Tattooist, comics artist and cooperative gallery founder Seth Goodkind describes his life in art

Seth Goodkind is a tattooist, comics artist and founding member of Push/Pull Gallery. See more of his art on his website.

I grew up in Silver City, New Mexico, where there was a lot of biker culture. It was also the birthplace of Billy the Kid. Growing up in a tiny town, movies were a big escape. Video rental stores were everywhere. I walked by a storefront and saw a horror video display full of lurid art, and I had to find out what was going on.

I got my first tattoo when I turned 18. My parents disapproved. It was a tiny Molotov cocktail in the center of my bicep. My arm is completely filled up now. But it’s still there.

I loved going to the UW. I studied history and was into the utopian and home anarchist movements. I wish I had stayed longer. I wanted more. I remember sitting in a hallway once just to listen in on a Quintard Taylor lecture.

For many years, I worked as a freelance illustrator and cartoonist. I found my artistic voice in Seattle’s welcoming underground comix community.

I published my early work in Real Change, The Stranger and The Seattle Weekly. I made history comics and local color comics on true crime.

Tattoo apprenticeships are hard to come by. I was fortunate; a woman I knew for many years ended up teaching me how to tattoo.

Skin is a dynamic living organ. You have to learn how to draw on skin and to put the ink into the skin.

I enjoy doing esoteric, occult calligraphy and medieval engraving-style woodcut line work. My influences include Albrecht Dürer, Hieronymus Bosch and the Garbage Pail Kids.

Push/Pull is a community creative space gallery and art supply store that’s run by my wife, Maxx Follis-Goodkind.