Dan Henk

Dan Henk
Born	Daniel Jonathan Henk December 11, 1972
Residence	Austin, Texas
Occupation	Tattoo artist, writer, painter
Spouse	Monica Castillo
Website
http://www.danhenk.com

Daniel Jonathan Henk (born December 11, 1972) is an American artist and writer, noted for his work in tattooing and painting. He has produced record-album covers, political cartoons, controversial articles, and a variety of other media.^[1] Growing up a disaffected army brat, his early life revolved around a punk rock subculture that included bouts of homelessness and societal rejection.

Early life

His beginning career included a year and a half stint drawing political cartoons for Madcap Magazine and illustrating underground projects and fanzines such as Maximum Rock and Roll. In 1997, after struggling through a violent car crash and a knife fight with a crackhead that severed the tendon on his left thumb, he finally managed to attend art school. Receiving some commercial and local gallery acclaim for his artwork, he moved to New York City in an attempt to kick start an art career. Heavily immersing himself in the local hardcore scene, he produced artwork for the bands Shai Hulud, Indecision, Coalesce, Locked in a Vacancy, Beyond Reason, Zombie Apocalypse and various local record labels and venues.

Commercial success and tragedy

In 2000, he started tattooing, initially working on many musician friends. A year later, in September 2001, he contracted brain cancer and underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Three months later, he married fellow tattoo artist Monica Castillo. Refusing to give up, he bounced back. After a brief venture down south that included owning a short lived tattoo shop that ended in disaster, he returned to Manhattan and applied himself to art with a renewed fervor. A productive period followed, with his work appearing in both a growing number of tattoo magazines and more fine art influenced outlets such as Aphrodesia, and The Tarot Project. Tattoo related books such as No Regrets: The Best, Worst, & Most #$%*ing Ridiculous Tattoos Ever and Inside the Tattoo Circus: A Journey Through the Modern World of Tattoos also took notice and included features on the young artist.^[2] Tragedy struck again in 2007, as his wife of 6 years, Monica Henk, was killed in a motorcycle accident by a hit and run driver.^[3] Despite extensive coverage in the local media and vigorous campaigns by both the tattoo and motorcycle community, the culprit was never found.

A New Start

Recently relocated to Austin, Texas, he currently paints, writes and tattoos. His long in the making first novel The Black Seas of Infinity is finally out courtesy of Anarchy Books, soon to be followed by a book of short stories.^[4]

References

1. ^ Intense Ink Magazine - interview
2. ^ Bostonist - Boston Tattoo Convention
3. ^ New York Daily News - Just let her die, say kin of hit-run victim
4. ^ Fangoria - tattoo convention

Needles and Sins interviewPhilly Side Arts interviewWayne Simmons Interview

• http://www.icansmellyourbrains.com/index.php?page=article&cmd=view&entryid=2373
• http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://itsjusthorror.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/theshining.jpg&imgrefurl=http://itsjusthorror.com/%3Fp%3D178&usg=__SOXs1yHiRbFKwexnsirKvds5Ig0=&h=500&w=349&sz=171&hl=en&start=9&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=BZu-PiOXAxGaIM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddan%2Bhenk%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1

Tattoo Artist BlogTattoo Ink interviewRead Horror interviewDLSnell interview

External links

• Official site
• Dan Henk on Myspace

Persondata
Name	Henk, Dan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	December 11, 1972
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death