Still Building America—Making a change

Tank Bilt is an enlightened individual. He possesses a strong thirst for knowledge and is not shy about quenching it. Woodworking, fabricating, painting, wrenching, digital art, and even kinesiology all fall on the list of his studies.

Growing up in Northern California as part of a large family, Tank was expected to do more than hold his own. His father Russell was a Navy fitter in a past life; after the Vietnam War he continued to work in the trades as a well-rounded craftsman who passed on his skill and work ethic to his son.

“He always maintained a shop where I was expected to work and perform chores. I learned the basics of both working in a shop and being a man. At the time, and even for years that followed, I resented my dad for denying me a childhood. While my friends all got to play and go on with their lives without responsibility or worry, I had to work. My dad took good care of me and never had a problem showing that he loved me, but he wasn't easy on me, and I never understood why.”

Until, that is, Tank was shipped to boot camp.

“I was told the Marine Corps boot camp was going to be one of the hardest things I'd ever have to survive, but thanks to my dad, I actually had a pretty good time!”

After his first tour to Iraq, Tank became somewhat of a “go to” for other guys looking to have their car or bike customized. At the same time he was sucking up any and all information and education the Corps was giving him.

He loved the Marines, but by the time an opportunity for a second tour came around, he was ready to move on.

Tank maintained his hot rod/bike shop in San Diego for a spell before the bug for change bit. He sold or gave away everything except his motorcycle, rode to Las Vegas, and just went all-gypsy for some time. Once the cash got tight, he picked up odd jobs wrenching and fabricating at shops around town. Although he never intended to stay in Vegas, once he arrived it “felt like home.”

Now Tank is a full-time artist.

“It's a scary notion, to realize that there is no money coming in unless somebody decides they want this purely aesthetic thing.”

While painting, pinstriping, airbrushing, and sculpting make up some of his art portfolio, his palm fronds are what he’s quickly becoming known for. Carved and then painted, the giant chunks of palm tree “bark” are transformed into 3-D skulls, masks, and portraits.

“I hope to expand my abilities and continue to tune the ones I already have. There are literally millions of craftsmen in the world, many of whom have natural talent well beyond what I'll ever be able to build up to. And that's OK. But I'll keep striving to do my best work possible and to grow whenever and wherever I can. I love what I do, and it's so fulfilling to see and hear people's responses to my work. That's what drives me from one piece to the next and to raise the bar on myself.

“Life is short. Every day you go to sleep is one less day you have to live. If you don't enjoy what you do, change it! We live in a country that is fortunate enough to have just about any job you could ever want, so go out and put in the work necessary to get it. Be the change!”

All images courtesy of Tank Bilt.

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