Corey Bernhardt I am a full time illustrator, painter, tattoo artist, and business owner living and working in Sacramento, CA. I grew up as an aspiring comic book illustrator starting at the early age of 5. I spent my teenage years learning and experimenting with as many mediums as I could get my hands on, including computer programs like Photoshop and Illustrator. These programs helped me get a small start in design when I began doing branding for local bands and various small businesses. Even with this early start, I didn't begin my art career until 2002 when a friend helped me get an interview for a graphic artist position at Tower Records. There, I began to build a small portfolio of work, and started to freelance in graphic design. Hoping to break into more of the illustrative and story telling side of art, in 2005 I began attending the Academy of Art in San Francisco to study illustration. By 2009 my freelance and illustration work landed me an apprenticeship at a tattoo shop located in Roseville, CA. While learning to tattoo I also had the chance to write and illustrate a small creator owned comic book titled "Cardboard City" that I released in early 2010. Shortly after I switched gears and started to focus on painting. By late 2012, after working at a handful of tattoo studios here in Sacramento and in Berkley, CA., I made the decision to open Reclamare Gallery and Custom Tattoo. In addition to my other artistic endeavors, I have recently been teaching figure drawing classes, and writing a follow-up to my creator owned comic book.
Tattoo Focus: The focus of my tattoos are always developing and changing, but the tattoo design aspect I tend to gravitate to the most are tattoos that reflect my painting style and subject matter. I would like to think that most of the elements in my paintings all live in the same "universe". I like to incorporate a lot of subject matter that does not necessarily make sense in the real world but when applied properly can create imagery that can capture someones attention just a little longer than the average tattoo. Subject matter than interest me most are flowers, fruit, fungus, animals, insects, and clever objects to have them interact with.
Tattoo Style: When I started tattooing my main focus was on realism and black and grey work, but in recent years I have learned to appreciate and focus more on color tattoos. Tattoos I enjoy the most tend to be more illustrative and incorporate more line work than the photorealistic side of tattoos. It is my strong opinion that after being in the body art industry for several years now I have came to the conclusion that the tattoos that look the best and hold up the best over time are tattoos that are more simplistic and incorporate line work. Specifically line heavy illustrative almost Neo-Traditional and work than leans more Japanese. This is the direction that I have been trying to sway most of my tattoo art. However I do still do portraits and some photo realism. But overall I'd prefer to stay with the two styles mentioned above. |
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Contact Info:
Corey Bernhardt 916-760-7461 Website: cbernhardt.blogspot.com
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