Artist Spotlight: Cole Strem, American tattooer and artist

As the Geometry family continues to grow, we love introducing our customers to new artists with distinct and unique creative aesthetics. This month, we sat down with Cole Strem, an American artist and tattooer living and working in Long Beach, California. 

With his new Geometry collection launching this month, Cole gave us a peek into his creative process – including how his aesthetic has evolved and what continues to inspire his work. 

Let’s talk about your history/experience. In short, tell us what made you an artist. 

My parents have always been supportive of my artistic creativity. I was exposed to many forms of art from a very young age and my folks always had me in some sort of art class.

During middle school and high school, they were always switching up the mediums the students could use. Watercolor and acrylic painting, pen and ink drawing, pencil and charcoal still life, cartooning, silk screening, printmaking… I dabbled in a little bit of everything and I still do! 

What inspires you on a daily basis?

I can find inspiration almost anywhere. A silly cartoon character on a cereal box at the grocery store, an advertisement for a new movie on a bus stop or a bold slick graphic on the side of a semi truck that drives by. [Inspiration is] endless if your eyes are open. 

I’m into old signs, advertisements and vintage artwork too; that old art really holds some value and gets the feeling across to the viewer/consumer. 

Most of all, I’m inspired by nature. I’m a huge fan of the outdoors and animals especially. Mother Nature has created some of the best references you can ask for. I truly think that’s what makes me happy about my work.

Tell us a bit about your creative process and how you work.

I like to have an initial idea to work off first. From there, depending on the project, I usually do quite a bit of research and get some ideas from my personal reference library or online. Other projects just come to me more naturally I guess. Yet, sometimes the ideas need a bit more time to iron out the details. I like to have the client’s trust and get their ideas for the project before I even start sketching. With that in mind, I can get started with a clear idea and stay motivated to finish by the deadline.

What keeps you motivated to create? 

I’m a workaholic, and I really love to create things. It’s hard for me to sit still, read a book or watch television. Most of the time I’m idle I can’t stop thinking about the next thing I want to paint, a project that I’d like to make or a tattoo I have to draw for next week. The wheels are always turning! 

Who are your biggest influences?

Artists from the past and present influence me. I guess it’s how a chef makes a good meal. You need the main ingredient with a dash from here and a pinch of this and two cups of that with a finishing zest and a good presentation. 

I see the way someone in France from the 1930s drew a woman’s face, and I like the flow of the hair someone today in Spain is doing. Or the way a tattooer in England during the early 1900’s shaded the eye shadow and nose of a woman’s face. It’s just a melting pot of styles I think look cool together. 

How would you describe your personal design aesthetic? 

I am heavily influenced by Americana art and mainly traditional tattoo imagery. It’s been my main foundation since I was a tattoo apprentice and was always the basis for how I thought a good tattoo should look. 

Over the years I’ve noticed my style has become more illustrative and graphic. I still try to stick to my traditional roots as a tattooer, but over the past five years or so, I’ve really gotten into the Art Deco style and have been applying it more into my work. With so many tattooers these days, I’ve been trying to focus on making my work stand out more, for better or for worse. 

What draws/excites you about Geometry’s products? 

There’s a lot to choose from – something for everyone. It’s simple and I like that. No matter what your design elements are in your home or office, they have it covered. 

What was your specific inspiration for this collection? 

I’m a sucker for patterns and textures. It’s always hard for me to design something loose and open. I always feel that even a simple design needs some texture, spots, stripes or scales. When I first saw Geometry’s collections I knew I could help contribute to their brand by adding more texture from nature to their offerings. 

How would you describe this collection? 

I think the goal for this collection is to keep things timeless. With the instant gratification world we live in today, and how much the styles and trends continue to change daily around us, I’m hoping to keep tradition alive with this collection of timeless imagery I’ve created for the not-so-average person.