Duke Loves Artists: Meet Sage

Earlier this year, tattoo artist Sage invited us to his New York studio to talk all things creativity.
Explore the first interview in our Duke Loves Artists series, documented by close friend of the family, Ryan Golz. 

Who are you?

My name is Sage William and I’m a New York-based sketcher, artist, tattoo artist, actor, be’r, do’r, think’r, writer and everything else in between.

What’s the best thing about New York?

New York’s like a limitless pill compared to anywhere else.
You can be a broke kid moving from another place, not know anyone, and still live a really good, amazing life here versus anywhere else.
You can make anything happen. You can be whoever you want. You can do whatever you want.
It’s not necessarily faking it until you make it. It’s just trying until you fucking figure it out.

Did you want to be a tattoo artist?

Nope. It just happened. Tattooing definitely just happened.
I was a photographer when I first came here. I went to school for photography. Like I said, New York, you just come and try it out.
I’ve been trying everything. And I’m trying tattooing now. You know, I’m doing pretty decent, I think.

How would you describe your artistic style?

I had a client come in and explain it to me. They said it’s like a beautifully unfinished sketch.
I like the appeal that there’s something that you could be drawing, with a pencil in a notebook, and when you flip through that same notebook in 10 years, you find it all washed-out and faded.
It’s not necessarily how my tattoos are, but the application of them is that sort of sketchiness, rawness, that sort of pencil-on-paper vibe. 
What are you inspired by?

Most of my drawings and my sketches have come from the people that I find great.
The roots of my grandfather and my father, the roots of my mother. My mom in Iceland, spending time on the family ranch around all the wide horses, that’s always lived in my head.
But then you have artists like Frederick Remington, Edward Burain, the masters, felt drawers.

How would you describe your personal style?

I fucking love clothes. I’m obsessed with them. Clothing, to me, is exactly what fits, and what I feel extremely comfortable in.
I’m obsessed with the Newman era, the Brando era and looking like a damn gentleman.
If it fits you and it feels right, then you’re golden.