Q&A with Matt Helmer
Matt Helmer from Oddity Tattoo on Bee Ridge answers some fun and interesting questions for your entertainment!
Q: When did you know you wanted to be an artist? What kind of encouragement did you get?
A: When I was young, I always doodled. My grandma used to paint, and we would watch Bob Ross and Nascar. My family was always very supportive of me drawing and making stuff. My mom and dad split up right after I was born. My dad’s side loved Conan and Frazetta and Boris stuff. My mom is just really supportive of anything I was doing. She is a great lady.
Q: How did you get interested in tattoos?
A: My father was a Biker-ish guy and he and his friends all had tattoos. I always thought it was cool and envisioned myself riding a Harley and I would be covered in tattoos. 🙂
Q: What current/ upcoming projects do you have that you are most excited about and why?
A: I have a leg sleeve based on a 1970 Japanese horror film called house. It is a super weird movie with some really trippy and gross visuals. It Has many graphic elements to it. It has a lot of loud flat color juxtaposed with awkward gore.
Q: What are some tattoos/artwork/concepts you would like to do in the future?
A: New school horror I hope, but the market for that doesn’t really exist.
Q: What might surprise someone about being a tattoo artist and/or tattoos in general?
A: The level of dedication you must have to really push yourself to not suck and the negative effects it can have on the people you’re close to. You become obsessed with it and trying to make yourself better. It just takes a toll on your not tattoo related relationships.
Q: Tell us about the first tattoo you got. Regrets?
A: First tattoo I got was the Zero skateboard logo. No regrets. Skateboarding was a huge part of my life for 15 or so years. I did it every spare moment I had. I still push around from time to time now. I still love skateboarding.
Q: Would you rather have a client ask for a portrait from a very unflattering photo OR purposefully misspelled lettering OR an upside-down tattoo?
A: Upside down tattoo!! Hands down. Hopefully, it’s a cross. Hail Satan!!!
Q: A client wants a cute little butterfly tattoo. Where is the worst place they could ask you to put it?
A: Butterfly? On the butthole. For sure. I never want to get that close to anyone’s butthole. 🙂
To schedule with Matt, call Oddity on Bee Ridge at 941 923 2278