He's like a miniature buddha, covered in hair.
by Veronica
He wants me to write nothing here. Be more "mysterious". There is of course, a certain charm to mystery. I'm down for that, but I can never avoid being funny: I love poetry. And a glass of scotch. And of course, my friend Baxter here.
Hi, my name is: nick Baxter
Age: 24
Location: New Haven/Branford CT, U$A
Website: www.nickbaxter.com or the studio: www.transcendtattoo.com
Best way to reach you for an appointment: Email me through my personal website, and you will receive an answer sheet with tons of info. Or come see me at a convention.
Favorite Tattoo Artists: Adrian Dominic, Jeff Ensminger, Tim Kern, and others. Not to mention the dudes at Hope Gallery Tattoo and the dudes at my shop.
Favorite Artists (if different from above): Salvador Dali, J.P. Witkin, Simen Johan, Mark Kessel, H.R. Giger, Tim Hawkinson, Cindy Sherman, Richard Estes and all Superrealist painters, Charles Santarpia, Megan Merrell, Todd Schorr, Alex Grey, Caravaggio, Michaelangelo, Ron English, Eric White, Leonardo DaVinci, Russell Mills
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I am a lifelong resident of Connecticut. I consider myself a semi-practicing anarchist in my political and lifestyle beliefs, and I am also vegan, as well as straight edge. Art is my life, but I give a shit about things other than myself and tattooing, which I consider to be only one step in a larger mission towards an overall goal of transformation, personal liberation and self expression.
Why tattooing? How long?
As I matured in my teens, and became exceedingly rebellious and interested in all things counter-cultural and antagonistic to the 'norm', I became more and more aware of tattoos as an art form, and an intriguing mode of potentially-subversive self expression. So for those reasons, I figured it was another artistic medium that i could and should eventually try. So when i finally landed an apprenticeship at age 18 (after starting to get heavily tattooed myself), I dropped out of art school to pursue tattooing full time. I've been doing it to the best of my ability ever since.
What is your favorite part about doing what ya do?
Perhaps the two things which stand out the most are the personal freedom it affords (as far as being my own boss, choosing what, when, where, how i will tattoo, etc), and the privilege of getting to make someone really happy by inscribing permanent and symbolic marks on their body as a way to fulfill both their urges, as well as my own, for creative self-expression and transformation.
What style of (tattoo) art, if any in particular, do you feel you cater to? Why?
I feel as though I have evolved to cater to a colorful, semi-realistic, 'painterly' and whenever possible, highly conceptual style of tattoo art. Presumably because this is more or less how my non-tattoo artwork looks. I try to get the two mediums to compliment each other as intuitively as possible.
What do you feel is the biggest misconception about your career? Do you do anything to defy this?
I feel the biggest misconception about my career is that because I have managed to have the talent, work ethic, brains, and luck to become fairly successful at this, that it means I'm somehow not still a very imperfect human being who struggles everyday with his own issues, and would like to be treated as such, with compassion and sincerity, and not like a savior or a status symbol trophy. I certainly do try to defy this whenever i can, by just being myself (meaning, not loud and flashy, obnoxious or fake) and treating those i come across with respect.
What are some of your biggest accomplishments?
My biggest one just might be turning my life around from the brink of self destruction and nihilistic hopelessness, and slowly building it into the decent semblance of functionality and fulfillment that it is now.
How do you feel about the general public's necessity to gain tattoos, and their recent growing acceptance of them?
I have very mixed feelings on the recent wave of media-spectacle trendiness of tattooing, via popular TV shows and flashy magazines and quasi-celebrities. I do feel that the general public (whoever that even is... it's all of us, really) deserves the ability and privilege of having access to top quality tattoos (from a cleanliness, technical, AND artistic standpoint), and to honest, fair treatment. If tattoos and wearing them become more accepted by 'the powers that be' and the bullshit moral guideposts of our society as a result, then so be it, but let it be known that I have no desire whatsoever to suck up to 'the man' or be accepted by people or institutions who are doing a whole lot of harm to the Earth and to a lot of peoples' minds and self-esteem.
What's your take on heavily tattooed women?
Into it. Duh.
In your career, I'm sure there was a specific time when you knew you went from amateur to professional based on the quality of your artwork and the ability to put it onto skin. When did you realize this? Was it a specific piece of work you did that made you proud?
I think I realized this when I was invited to join the crew at Darkside Tattoo, a little while after finishing my apprenticeship at another local shop. At the time, Darkside was a powerhouse of tattooing talent in the industry and I was amazed, and flattered by the offer and opportunity.
Make us laugh and tell us about your biggest fuckup as a tattoo artist way back when =) :
I think it might have been when I drew a script name on a man's chest while he was laying down in the tattoo chair, then tattooed it in the same position. When he stood up, his arm and chest muscles changed their position slightly, and so did the letters of his new tattoo, and NOT for the better. I still think about that one all the time to keep myself in check, and I feel horrible about it to this day. Sorry dude. Sorry people, that's not very funny I guess.
What do you do for fun?
Art... more art... reckless adventuring, traveling, go to hardcore/indie music shows, sports, activism, love my kitties, eat.
Shameless Plugs:?www.tattoonow.com ?www.crimethinc.com ?www.truthout.org ?and especially: ?www.ifamericansknew.org ?(This website documents the tragic ongoing hidden genocide whose blood is on a lot of people's hands who don't even know it, or care. this is a fucking travesty, get your head out of the sand.?Or get off your computer entirely.)
Did you hate this interview?
Nope. Hey everybody, go out into that scary world and do something meaningful and passionate with your life before it's too late!
