Interview with Matt Wilkins – Show Class Mag

December 1, 2015 by Tim Granda

If ya haven’t heard, Doom Cycle has teamed up with the awesome folks at Show Class Magazine to interview their cover artist for each issue. It’s somethin’ I’m really stoked about, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to any of you who’ve been hangin’ around this joint. I’ve been a a big fan of the mag for years now, so having this opportunity to work with Tim and the gang has been a blast.

Hey, and welcome to all those who just couldn’t get enough of artist Matt Wilkins from issue 27! Space is tight in a physical magazine, so the artist interviews there are often presented in a condensed form. Here on Doom Cycle, we don’t face those same restrictions. So if you’re interested in hearin’ more, ya found the right place. Did I mention the big fuckin’ pictures too? Gotcha covered!

So here’s my interview with the awesome Matt Wilkins!

Hey Matt! So at what point in your life did you develop an interest in art?

For as long as I can remember I’ve had some sort of interest in art. It was always the subject at school I was into the most, probably down to having quite a creative family and mostly the influence of my grandfather. He was a really talented pen and ink artist with an amazing eye for detail and I remember sitting and sketching with him at a young age.

Who were some of your favorite artists growing up?

I’m only 19 so I feel like I’m still growing up in terms of finding out more about the art world, however I’ve been skateboarding for a while. Deck graphics always caught my eye and played at big role in wanting to do more art myself. Especially the legendary Santa Cruz artist Jim Phillips.

Are there any artists workin’ today that blow your mind?

There’s so many artists that blow my mind on a daily basis with most of them being on instagram, hard to name a few but I’d have to say I’m really diggin the work of Gorgeous George, Harley&J, Maarten Donders, Rob Gnista, Alex Matus, Simon Berndt, Alan Forbes, David Paul Seymour, Sami Graystone, Jesse Schaller, Branca Studio and Donny Gillies.

A lot of your work has been for rad bands like The Picture Books, Slow Season, and Kadavar. How did you get involved in the music scene?

It pretty much started with posting up some sketches on Instagram, then I did some gig posters for a band that are close friends of mine. One thing led to another and I’m now doing art for bands across the world. It’s really crazy to me as I am a huge fan of rock music, so being asked to do art for bands that I’ve genuinely been a big fan of is such a privilege.

So who are some of the bands that you’re diggin’ these days, and who would ya love to do some work for?

There are a load of new bands that I’m into these days, such as Sweat Lodge, Ruby The Hatchet, The Shrine, All Them Witches, Kadavar, Fuzz, Sacri Monti, Mondo Drag, Electric Citizen, The Heavy Eyes, Le Betre, Horisont, Siena Root and again that list could go on and on, I’ve always got records spinning.

Some bands I’d love to work for apart from Black Sabbath, of course, because that won’t happen… has got to be Graveyard, Pentagram, Earthless, Radio Moscow, Windhand, The Black Angels, Witch, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, Sleep, Blood Ceremony, Orchid and Dead Meadow.

In addition to doing so much work for bands, you’ve also done quite a lot of stuff for the chopper scene. Folks like Heavy Clothing, Triple Six Crew Death Co., Lucky Mutha Cycles, and myself have all hit ya up for designs. When did your interest in choppers begin?

I’ve loved the American classic car and motorcycle culture for ages, especially those built in the ’70s, so its really cool to do art for brands in that scene. But living in London they’re rare to see, although I’ve been going to classic car shows since I was really young with my dad.

Are there any cool bikes or muscle cars out there that you’d love to take home with ya?

Well, in an ideal world, I’d have a few vehicles parked on the driveway, first off with an old Chevy van fully decked out with a 70’s style interior and custom airbrushed paint job. Also I’d gladly take a ’77-’78 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird home with me. Then how about that insane chopper that JP Rodman built for this years Born Free, that thing rules!

I was stoked to see you finally put up a web site featuring your work. What kinds of stuff do you

have planned for your shop?

Thanks. I never imagined that I’d get to the point where I’d make my own website for my artwork. In the future I plan to sell screen printed gig posters that I’ve produced, as well as design some original artwork to put out some limited edition shirt designs and patches. Even considering building a screen printing set up in my workshop to print the shirts and posters myself.

So whatcha workin’ on next? Any cool projects we should keep our eyes peeled for?

I’ve got more shirts and gig posters to design for bands, including Mothership, so that should be pretty rad. Also a skateboard deck for Frantic Skateboards out of Belgium. So things to look out for would probably be some of the album covers I’ve worked on recently, some I can’t announce, but one is for the heavy rock band Them Evils, which has already been released. All the albums will be getting pressed on vinyl, so that’s a treat for a collector like myself. As well as a guitar fuzz pedal that I collaborated with Red Sun FX on, really exited about that, they’re all handmade and limited edition.

Now for the question I ask everybody: If you could travel through time, where would you go?

I’m sure I won’t be the first to say this but, it would have to be California in the late ’60s-’70s, so I can experience what inspires me the most about that era. The music scene, skating backyard pools and the car/chopper culture. I’ve been told that I was born in the wrong era many times.

Thanks a bunch for your time, Matt, and congrats on landing this issue’s cover of Show Class Magazine! So awesome!

It’s such an honor to have my artwork on the cover of the best chopper mag out. Thanks a lot to all the guys at Show Class and thanks for the interview, Tim!

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Matt Wilkins

Interview with Sam Turner – Show Class Mag

August 25, 2015 by Tim Granda

Hey, and welcome to all those who just couldn’t get enough of artist Samuel Lee Turner from issue 26! Space is tight in a physical magazine, so the artist interviews there are often presented in a condensed form. Here on Doom Cycle, we don’t face those same restrictions. So if you’re interested in hearin’ more, ya found the right place. Did I mention the big fuckin’ pictures too? Gotcha covered!

So here’s my interview with the uber-talented Samuel Lee Turner!

Hey Samuel! So where do you call home these days, and how long have you been livin’ there?

Denver, Colorado. Been living here since ’95. I am originally from El Paso, Texas.

Your work often delves into fantasy and the occult. From wizards and mages, to warriors and beasts… plus all those super-hot sword-wielding chicks! Who were some of your influences early on?

There’s a number of influences: Frank Frazetta obviously, Moebius, Bernie Wrightson, and many others.

I’ve seen you mention Italian artist Milo Manara quite a few times on Instagram. What brought his work to your attention?

Milo Manara was brought to my attention through the Heavy Metal illustrated magazines. My oldest brother had a bunch of those things! He always let me look through his stash of adult comics and such when I was a kid. I was like in the 7th grade or something.

You’re a big fan of metal, so having the opportunity to create art for bands like Black Breath, Khemmis, and In the Company of Serpents must be rad as hell! How did you get into workin’ with bands?

I always seemed to draw for friends who were in bands here and there. A lot of local stuff. I would say one of the first bigger known bands was 3 Inches of Blood. I did a tour poster for them after meeting and hanging out, partying here in Denver, then was asked to do their album cover for Fire Up the Blades along with some random merchandise and shirts. From that you tend to get some recognition from other bands or individuals in a band asking you about doing something for them. I did some stuff for Zeke before – it’s great to get to create or work on ideas for bands you’re really into. Some others are Speedwolf, Early Man, Holy Grail, Power Trip, and Iron Reagan, to name a few

What albums are ya really diggin’ at the moment? Anything we should be checkin’ out?

The new Khemmis is really good; I know you mentioned it already. I seem to have been listening to a lot of old favorites lately. I’m all over the place: Judas Priest, Brats (pre-Mercyful Fate) ZZ Top… a lot of fun drawing music. Waiting for a lot of new stuff that’s coming out from some favorites.

While we’re talkin’ ’bout bringin’ passions together, as a dude who rides, you must be stoked to have landed covers for both Show Class and DiCE in the same year. Any cool stories about how those came together?

Getting to draw for Show Class is great. I dig the mag and liked seeing what they were about at some of the earlier Born Free shows. I am good friends with Dave Barker of SpeedMetal Cycles, and I’ve done some of his branding and merch. Pretty much anything he asks for I’ll do. I would go to shows with Dave when he would build a show bike, and help him on the road trips to party and take in the whole experience. I went to a couple of Born Free shows, met some people, and got to check out all the great bikes. Born Free 2 is where I met Matt Davis from DiCE magazine. We talked about doing a cover but years passed, and when we saw each other at the Mama Tried show in Milwaukee this past year we realized I never got a cover for him. So after talking, decided to do issue 61 which was going to have Dave’s Diamond Rio build he did for his good friend Reuben McChancey. It was a fun piece but a short quick deadline.

I have friend through Instagram, Zach Kolodziejski, who I did some art for his Zine PUTT. He’s a great dude and turned me onto doing the cover for Show Class with a drawing I did that they liked but hadn’t been used for anything yet. So I was more than pleased to get it finished and sent to them.

So when did ya get into motorcycles, and what’re ya ridin’ these days?

I got into the motorcycle thing through SpeedMetal but to be honest I have nothing to ride at the moment. I have had a ’72 ironhead that has been waiting to get finished over at Dave’s shop, but we’re both so busy that we haven’t got it done. He’s really busy all the time and all the while has been doing the rust removal/fabrication of my ’73 Chevy G-10 short box van. When the van’s done we can get back to my ironhead. I am a bike messenger in downtown Denver so I ride my bicycle a lot! Haha! I’m alright with it, but I am planning on getting a Harley to make a street tracker out of just so I have something for the time being . I have been super busy doing art so I now have some money saved up that I can use to pick something up.

Your work for SpeedMetal Cycles has been awesome. How did that relationship come about?

I actually met Dave of SpeedMetal because of mutual friends, but more so because of my blue Chevy van. He and some other guys saw it parked in front of a show and were talking about it, I walked up saying it was kinda alright and then laughing and telling them it was mine. We seemed to hang out a lot after that. I started figuring out what I wanted to do with the ironhead. The frame is an old Jammer and we realized it was a bit off/bent in the rear so we gotta get that situated then keep going. It’s cool to get to do stuff in his shop and help on little things with show bikes, a friends build, doing some art, paint, engraving… whatever I can get into or try my hand at.

You must’ve been thrilled when the Buell-based Ronin bike you created the paint for placed second at Pike’s Peak. How did you get involved in that project?

The Ronin bike involvement came through a childhood friend of Dave Barker’s: Dusty Terry. I met him when he lived at the old shop with Dave, fucking Wyoming boys haha . So when he started work with Ronin Motorworks he talked to me about being one of several artists doing an “art bike” that was to be one of a select few bikes made to have a custom paint scheme illustrated by different artists. Once I was on board I got to do some more concepts, one being the race bike paint scheme for the Pike’s Peak race bike. And then getting to do some vintage racer color schemes and designs. It’s been really fun to do something on a totally different unique motorcycle, and once again for a great bunch of guys!

Lately, your name’s been comin’ up a lot when I speak to other artists about folks they’re diggin’. Are there any artists out there who’s stuff knocks ya out?

Glad to hear I have some other artists digging my stuff. Guys like Burney, Burrito Breath, Jason Cruz, Alex Matus, and Sarah Sadler, are a few off the top of my head that fit into the motorcycle scene.
Others are Marald, Vania Zouravliov, Jef Kopp, Putrid, Nathan Cabrera, and Aaron Horkey, just to name a few.

Do you have any cool projects in the wings ya wanna tell us about, or some stuff we should keep our eyes peeled for?

Going to be getting my Ronin art bike painted up in the coming weeks. Doing some shirt designs for a band who did the soundtrack for a movie coming out in August called Turbo Kid. Some merch and posters for the NACCCS here in Denver (bike courier race), and more fun killer shit for TRVE Brewing here in Denver. It’s a metal brewery that I do all the branding for and is always a blast to do. Hopefully some good shit keeps coming my way!

I’ve made it a habit or wrapping up an interview with this question (ya never know what you’re gonna get): If you could travel through time, where would you go?

If I could travel through time? I’m already headed into the future, so I would have to say back to anytime before 1974 to see my mom who I lost when I was five. Too few memories of her, would love to go back and have more.

Thanks a ton for your time, Sam! Can’t wait to see all the rad stuff you’ll be up to in the future!

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Turner

Lee Bullock Interview – Show Class Mag

July 8, 2015 by Tim Granda

Space is tight in a physical magazine, so the artist interviews there are often presented in a condensed form. Here on Doom Cycle, we don’t face those same restrictions. So if you’re interested in hearin’ more, ya found the right place. Did I mention the big fuckin’ pictures too? Gotcha covered!

So here’s my interview with the uber-talented Lee Bullock!

Hey Lee! I understand that up until now, you spent your life workin’ and livin’ in the town you grew up in: Austin, Texas. Recently ya packed up everything and split for the country. What prompted such a huge change?

No single incident really. I’ve always loved being in the country, and decided this was as good of a time as there would be. When I make a decision, it snowballs real fast.

After spending 14 years tattooing in Austin, and tattooing folks all over the world, it goes without sayin’ that tattoos have been a big part of your life. Now that your focus has shifted to painting, have ya hung up your guns for good?

I have definitely hung them up for the foreseeable future. They’ll probably come out way too late and way too drunk sometime for party tats, but that’s all I can promise.

So when did ya start developing an interest in art? Who were some of the artists that were blowin’ your mind growin’ up?

I was drawing as early as I can remember. And my folks always put me in YMCA art classes and shot as a child. As a kid, I was into comics, of course, skateboard art in the 80’s, things like that. My influences have honestly gone all over the spectrum. From Sunday comics, to H.R. Giger.

Bikes are a big part of your life. It sounds like if ya ain’t paintin’ ‘em, you’re out ridin’ ‘em. When did that attraction start, and can ya remember the moment when that love affair began?

I’ve always loved motorcycles, and always wanted them. My mom did everything in her power to keep me off them. So much so, that life got in the way and I overlooked it for years. I bought my first “project” bike about 5 years ago, I guess, and have flipped and hustled close to a dozen or more bikes to get where I’m at now.

What are ya ridin’ these days, and are there any project bikes cookin’ that ya wanna tell us about?

I currently have a ‘53 panhead that I built about a year or so ago, and I just finished a ‘56 panhead recently. I also have a modern bike that I paid way too much for, but she just sits in a corner of the shop waiting to get sold.

To me, your paintings are like an old memory. Some parts are fuzzy and hard to recollect, while others are perfectly in focus, like they just happened yesterday. What led to the development of such an awesome combination of styles?

Honestly I’m not sure. After so many years of being told what to produce and how to produce it, with tattoos, I just let myself go now. Some turn out way more detailed than others. Some get pretty abstract. I’m just grateful that people are into it.

Do you recall any particular pieces that helped define your approach?

No not really. I’m not your typical “deep thinking artist”. No profound shit from me about art. I just paint what I dig. Oops, was that profound?

Are there any artists workin’ today that ya really dig?

Fuck man, so many. But I’m probably the worst person with names, and I learned a long time ago from an asshole tattooer, who happened to be right, to not look too hard at other art, or you tend to copy it. I think that’s true. Even subliminally, if you stare at an artists work for too long or too much, next thing you know, your art starts looking more and more like it. So I glance, take a mental note, or follow them on IG for support, and move on to stare at choppers.

In addition to the paintings you put up for sale, you also accept some commissions. What’s the process like for deciding which commissions ya wanna take on?

I do. I’m not a bike snob when it comes to that or anything. People are stoked on their bikes, that’s how it should be. So really when it come to accepting a bike for a commission, the client first off has to not be some pushy dick, then have money, then have high quality images for me to reference. In that order really. And although I keep telling myself I’m going to build a website, I’m still just using Instagram and my email. So that’s the best way to get in touch for a piece.

Do ya have any shows or other cool stuff comin’ up that folks should keep their eyes peeled for?

Well there’s talk of a collaborative show with myself and good friend and photographer Greg Giannukos. It will be held at Chopper Supply Co. up in Fort Worth, Tx, but the dates haven’t been set. Looking forward to it, and if you follow me on IG, I’m sure I’ll plug the ol’ feed up when the time is near.

If you could travel through time, where would you go?

To Tom Fugle, and El Forestero’s clubhouse in the 60’s. Without a doubt.

Thanks a bunch for the interview, Lee! We wish you continued success and look forward to checkin’ out everything you have goin’ on.

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Lee Bullock

Interview with Eterno – Show Class Mag

April 27, 2015 by Tim Granda

Doom Cycle has teamed up with the awesome folks at Show Class Magazine to interview their cover artist for each issue. It’s somethin’ I’m really stoked about, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to any of you who’ve been hangin’ around this joint. I’ve been a a big fan of the mag for years now, so having this opportunity to work with Tim and the gang means a lot. In addition to speakin’ with their cover artists, I’ve been puttin’ together some crazy Choptoons for their channel on Motornation.tv, one of which is up there now. This is gonna be a crazy trip – come along for the ride!

Hey, and welcome to all those who just couldn’t get enough of artist Eterno from issue 24! If you’re still waitin’ on a copy to hit your mailbox, let me fill ya in: space is tight in a physical magazine, so the artist interviews there are presented in a condensed form. Here on Doom Cycle, we don’t face those same restrictions, so ya end up gettin’ the whole thing. Did I mention the big fuckin’ pictures too? Gotcha covered. For fans of the mag like me, this is gonna be awesome!

So hear ya go… the full interview with the man, ETERNO!

When you were growing up in Spain, you developed an early interest in drawing. Can you remember what it was about art that grabbed your attention?

I’ve been working hard since I’m small. Love nature, bikes, tattoos, and the intensity of life in all aspects. I’m living my life to the limit. Always been working with my hands creating unusual stuff. My job, my passion is tattooing. Always looking for different and original stuff that inspires me.

Comics, arcade games, stamps/sticker collections, skate culture, graffiti culture, and underground urban art. In my opinion, in the ’90s there was a revolution of visual impact everywhere. I was really influenced with Dragon Ball Z, Masters of the Universe, Scooby Doo, and many others.

Who were some of your favorite artists growing up? Was there anyone in particular that just blew you away, or inspired you to work harder?

All those artists who had to do with all that I liked by then. They created a visual impact on me, but no one in particular. The person who has inspired me to work harder, stronger, is my father. I saw and lived his life of hard work. My conclusion of what I learned of it is: Work hard, but never renounce your own path. Fight against conformism, and obtain it yourself.

I understand that you developed an interest in tattooing at an early age?

Always wanted to do at least one tattoo in my life. It was an experience of life I wanted to live. I got to draw again a few years ago while working with other stuff. I started to develop my own style, and it just happened. I was filling my time with my passion.

Your work has you living a nomadic existence, traveling from one place to another, and rarely being at home. Is this lifestyle a choice you’ve made, or is it one that comes with your profession?

It’s been my choice. I could work at a studio with no need to travel, but I saw the chance to travel, freedom to choose where and when I want to go, it contributes on my evolution as a person. Professionally, it’s a challenge that pushes me to grow, to offer the best of myself to my profession, to my life. I like to live intensely.

Being on the road so much, you must have found yourself in the middle of some crazy situations. Can you recall an experience from your years on the road that still feels like it only happened yesterday?

There has been many weird, funny, odd situations, but I remember one that made a difference.

Was my last night in Leeds, finished work, was tired, but wanted to go out a while. After a whole week of loads of people, and work I found myself on the streets alone, met these guys and joined them to go to a party. On the way I crossed this homeless man on the street with a dog, it was a really cold night. I followed them to the entrance of this old church where a long cue with plenty of young people were waiting to get in. In the middle of that picture, I felt something pulling me to “Shoen” with his dog. I got closer to him and ended up sharing 3 hours on a freezing night sitting on the street. He talked about his story, how life can change so fast, and draw you to a situation like that.

It was a real moment. Life/people is being trapped in emptiness, sometimes hard to find real stuff, real people, real situations. One of the reasons why I try to put these values or meanings in my work.

In addition to art, you also have a passion for motorcycles. When did you get into bikes, and how often do you get to ride?

I feel a natural attraction for bikes since I was a kid. Every time I can I’m on my bike. Now I’m waiting for my last project to be ready, its been a few months without riding, and I can’t wait to get on the road again.

You’ve announced that there’s a new store coming soon to your site etterno.com. What sort of work will you be selling in your shop?

I will sell all my production prints, collaborations, and hand made stuff. I need to stop at some point with my travelling for a while so I can put all my time and energy into all these future projects that are in standby at this moment due the lack of time.

Do you have some dates scheduled after April where folks can look you up for some work?

I have all of 2015 already planned with trips all around the world, mostly in Europe. I hope to visit America soon, maybe at the end of the year.

If you could travel through time, where would you go?

Too many choices to do. Maybe present is my place at the moment. Thank you for offering me such a good question.

Thanks a ton, Eterno, for finding the time to speak with us about your work. Any last words?

Thanks to Sabina, she is an important part of all this. Also thanks to Carlos and the team of LTW Tattoo studio in Barcelona, and many thanks to all the studios and people who I’ve met on my travels.

Instragram: Eterno8

Facebook: Etterno Tattoo Nomad

Website: Etterno

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Eterno

Attention Bands & Labels

January 26, 2015 by Tim Granda

If you’re in a band or run a label, and want your stuff featured in my crazy animated chopper videos, contact me through doomcycle.com or timgranda@gmail.com

I’ll be creating a ton of videos this year so I’m looking for doom, stoner, psych etc tracks to split people’s heads open and drive the animations. Lots of great projects coming up for awesome folks like Show Class Magazine, Heavy Clothing, Pure Sludge, Motornation Network and more. The videos themselves will have links embedded in them to direct viewers right to your store or site. No cash available, but lots of exposure to a really rad scene – and ya get a cool video out of it!