Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Oberpriller.
Hi Matthew, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always wanted to do something in Art, to draw all day would be the dream. After years of different jobs, late night shifts, temp agencies, odd jobs I was tired of it. Don’t mind work but why if ya don’t have to. I went back to school and years later I was an Art Director at a print shop. I finally had the job I wanted, I liked it, I enjoyed it…but it wasn’t enough. The same time I was feeling this an opportunity came up to get a foot into tattooing. All I had to do was walk away from a good job that took years to get. The good pay, all the benefits, to not knowing how it would go but it would possibly be the life ya wanted. Nine and a half years later I would do it all over with a smile on my face. Take that chance ya never know.
Alright, 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?
Nothing is smooth. And just when ya think it’s smooth sailing something always throws ya off. So ya just gotta roll with it. Enjoy the ride…the bad things that happen or little detours can be steering you in the right direction. Ya never know.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I tattoo, paint, draw. Those things and my cat Rocky is what takes up most of my time. I tattoo at Battle Royale Tattoo in the East End area. Good tats and good times. Cute things that could murder you in a heartbeat. Simple but detailed , Cats, skulls, aliens all that fun stuff. I love tattooing though. I’ll tattoo anything just email me mattotats@gmail.com and we’ll make it happen. Hopefully just being original and myself is what will set me apart. There’s so much out and so much art at out finger tips it could be hard to stick out. So I’m gonna keep doing me and see what happens. Been good to me so far.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
ALL BOOKS. I have a couple meditation, Buddhist type books that I’ll read paragraphs or chapters from here and there but I’m not a big reader. I love books. That scholastic book fair feeling stayed with me. Tattoo books, art books, old comics, zines, old magazines all of it. Reference is key. I don’t hate on technology google or Pinterest. Google is cool and can be super handy and convenient….but getting lost in books and just looking at images is where it’s at. It can lead ya down other rabbit holes ideas and they’re books ya just might learn something.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: matt_o_tats
