Who Is Tai?

A: My inspiration derives from music and the nostalgic memories of my turbulent teenage years. I’ve experimented with all kinds of art-forms including painting, tattoo, graffiti, music and film, but none of them have captured and retained my affections as strongly as the standard ballpoint pen has for over 30 years. Really, my style was cultivated from a mix of urban doctrines and an appetite for authenticity and abnormality.

A: Influence of my actual work ethic came from my father, but artistically Salvador Dali always inspired me. His work was my earliest influence. Even as a young kid I remember being stoked to see an artist consistently creating “outside of the box” art. As I got older my inspiration came more from people and their qualities as a person rather than their abilities as an artist. I’ve always appreciated people who are willing to explore, regardless of the outcome.

A: When I'm drawing, I prefer listening to instrumental-based music, but I also listen to a lot of craft hip hop. While my drawing playlist is eccentric & loaded with music from hundreds of different artists, I will always have music by Silver Mt. Zion, Godpeed! You Black Emperor, Portishead, Aesop Rock, and Bon Iver.

A: I enjoy creating album covers on occasion. I don't have a set price, but I'm fair. I usually charge a price for the design, and then a separate price for exclusive rights to the design. Most bands opt for just the design and that is usually sufficient. On a couple of occasions, after the band gained traction and became more popular and were making more money, they came back and bought the exclusive rights, which I'm okay with doing as well. If you're definitely interested in an album cover design, forward me some music and your album title. Most importantly, I've got to be inspired by the music in some way....after hearing the music, we can go from there.

A: I am honored that you consider me for your design, but I will not. Mostly because I just don’t have the bandwidth to take on commission work. Also, it doesn't service my style well. My drawing is very organic and self-evaluative. My work gets it's value from my pace & my experiences. Drawing an idea for someone, looses all of that. I really am honored that you'd tattoo yourself with my work and you're more than welcome to get any of my other pieces tattooed. You're also free to forward me your ideas and if I subconsciously start drawing from the ideas at some point, you can use that. 

A: Without art, we'd be a society of primates throwing feces at one another

Add an answer to this item.A: Authentic, passion driven art. Work that makes you feel. I see a lot of that kind of work come from self-taught artists, i.e. street artists.

A: Working with a ballpoint pen is my absolute favorite. I'm really able to dive all the way in mentally, and I really like being able to do that.

A: Probably the most inspirational artist for me was Salvador Dali. Current artists that I’m fond of are Herakut, Erick Weir, Brusk, Phlegm, Dulk1, PEZ and Craola.

A: It's the only thing that I do that makes me feel real, rooted & in perfect balance.

A: I don't subscribe to that cliche. When I'm creating I prefer to be alone, but I don't ever feel lonely.

A: I don't care much for the elitists or the pompous attitudes many artists have. Other than that, I'm cool with whatever. I’m also currently suspicious of all the NFT influence on “artists”  Not totally against it, not totally for it, as of February 2022, I am just suspicious of it.  

A: Some kind of major museum installation that would contain all of my original pen drawings on giant white walls...I've also wrote a film about my Samoan heritage many years back, & would love to one day have the time & finances to produce & direct that.

A: I always appreciate when people immediately recognize my Dali influence but I prefer to stand alone.