At 38, Kevin Boudreau, a multidisciplinary artist from Connecticut, grew up surrounded by art. It was in the early 2000s, when he discovered graffiti, that his creative path took a turn. Since 2004, he has devoted himself to tattooing, adopting a new school style that continues to be nourished by his early graphic inspirations and the energy of street art.
Hi Kevin, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I'm 38 years old and I'm a tattooist, graffiti artist, painter and muralist. I live in Connecticut, in the United States, where I grew up surrounded by comics and illustrations from the albums that came out in the late 90s and early 2000s. My uncle was a phenomenal oil painter and created beautiful replicas of Norman Rockwell - among other famous artists. Looking back, I think it was great to be exposed to all these art forms. Then, in the early 2000s, my life was turned upside down when I discovered graffiti.
What were your first years in the business like?
I started practising in 2006 and devoted myself entirely to it. I painted walls wherever I could find them, whenever I had the chance. Most of the time it was illegal, but eventually some companies saw my work and started asking me to paint their walls. I still do it today, while occasionally exploring places where I'm not allowed to paint.
Did you study art?
I've always drawn and studied art on my own. I ended up going to university to get an associate's degree in fine art. However, I learnt a lot more by practising graffiti and, later, tattooing.
How did you make the artistic transition from walls to bodies?
I got my first tattoo in 2004 and was immediately hooked. I went back every two months to add new tattoos. I was as young as I was stupid at the time and since then I've had both my arms laser-cleaned and then tattooed again. At the time, though, a lot of people suggested that I get into the business. So, during one of my sessions, I asked the tattooist - now a friend - if he would let me try tattooing myself. He agreed and I got a little heart with “Mum” written in it, on my ankle. It seemed so natural that I immediately knew what path I wanted to take. I became an apprentice in 2008 and started tattooing full-time in 2009.
Have you always done New School?
When I started I just picked up whatever I could get my hands on. I've always drawn a bit more New school but from 2013 onwards it really became my main focus. Occasionally I still like to take on colour realism projects.
Your tattoos are characterised by their very bright colours. Do you see this as a legacy of graffiti?
Yes, I do. Graffiti forces you to choose eye-catching colours. There's usually a fill colour, an outline colour and the background colour, whatever it is. I try to apply a similar theory to my tattoo work.
In what other ways does graffiti inspire your tattoos?
I have the impression that the fluidity of the lines and the curves of the letters that I have repeated over the years have contributed to the shape of my characters. A flat, motionless character isn't as exciting as one with curves and movement. It's fun to play with exaggerated angles, a bit like graffiti.
Conversely, what have you borrowed from tattoo culture to transpose to graffiti?
I think that my compositions improved because I practised them daily in my tattoos, which also require me to think in terms of placement on the body.
A lot of graffiti artists like to use lettering. Is this something you've tried with tattoos?
I've added graffiti-style lettering behind some of my work, but I always want the character to be the focal point of the composition. I'm a big fan of the expression ‘a picture says a thousand words’. I like there to be a little story behind every piece I create.
Themes include cartoons, but also pop culture in general. Films, video games, anime, etc., what links do you have with them?
I love creating my own characters, but it's always fun to tattoo my version of those I borrow from pop culture and video games. It's particularly exciting when someone asks me for one that I've grown up with and can identify with. In my opinion, the characters from the late 80s and 90s are some of the best.
What drives you to excel? The demands of your customers?
I chose a career in art because I constantly want to create. The work of others is a serious driving force, for example when I'm impressed by the work of certain artists. I want to learn from each piece and keep trying to make it better than the last.
Do you have any secrets for maintaining your creativity?
I try to stay constantly inspired. The key for me is to recognise what I'm naturally drawn to and incorporate it into my artwork. If the subject doesn't interest me, chances are I won't be happy with the end result.
What are your plans for 2025?
I want to concentrate a bit more on my studio art. I've been painting a lot with acrylics recently and I think it's time to contact galleries, or see where my canvases take me. I'll definitely be painting more graffiti when the weather gets better. + IG : @kevinboudreau_ https://www.kbooart.com/
