089: Let your creativity do the talking (w/ Ben Lopez)

Ben is an artist/illustrator/tattooer from Melbourne, Australia, who creates amazing, visionary work.

In this episode, Ben discusses:

-How he tries not to define himself as an artist.

-How psychedelics have helped to inspire him and shape his art.

-How he tries to let his art do the talking for him, and how he tries to tap into all of his experiences and put it into the art.

-How he had already made the decision in high school to make art for the rest of his life.

-The importance of finding your own style so that someone can recognize a piece as yours, just by looking at it.

-How an injury changed his trajectory as an artist.

-How he wishes he had more time for his personal art.

-His plan to come to the United States to do some tattooing/traveling.

-What Instagram and social media in general has done for his art and for his career.

-How art and creativity has brought him out of a lot of dark places and it constantly brings him happiness and a sense of purpose.

“I tattoo pretty much full time but I don’t really like to be labeled as tattoo artist.”

“I just started doodling in all my books and pretty much failed school because I drew on everything and hated everything else.”

“I look at it now definitely as a blessing in disguise.”

“I do have a struggle and that is balancing what I want to do and what I have to do.”

“When I’m really happy and the client is really happy, that is when I love tattooing.”

“I want to be better all the time, and that is what’s driving me.”

“I don’t know where I would be if it wasn’t for social media.”