We had the good fortune of connecting with Chauncey Kochel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chauncey, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
There are many habits you have to develop in order to succeed in the tattoo industry. When I first started, much of what I learned I had to figure out the hard way. My best advice to someone who is looking to be successful in any kind of art business would be to stay updated with the latest trends, techniques, and technologies in the industry. Attend workshops, art classes, exhibitions, and connect with other artists to expand your knowledge and learn from their experiences.

Stay curious and open-minded. By doing so you will improve your skills, develop a unique style, and producing high-quality work. Be dedicated, committed, and have a strong work ethic to consistently produce and improve your art. Push yourself to complete projects, take on challenges, and never settle for mediocrity.

The art industry can be unpredictable and challenging, so it’s important to be adaptable and stay open to changes. Learn to bounce back from failures, and find new ways to showcase and market your work. Establishing a strong online presence is also key, utilizing social media platforms and keeping them updated with new artwork is crucial as well as engaging with your followers is what it takes to stay relevant in todays market.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always had a passion for the arts, in a variety of mediums: music, painting, sculpting, digital media and most notably tattooing. I was blessed to have an aunt who is a professional artist and guided my siblings and I along the creative path. Needless to say art has always played a huge role in my life for as long as I can remember.

As a professional artist, the first few years of your career you’re kind of jumping around from style to style to find out what you enjoy most. Other than the technical side, finding your style is probably the most challenging thing to do. It wasn’t until I stopped being influenced by the work of others that I was able to really discover who I am as an artist. Saturated colors, large gradient blends and a realism/surrealism twist is how I would best describe the look of my work.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is success in an body art business takes time, perseverance, and a combination of artistic skills and business acumen. Always push yourself, but take your time. Great things aren’t built overnight.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Depending on the time of year we would start by spending a few days in Galveston, a charming coastal city located about an hour from Houston. We would hit the beach in the morning and in the spend the afternoon exploring the historic Galveston Strand, lined with Victorian-era buildings with tons of unique shops, bars and restaurants. While in Galveston, we would for sure book a charter boat with some of the great captains and guide services on island.

When we had our fill of amazing seafood and soaked up all the awesome island vibes we would head into Houston to Grand Sport Speedway and race exotic cars. After racing we would tour the Johnson Space Center and eat lunch at one of the amazing restaurants in the area. Depending on what is going on, maybe finish the day off with a concert at one of the many venues downtown.

I’ve never been one to make too many plans, so we would most likely do whatever spontaneous thing that popped in our heads! There are so many things to do in Houston and the surrounding area it is difficult to narrow it down to just a few things!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to all of my incredible clients, followers, and community for their unwavering support of my art throughout my career. Without them I’m confident I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Website: www.vonstriga.com

Instagram: CKTattoo

Twitter: mechaseca

Facebook: OfficialCKtattoo

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.