Meet Keet D’Arms | Tattooist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Keet D’Arms and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Keet, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born in Seattle, Wa. I grew up in Albuquerque, NM.. I grew up in the era of “latchkey kids”. Me and my friends parents were never around so we basically raised ourselves. We were all kind of drawn to the “darker” side of life’, dropping huge amounts of acid in our early teens and skipping school as much as possible. We got into punk rock, skate-boarding as well as the earliest elements of hip-hop. I was an active aerosol artist, taking risks and only wanting the accolades of my peers. At a certain point, I was offered a tattoo apprenticeship with the stipulation that I move to Atlanta in 1994.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I make images that are collaborative in my professional life, but I still endeavor to make the clear and readable do they will withstand the test of time. I like to incorporate graphic elements and rely on a “flat” sensibility rather than a three dimensional one, as I believe the body animates the artwork and the artist needs to be mindful both of placement and overall effect an image will have on a body. In my personal work, I get to indulge in the freedom from the constraints of working with someone to achieve a goal that best suits them. I can do whatever I want and sometimes the wild color schemes I come up with and the abstract shapes I play around with make it back into my professional work. There is nothing more gratifying as when someone comes to me for my “personal” style.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, we’d have to get paint at BEATLAB, Hook up with MADCLOUT and paint. I’d take them to eat BBQ at COMMUNITY Q and go for ramen at YEBISUYA. Korean BBQ is a must at 678 and Hotpot at J.J.’s MINI-HOTPOT. I’d take them to the HIGH MUSEUM and if they twisted my arm and wanted to drink I’d take them to OUR BAR

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My Teacher Cap Szumski, my Mentor Richard Stell, JoJo Ackermann and my friends Gailon Justus and Dr. Daks

Instagram: @keet_313 or @mysterium_nova

Other: Tattookeet@gmail.con

Image Credits
All photos are mine