Stats:
Name: Galen Ihlenfeldt
Born: 1982
Artist Since: Been an artist all my life, and a professional artist since 1999.
A Lifelong Creator
Well, where do I start? My name is Galen Ihlenfeldt. I was born in central Texas, and have lived in about a dozen other places.
Artistically, I've done alot of things in my life. Aside from the general mediums like painting & drawing, I have done tattoos, tombstone etchings, hand-cut stained glass art, and even some signs and murals here and there.
Over my years as an artist, I honestly feel like my strongest skill is being able to take another person's request or idea, and translate it into a physical piece of art.
In my personal life my family comes first. I am happily married, and have three wonderful children who keep me very busy! After that comes artwork, followed very closely by a high interest in computers, programming & web-design. I am self taught in several different coding and programming lanuages.
My Artistic History
I started doing art as soon as I could hold a pencil, and have continued to create all the way through school and up to this very day. My first artistic employment opportunity came at 17. I was painting signs as part of a two-man sign company. I did this for a year and a half.
Afterwards, I got invited to do an apprenticeship in a local tattoo studio and over the next six years I was a professional tattoo artist. This is where I first developed my talent for being able to get into the clients minds and serve them by artistically manifesting their ideas. While tattooing, I had several pieces of my work featured in magazines, including 'Tattoo' magazine, and 'ITA' (International Tattoo Art). For almost half of that six years, I was simultaneously working as an artist at a tombstone/memorial company. I made custom tombstones and memorial stones, as well as did very detailed etchings on them.
I stopped being a tattoo artist so that I could spend more time with my wife & my beautiful kids. At the same time, branching my artwork out even further by applying new mediums. I started painting, and eventually developed MasterMindArtStudio.com back in 2007.
Up to present day, I do primarily freelance work. I try not to limit myself to any particular type, style or medium when it comes to artwork. Got an idea of something you'd like to see done? Shoot me a message and I just might do it!