Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Taylor.
Hi Richard, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Boneyard Artillery is a graphic t-shirt brand inspired by the underground comics of the sixties, rock n roll, hotrods, lowriders, monsters, ghouls, custom vans, choppers, surf, tiki, girls and grease. My name is Richie Boneyard, aka The Cryptkeeper. I created the brand about 6.5 years ago as a side hustle and made it my full-time job. In the early ’90s as part of the Hollywood Can’t Be Stopped graffiti crew I went to work painting murals for Conart Clothing and lived in the apparel warehouse down on Rampart and 6th Street. I was 17 and my murals were printed on t-shirts. While working at Conart, I designed a Guns N Roses concert tour shirt as well as a couple of shirts for the band Rancid. I moved to the bay area for a few years and did some general education at San Francisco State University but moved back to Los Angeles in early 97 to attend Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where I received my BFA in Illustration and a minor in Fine Art. I got back into the apparel industry around 2003 and was able to learn Photoshop and Illustrator.
I started a family and worked in this industry for over twenty years creating graphics for licensed apparel companies, mid-tier and high-end brands, denim companies as well as many action sportswear companies. Despite creating best-selling shirts and adding value to the companies I worked for the rug was pulled out from under me many times as I was mismanaged, downsized and let go in an industry that was continuing to shrink and consolidate. In 2021 I invested in a six-color, four-station Hopkins screen printing press, exposure unit and an infrared conveyor dryer. Therefore converting the front room of my apartment into a screen printing shop. I pushed forward selling my own graphic tees as Boneyard Artillery at local car meets, music events, truck-ins, and surf spots. I had purchased a 1964 Dodge van in 2017, also known as The Green Ghost. This vehicle served as my office on wheels, pop-up shop, hotel and storage. I was making something cool you couldn’t buy at Target that drew on my own life and inspirations.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life is full of obstacles and setbacks. If you love what you do and offer a quality service or product, you can find success. Health problems have occasionally haunted me and put life into perspective. Raising children and finding a balance in life can be fulfilling and challenging. My time gets consumed on sales and production. My goal is to get back into the creative side of things and evolve the brand.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Boneyard Artillery?
We make kustom kulture t-shirts and draw inspiration from various subcultures. Rock n roll, surf, horror, underground comics, as well as hotrods, choppers, custom vans and countercultures of the past. We try to provide a quality garments with great artwork and quality screen printing. We stay art driven and would like to grow the business and evolve the brand. It’s a one-man show and we have to give the Dodge van some TLC every once in a while to keep the show on the road. We travel to events near and far to sell our apparel. You might find us vending in Quartsite AZ, Vegas, Bakersfield, or Reno. Our headquarters is in Inglewood, CA aka Los Angeles.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was athletic and like to draw and paint. Definitely interested in cool cars and trucks as well as the ocean. Music has always been a big inspiration as well. I did not mind spending time on my own developing my craft.
Pricing:
- T-shirts $25
- Premium Hoodies $70
- Fridge Magnets $10
- Art Prints $65
- Metallic Posters $30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://boneyardartillery.com
- Instagram: @boneyard_artillery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cryptkeeperlosangeles
- Twitter: @xpresrox75
Image Credits
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