ARTIST BUTCH HARTMAN

I took all sorts of art classes in high school, and after graduating, I went to a community college for graphic design and digital imaging.

After graduating, I went to work for a sign shop, but I did not get to use what I learned in college. So I went from there to working construction for about six years until the bottom fell out in 2008, and everyone got laid off. I moved to Phoenix, Az, to attend UTI and MMI to become a motorcycle mechanic and work on Harleys. While attending classes, I worked part-time in a custom bike shop. All this time, I worked on my art night and spare time. But, after a while, I realized there was only a path to make a good living if you owned the shop. A friend I went to MMI with suggested I give go full time with my art. So, in 2018 I decided to give my art a shot by going full-time with just that. It has been a great experience, and I am pleased I made the decision, although I will tell you that being an artist as a career is not for the faint of heart. It’s lots of work; creating your art and learning marketing skills are more than full-time job.

When working in the custom bike shop, I started doing skate decks in my free time, and they sold, which helped spur me on to going full-time with my art. I strip the skate decks when I get them. First, sand with eighty grit, then two twenty grit, and then it is ready for me to draw on. I have always been into bikes and hot rods so my drawings generally cover those subjects.