New Member - Matt from Alabama

[MattCrunk]

I just came across this forum so I thought I'd have a look.

I been airbrushing off and on for close to 30 years. I first picked up an airbrush at age 14 in junior high art class, and within a week was airbrushing t-shirts at a school art fair. A year later I landed a summer job at a T-Shirts Plus store in the local mall. At 17 I began to travel and do festivals and flea markets all over the southeast, and finally ended up at a giant t-shirt tent that was permanently set up at out local cruising "strip", where I worked for two summers.

An early dream of mine was to make the 6 hour move down to the Florida Panhandle to airbrush in Destin or Panama City Beach, but it just wasn't in the cards for me. After high school I went to art college for a semester, but soon dropped out to take a full time job as staff artist for a major screenprinting company.

After about 10 years as a screenprint designer and commercial illustrator, I returned to my roots by airbrushing tees in a mall shop in the early 90's. I also got involved around that time with Airbrush Action magazine as a technical contributor.

These days I don't airbrush much anymore. I got into tattooing in 1998 and opened my own studio a year later. Haven't done much of anything else since then. But I still enjoy keeping up with the scene.

-Matt Crunk

Hi Matt

Welcome to Airbrush Technique there are several of us on here who have been around a long time in the business it's nice of you to join us.

How's the Tat business?

Do you have plans to pick the airbrush back up?

The scene is still as political as it always has been, maybe even a bit worse. We just can't seem to pull together in the airbrushing community. I try my best to stay out of it.

[Joyce]

Hi Matt and welcome. Looks like maybe someday you will be back at airbrushing. Hope you are planning on staying around. I have a son that lives near the Huntsville area.

[xzotic ink]

WOW,,LOTS OF EXPERIENCE,,,SO KOOL YA MADE IT,,,, need some tat advice,,,,,LETS SEE YA POST,,,,,,WELCOME FORM ZOO YORK CITY!!!!!

[MattCrunk]

Originally Posted by donjohnson

Hi Matt

Do you have plans to pick the airbrush back up?

From time to time I get the urge, and occasioanlly will pick it up just to do signs for my tattoo shop or something. I don't really have any plans for anything more than that at this point. But you never know.

-MC

[Satch]

Hey Matt ... Nice to meet you. Welcome to the forum. With all the experience you have I hope you don't mind giving some advice once in awhile to some of us newbies.

Satch
from Maryland

[DixieRambler]

Originally Posted by MattCrunk

I just came across this forum so I thought I'd have a look.

I been airbrushing off and on for close to 30 years. I first picked up an airbrush at age 14 in junior high art class, and within a week was airbrushing t-shirts at a school art fair. A year later I landed a summer job at a T-Shirts Plus store in the local mall. At 17 I began to travel and do festivals and flea markets all over the southeast, and finally ended up at a giant t-shirt tent that was permanently set up at out local cruising "strip", where I worked for two summers.

An early dream of mine was to make the 6 hour move down to the Florida Panhandle to airbrush in Destin or Panama City Beach, but it just wasn't in the cards for me. After high school I went to art college for a semester, but soon dropped out to take a full time job as staff artist for a major screenprinting company.

After about 10 years as a screenprint designer and commercial illustrator, I returned to my roots by airbrushing tees in a mall shop in the early 90's. I also got involved around that time with Airbrush Action magazine as a technical contributor.

These days I don't airbrush much anymore. I got into tattooing in 1998 and opened my own studio a year later. Haven't done much of anything else since then. But I still enjoy keeping up with the scene.

-Matt Crunk

Where in Alabama? I am in Montevallo. Thanks,

Jim

[yardartnut]

Hi ya Matt.....Im your neighbor in Stonewall, Ms........ welcome

[MattCrunk]

Originally Posted by DixieRambler

Where in Alabama? I am in Montevallo. Thanks,

Jim

I'm in Decatur, just outside of Huntsville. -MC

[yardartnut]

Originally Posted by MattCrunk

I'm in Decatur, just outside of Huntsville. -MC

Home of the World Racking Horse Celebration,,.[World Championship]....I won that in 79,80, and 81

[redesigns]

Hey Matt post some of your Tat work... Its kind of like air brush just alot closer...Your avatar is killer.... It that your work? Welcome to the forum..

[pegt10]

welcome and your one stop shop

[rowie]

Hey ya Matt, welcome to the family.

Don is spot on about all the political stuff, but the beauty here is you wont find any of it here.
Weather you decide to pick the old puff-brush back up or not many of us here would still love to see your artwork even if it is skin ink.

Yardart, what on earth is the "World Racking Horse Celebration"? I'm not sure if I'm intrigued or just confused!

Take care and enjoy the world kids.

[MattCrunk]

Originally Posted by redesigns

Hey Matt post some of your Tat work... Its kind of like air brush just alot closer...Your avatar is killer.... It that your work? Welcome to the forum..

My Avatar is my work, obviously based on a Big Boy menu illustration from the late 1960's. But except for my line drawing, it was done 100% in photoshop, although I must say I called heavily upon my airbrush background to do it. You might say it was digitally airbrushed.

Below is some of my tattoo work. -MC

[rowie]

Wow Matt, that is very clean and crisp, she looks awesome.

Love too see more!

[DixieRambler]

Originally Posted by yardartnut

Home of the World Racking Horse Celebration,,.[World Championship]....I won that in 79,80, and 81

Hey yardartnut,

I participated in the very first world racking horse celebration. My brain is kinda of old these days, but I believe it was around 1972 or 1973. It was held in Decatur. I was around 14 years old. I placed 7th in the world in the halter class. Didn't place in the others. I had a 3 year stallion called Black Jubilee, and showed another 3 year black stallion called Black Jake, owned by Joe Bright. Sorry to swipe the thread. Just wanted to pass it on.

Thanks,

Jim

[DixieRambler]

Hey Matt,

Good lookin Tat. She scares me with that wip!

Thanks,

Jim

[redesigns]

Mat that is way kewl... Nice work... Im diggin your version of Bobs big boy...You have a larger pic of that also....Well really like your work...post more if you can.... re

[MattCrunk]

Originally Posted by redesigns

Mat that is way kewl... Nice work... Im diggin your version of Bobs big boy...You have a larger pic of that also....Well really like your work...post more if you can.... re

[redesigns]

Matt thanks for posting the larger pic.... Maybe you can put an airbrush in his other hand...Just a thought... teeeheee heee...Always been a fan of Bobs big boy burgers when I was a Kid... We dont have them in AZ anymore but I always loved seeing that character...Your version is way kewler.... Thanks again for the post... re.

[yardartnut]

Originally Posted by DixieRambler

Hey yardartnut,

I participated in the very first world racking horse celebration. My brain is kinda of old these days, but I believe it was around 1972 or 1973. It was held in Decatur. I was around 14 years old. I placed 7th in the world in the halter class. Didn't place in the others. I had a 3 year stallion called Black Jubilee, and showed another 3 year black stallion called Black Jake, owned by Joe Bright. Sorry to swipe the thread. Just wanted to pass it on.

Thanks,

Jim

Jim, Email me sometime.......I think we know each other I won the speed racking on Wilsons Allen Again 79-80-81.........I remember Joe Bright!......he judged alotta shows here years ago.....wow small world!!!!


K Ill back out of this thread too!

[Zackary]

Hello and welcome aboard!