready to roll with the punches. The crazy what am I gonna eat tonight, 6 hours of sleep in three days, what the hell is going on moments is what makes it worth it. For me, to walk away from a comfortable good situation for myself to go on to pursue tattooing full time was a kind of a was a challenge in itself but looking back it was more fun. I think with tattooing comes a lot of struggles and challenges in itself. Always learning, making time to draw outside the shop, giving people what they want are small challenges that always present themselves but they are the things that make you better. With Death and Paradise, it’s just finding time for it. Taking time to do sketches, getting the design right, what colors are we using? What’s this going on? and to keep producing. It’s kind of nerve-racking cause you’re kind of taking a bet on yourself. Will people like it? Will they buy it? The answer for me is to just put it out there and see, that’s really the only way. One of the biggest struggles now I would say is finding balance between everything. Time for tattooing, time for Death and Paradise, time for my personal and home life. Balance is and always will be the key.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Death and Paradise – what should we know?
Death and Paradise is a small company I started this year. Everything we make is a limited run. If we don’t have a mug or a shirt in your size then sorry we don’t have it and won’t print it again. We make limited goods for the seekers of good times and the ones that wear black to the beach. All of our shirts that we print are black. long sleeves, hoodies, tees just black. I want Death and Paradise to be known for our design and overall being known for just making cool stuff. There are mugs, t-shirts and stickers available now but there are plans to do add more to our catalog.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Me being persistent towards my goal. My PMA, positive mental attitude, during any time of bullshit in my life. No matter how bad it would get or any discouraging thing would happen, I knew it all would probably have a reason to it. Another thing I think is just enjoying it, I’ve been in enough situations to know it’s gonna pass and when it does, it’s gonna be pretty sweet. So, enjoy the struggle.
Contact Info:
- Address: 819 W Main
League City, Texas 77573 - Website: www.deathandparadise.com
- Email: mattotats@gmail.com
- Instagram: @deathandparadise @matt_zenbodyart
- Facebook: facebook.com/deathandparadise
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