Skin City is not only a body painting studio and boutique, but it also houses the studio of a hot Vegas visual artist, painter and photographer, Steven Horlock. Steve has done his share of body painting during his tenure at Skin City, but there’s a lot more to this guy, and we got the scoop!
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Skin City: Where did you grow up? Why did you move to Vegas?
Steven Horlock: I grew up in Southern California but came out to Vegas in High School. Vegas was a culture shock. I thought I would be living in a casino. But in reality it was an adult town at the time, and the only thing to do was go to Circus Circus or Wet and Wild. I spent a lot of time skateboarding, going to desert punk shows, and just getting into trouble.
SC: How old were you when you started art and what got you started?
SH: I have always doodled. Usually funny cartoons and Heavy Metal influenced drawings up until 2008. After that I decided to learn how to paint. I experience a meditative experience when I paint that keeps me focused and relaxed. I am addicted to this experience and spend most of my time in the studio.
SC: What’s your art background?
SH: I have studied from life and from various art books. I took a painting class in college but my teacher was senile, so he taught the same three pages the whole semester. I learn faster on my own anyway.
SC: What else do you do? SH: I am also a professional video editor and videographer. I enjoy still photography when I am traveling, and I have done some model work.
SC: What are your other favorite hobbies? SH: I enjoy hiking and exploring the country. It’s been a while, but I like to take the long way to a destination in order to try to find some odd town in the middle of nowhere and walk around. Especially old ghost towns.
SC: What do you like best about living in Vegas?
SH: I enjoy Las Vegas because of the freedom it offers. Everything is available, and I don’t have to conform to a schedule. I enjoy the multitude of drinking venues this town has to offer. We also have some of the best restaurants in the world here, and I like to eat. I like the laid back downtown vibe. Whether at a locals bar in the East Fremont area or an old casino downtown, it’s always a good time. Plus when I want to get away from town, there are some really great hikes 30 minutes away.
SC: Any other interesting stuff about you you’d like to share? SH: It has been an interesting year since I have started sharing a space with Skin City Body Painting. Being around other creative people really pushes me to stay on track with my artwork. Sometimes I get stuck on an idea, and it’s great to have people to bounce ideas off of. I have learned a lot about the craftsmanship of body painting with Robin, and the crew and I have come to realize how professional and unique the crew is. I’m looking forward to what creative projects are in my future!
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Us too, Steven! For Skin City’s first year anniversary, Steven will perform a live body paint demo on the lovely model, Mae Kasei! Come check it out!