Meet Darren McKeag | Artist… tattoing, painting, illustrating

We had the good fortune of connecting with Darren McKeag and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Darren, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
After attending art school, I was working in corporates settings as a graphic artist and I had done 6 years in the Army/Army Reserve… I was at a point I didn’t like being told what to do, how to do it and when to do it… I was painting Harley motorbikes at the time on the side and started tattoing and knew this is what I wanted to do. I have literally been drawing my entire life.. it was time to go out on my own…

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been drawing my elements of art, since the second grade. Hot rods, motorbikes, skulls, flames and tattoo art. Looking back, I now realize that all the art I was creating, would be the art I’m doing today. 99 percent of the art I create is relative to the motorbike industry.

I got where I am at today, by drawing everyday and creating my own style of art and social media. Every day I get up and hustle… it hasn’t always been easy, but it’s also all I know.

I overcame all the challenges, by pushing thru every single day. As for lessons, you can only rely on yourself and your daily reward is based on your daily drive, your daily input… you want to be lazy for a day, you’ll reap no rewards…

I would like to world to know that I am here, when you’re ready to get your McKeag art style tattoo, that I’ve created over the years.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were to visit, I would tattoo them, get on our motorbikes and ride around breaking bread together at some of my friends most amazing, independent restaurants. If we were to venture out of my area, we would travel the back roads, stopping at all the little small town diners and seeking out all the oddity venues… making memories and telling stories…

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Though my parents were always supportive of my art, while I was growing up…it was my art teachers throughout school that always told me I could make a career of creating art. Specifically Mr Faulkes, my High-School art teacher… still supportive to this day.

Website: Www.merchmountain.com/darrenmckeag

Instagram: @mckeagart

Facebook: McKeag Art

Youtube: McKeag Art

Image Credits
First image of me sitting within many of my pieces…photo by : @Madstork Remaining images taken by Missy McKeag