BAYLEN LEVORE
Where are u from?
I am originally from a suburb of Houston called Cypress, TX
Where do you currently live??
Right now I’m living in Asheville, North Carolina
What Made you Want to Get your First Tattoo?/When did you first become interested in getting tattooed?
I’ve wanted a tattoo since I knew about them pretty much. I got my first tattoo when I was about 16. Illegally. Ha. And of course it’s a kanji symbol. I still have it. I don’t think I’ll ever cover it.
Where did u get your first tattoo?
I got it at some guy’s house. I was very uneducated at the time so I didn’t understand the dangers of doing that!
How did you start tattooing?
My brother’s girlfriend at the time was friends with a shop owner and she informed me that they were looking for an apprentice. I had been researching taking on an apprenticeship at the time. It seemed like the opportunity just landed on my lap. It was at a shop called Unique Body Styles. It had a low rider vibe to it.
When you are not tattooing, how do you like to spend your free time?
When I’m not tattooing I’m usually sleeping. Haha. Tattooing usually leaves me somewhat exhausted. My other hobbies though include playing music. I have some solo stuff and I’m also currently doing vocals for a black metal band here in Asheville. I just started working with them so we don’t have recordings just yet. But we are called Black Mountain Hunger. I also recently got into comics. I’ve been studying the occult since I was about 15. I love to read Tarot. I try to be outside with my boyfriend as much as I can. I Netflix a lot. I’ve been trying to paint more these days but it’s very hard to find the time. I have pet rats.I’d say overall I mostly hang out with my boyfriend and rats, play music and sleep when I’m not tattooing.
Who are your artistic influencers?/Mentors?
My artistic influences include the painter Luis Ricardo Falero, and a Russian painter named Natalia Smirnova. I also get a lot of inspiration from comic books, video games and tumblr and my dreams.
Any heroes?
How sad is it that most of my heroes are fictional characters? I grew up reading a lot of Nancy Drew. I have a tattoo of her and have even written a song about her. My favorite comic book hero is Madame Xanadu. In real life though i’d say my biggest heroes are Nevin Yildirim, Gertrude Bell, and Billie Holiday.
How has being tattooed affected your life?
Being tattooed hasn’t really effected my life much other than the occasional conversation that I have with a stranger who is interested. I’ve never really lived anywhere that frowns upon being tattooed. I feel like if I wasn’t tattooed It would be in an alternate reality and I would be a completely different person. Who knows
What tattoo has the most meaning for you?
The tattoo that has the most meaning for me is my Hermit tattoo. The Hermit is one of the major arcana in the Tarot . I feel like like my character closely relates to his.
What are your inspirations inside & outside of tattooing?
I think I answered most of that in question 7 . But some tattoo artists that inspire me are Duncan x, Thomas Hooper, Guy le Tatooer, Sarah Carter, Anderson Luna, Alice Carrier, Philip Yarnell, Jondix, Alexander Grim, and a few others. Outside of tattooing I get a lot of inspiration from occult books and nature.
