STUDIO REPORT 002

GDWKS STUDIO REPORT 002

(because 'newsletters" are for marketing companies trying to sell you shit.)

This will be different.

I promise that.

CONTENTS

|| brief

|| roadmap: updated

|| flash release

|| travel

|| brief

The world is burning, prices are raising and my nihilistic tendencies grow tired. I don't mean to be all doom and gloom here but its hard not to acknowledge what's going on since its plastered in our faces everywhere we go.

By default, I am a person that removes themselves. i love deeply and to protect that i often move inwardly. This brings me to a thought i have had recently.

The relationship between art and war.

 I have seen from many how hard it is to create recently. guilt with posting, feelings of privilege, and overall a sense of artistic paralysis. Part of that (i believe) comes from the overall oppression that feels forced upon modern creatives that the only way to create a successful career is play the posting game and the way they like it. with external factors growing larger by the day, I'm sure that feels like a losing battle. I'd be lying if i said i didn't partake, and a previous version of myself tried to play that game way too hard.

here' my takeaway for you creatives and even to those who do it as a hobby and feel discouraged. We have created an unhealthy relationship with whatever it is we source our inspiration or creative energy from. Even the best marathon runner cant run forever. Just like them you cant create nonstop forever. Our best work was never intended to be made everyday.

visual art has always been a communication device. A vessel to express when words don't suffice or cant be expressed. So when the world feels like its boot is on your neck, when you feel like the last thing for you to do is create, just know i implore you to fight those feelings back with force--A creative force.

 It's challenging.

its worth it.

It's transformative

It's worth it.

become you

It's worth it.

|| 2026 roadmap

Together Tattoo Studio is finally OPEN. I'm so excited to spend time with all of you there and make just as many memories as we did in BOR.

with these larger concepts drawn and released (in this email!) I'm going to try to also get back to drawing some smaller stuff.

at the moment I'm also setting up an at home print set up to hopefully begin printing some hand carved lino/wood block prints. its been years since i have done it and im really excited to make them again. so keep your eyes peeled for updates and content related to that.

no updates on other wares. the one many militia continues!

|| flash

march. april. may.

over the past year i fell in love with painting. for anyone who knows me, knows I've always detested it. to think I've gone over a decade of being an artist and i avoided a paintbrush like the plague.

 I think being formally trained when i was back in college unknowingly had me a choose a side-- at least that's what i convinced myself. I assumed that if I wanted to paint, I had to paint like a conventional painter. This makes a lot of sense why printmaking, graphic design and illustration felt more natural.

 I have a motto i often fall back on:

 Learn the rules to fit in; break the rules to stand out.

So i did. I paint like i draw.

i spent the next months learning how to use a paintbrush like a pencil.

BUT

// large

The past year i spent learning how to paint i neglected drawing more large scale work. i feel deeply that large scale work (when it comes to tattooing) is where my style truly shines. i love movement, i love high contrast, and working with or brutally disregarding the body's natural energy lines gives my work power. With a lot of my larger projects wrapping up, I spent the last weeks drawing new ones. To those of that i started, continued, and/or finished projects on; thank you from the bottom of my heart. your dedication was commendable and your contribution to my growth was unmeasurable.

// small

no updated paintings since last we spoke but ill circle back to those. I still love making one shot tattoos and am always happy to do custom stuff inspired by them as well.

view all my updated concepts and designs here!

|| travel

currently I have no plans to travel but am not opposed to it. i have been wanting to tattoo in these cities below. If you or your friends would like to get tattooed please reach out and lets see if we can make it work.

Austin, TX

Portland, OR

San Diego, CA

Chicago, MI

Boston, MA

|| thank you

ill never say it enough because you'll never truly know it but god damn I'm so grateful for all of you. Can't wait to see all of you again and catch up.

with love,

Ian