Kyler Martz, guest artist

(version française below)

Each season, Bask in the Sun collaborates with several visual artists, photographers and illustrators for its series of printed tees. Kyler Martz is a tattoo artist from Seattle, USA. He's a talented illustrator inspired by the traditional marine style of the '30s, equally at home painting a mural on a wall, creating a skateboard set, drawing on paper or biceps! Meet the artist.

You draw a lot. We discover new drawings and tattoos every day on your your FlickR account. Don't you ever sleep?
Haha, thanks. It's like I have two full-time jobs between tattoos and drawing. I usually get up early and go to bed late. I try to take more vacation time, but I love what I do, so I don't feel like I'm working all the time.

Kyler Martz

You often draw girls in swimsuits in a deliciously retro style. Is there a reason for this? Is it the best way to show off their tattoos?
I really like Art Nouveau and the styles associated with the period. The bathers of the 1920s-1930s have one of the best styles that ever existed. It's really fun to combine that era with my love of tattoos. I hadn't really thought about it until then, but I think it shows my admiration for the elegant side of the discipline as opposed to the biker's tattooed girlfriend. At first, I started by drawing women divers, inspired by old photos of my mother. She was a diver and swimmer when I was young. It's a sort of tribute to her.

Kyler Martz

The title of our collection is "identify the essential, eliminate the rest". We chose to illustrate this phrase with one of your tattooed bathers. It makes sense to us. Does it make sense to you?
I think classic tattoos are the simplest and most timeless way to look good. I don't like fashion and ephemeral trends. These classic tattoos never go out of fashion, they're works of art that you take everywhere with you and they don't take up much space. So I'm hard pressed to find anything cooler and more essential than tattoos!

Last question. Why did you agree to work with Bask in the Sun? A French label, based a long way from where you live...
We must like the same things, this retro style and culture. It makes me happy that people on the other side of the world appreciate my style and my work. I really hope to be able to visit you one day.

... Version française
Kyler Martz collaborate with Bask in the Sun since years. Living in Seattle, he divides his time between commissioned design and illustration work, and tattooing.
Kyler_Martz_Baskinthesun-5

You are so prolific. That's incredible. We discover new drawings and tattooes everyday on your Flick'R account. Are you a hardworker? Do you never sleep?
Haha, thanks very much. I feel like I have 2 full time jobs between tattooing and drawing, so I usually wake up early and go to bed late. I am trying to take more time for vacation, but I love what I do, so it doesn't seem like work most of the time.

You frequently draw girls in bathing suit with a delicious retro style. Something about that? Is that the best way to show her tattooes?
I really love art nouveau and the styles associated with that time period. I think the bathing beauties from the 1920's and 30's are some of the coolest style ever. It's very fun to combine that with my love of tattoos, I haven't really thought about it before, but I think it shows my love of the classier side of tattooing, as opposed to biker chicks with tattoos.
I originally began drawing the diving girls, based on old photographs I found of my mother, who was a swimmer and diver when she was young, they are sort of an homage to her as well.

Our new collection is called "Identify the essential, eliminate the rest". We've chosen to illustrate those words with one of your tattooed girl in bathing suit. For us it really make sense. And for you?

I think classic tattoos are the most simple and timeless way to adorn yourself, unlike fashion trends, they never seem to go out of style, and they are artwork you take everywhere with you, that doesn't take up any space. It's hard to think of anything cooler and more essential than that!

Last question. Why did you say 'yes' to collaborate with Bask in the Sun? A French brand far from where you're living...
I think we have very similar interests in nostalgic style and culture, it is exciting that people on the other side of the world can appreciate my style and work. I really hope to make it over to visit someday soon!

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