Everyone as we know has heroes, icons and I presume, mentors.  We have all reveled in other’s abilities and strength, wishing sometimes their near superhuman traits were ours.  We all know someone like that, don’t we?

I met my technical and artistic guru 13 years ago at my first Artrageaous.  Since then I have tried to do what I can to glean information from this exalted persona at every opportunity.  I have pried secrets from the vault of infinity, aka his mind, ever since we met.  It is not to say I am stealing his knowledge, but I am an eager pupil desirous of the techniques of the trade, art.

Pepe is a master if you are concerned.  A spirit wound in the arts concerned with nothing but his craft.  Constantly creating, curating and crafting the new, like that of a man possessed, with the inability to stop even if he wanted.  For him, his only constraint is time.  Maybe money, but what artist cares about money?  As with all other greats there is only one concern, creating.  That is what Pepe does – create.  And I thank him for it almost everyday.  Thank you Pepe.  May we all have a mentor such as him in our life and the joy of their craft to make us content with the wonderment of their craft. ~Arne Gutmann

The Photos

01 Fun custom tattoo I made on Ryan.
02 REV trails in Function, a super special place for m.  I repainted the wall ride.  ©2012 Petko
03 Vince Dog and I found this massive stunt in the woods above Function.  It must be 20 feet above the ground!
04 “WEDGIE” found wood, sand. ©2012 Petko
05 Vince swimming by abandoned mine, south of Function.
06 Vince in pond amongst old growth, East of Function and high up.
07 Odin themed tattoo design for a full arm. ©2012 Petko
08 Beating heart and headphones tattoo design for a chest. ©2012 Petko

The Questions

What neighborhood do you live in?
Function Junction, for close to 20 years.

What do you do and where?
I paint and create art in my home studio. I tattoo at Black Ohm Tattoos.

What are you working on?   
I’m currently working a bunch of custom designs for tattooing,  and a couple art shows in Vancouver in the coming months.

Where can we find your work?   
You can find my work here… www.davepetko.com.