Check out Ridge Young’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ridge Young.

Ridge, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I feel like I’ve always been an artist. I grew up doodling and drawing on my school notebooks and anything I could get my hands on. I got my first tattoo when I was 16 because I thought it would up my cool factor, but looking back I realize how uncool it was (a tiny clover on my bicep). Shortly after I started working on my degree in Illustration, I began getting tattooed regularly at a shop in town. I wanted to apprentice there so I kept bugging the shop owner (Al Hoeflinger) about it. It wasn’t until a friend’s dad who got tattooed went in and vouched for me, that I began my apprenticeship- I was 19 years old. Flash forward 11 years and I am still there. Once I started tattooing full time, I got really into the history of traditional tatooing. I love the work I do and love paying homage to all the great artists that have come before me.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My goal as a tattoo artist, is to give people tattoos that mean something to them. I want them to walk away with something they are going to love and admire for the rest of their lives. People get tattooed for so many different reasons; I want to make sure I provide a great experience for every client, no matter their reason for coming to me. Personally, I love to take traditional designs from the 50’s and put my own unique twist on them. In addition, I enjoy tatttoing photo realism such as people/animal portraits- I spent much of my college career studying oil painting with a focus on portraiture. I draw a lot of inspiration from the history of American traditional and Japanese art. I really enjoy these because of the meanings and stories behind the images. If I had to describe my style, I would classify my work as bold, timeless tatttos that pay homage to the history of tattooing in a modern way.

Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
Honestly, there is no better time to be an artist than right now. With all the free access to online videos and tutorials, learning a craft is easier than ever. With that being said, artists are everywhere. Now that the secrets are out in the open it is harder to stand out in such a saturated market. My best advice to aspiring artists is to look at those who are the best in their field- always strive to be better than them. You should always work to better yourself and keep learning. When you get comfortable, that’s when your art can suffer. The best way to support artists is to buy local art and attend local art shows, and in my case, get tattoos.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I have tatttoed people from all over the country and the world. The easiest ways to see my work is to visit my Instagram @oldtimeyridge or my website oldtimeyridge.com. They can also come see me at work at Metro Tattoo in Tucson, AZ.

Contact Info:

• Website: Oldtimeyridge.com
• Email: booking@oldtimeyridge.com
• Instagram: @oldtimeyridge

Image Credit:
Ridge Young

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