BAW: What made you want to become a Tattoo
Artist?
Artist: I won my first art contest in 2nd grade
and I was always drawing instead of studying in school. Once I got my
first tattoo I was hooked. I started getting tattoos, and started
drawing tattoos for other people, and then I started tattooing people.
Tattooing is my whole life. I eat and poop tattoos.
BAW: Who are your influences?
Artist: Debi The Illustrator, Dave Lum, Tony
Olivas, Tony Edwards, Shawn Anderson, Mike Martin, Brian Everett
BAW: What is your favorite style of work?
Artist: Really dig Old School tattoos, The
traditional style....but also enjoy doing black and gray.
BAW: Tell us about your first Tattoo experience?
Artist: Went into the tattoo studio to get the
traditional panther with scratch marks...that's where I met Debi, the
Illustrator and she explained to me I didn't have to settle for flash,
then she drew me up something. I loved it and was hooked. She had the
only custom shop in this area at that time and had just moved down
from Jersey.
BAW: What is your favorite piece you own?
Artist: Full size roulette wheel on entire right
butt cheek.
BAW: What is your most memorable Tattoo given
and why?
Artist: It was on Chuck Eldridge. The tattoo
historians lady at the national tattoo convention. It was memorable
because of all the artists in the world at show she chose me to do it
and I've always looked up to Chuck Eldridge.
BAW: Is there a part of the body you won't
Tattoo and why?
Artist: Hands, and bottom of feet, also faces.
BAW: Do you support supply co. that sells to the
public?
Artist: Definitely not.
BAW: Do you feel there now should be mandatory
schooling for soon to be tattoo artists?
Artist: I feel that the artist should apprentice
under reputable tattoo artists and join associations like APT that
teach disease control.
BAW: Do you feel Tattooing has changed over the
years, and if so why?
Artist: It has definitely changed. The same
people that stared at me in public in disgust are now wanting to be
seen with me and asking questions about getting tattooed. The cliental
while more of an upper-class seem to be harder to deal with. They want
what they saw on TV.
BAW: Do you think it is important to do as many
conventions and shows as possible?
Artist: I used to, but now I only do about 4 a
year. There are so many shops now opening around each studio, you
can't afford to be gone 15 to 20 times a year. Your basic person
doesn't care how many shows your doing if the jackass down the road is
open.
BAW: What advise can you give to someone who is
starting or looking to get into the tattoo business?
Artist: Respect. Respect. Respect the shops that
were there before you and learn your history of tattooing and find a
good artist with great reputation to apprentice under.
BAW: What could you say to someone who has had a
bad first experience?
Artist: I went to McDonald's one time, got a
fish sandwich and there was a black hair in it as long as a spaghetti
noodle. Every shops different. Some people may like my shop, but other
people don't. Its all what their looking for. I try to be laid back as
possible and they should try again and get to know artists that will
be working with them.
BAW: Since you have started what changes have
you seen in the industry?
Artist: For one, the work has gotten much
better. Its much more accepted by the public. When I first started,
you couldn't get anybody to sell you sterile equipment. Now there's 30
fliers a day coming in mail to sell whatever you need. You can't be as
independent with the people because threes another studio on every
corner.
BAW: How do you feel about apprenticeships?
Artist: I feel apprenticeships are great and the
apprentice should really respect his artist. But also, the artist
should have some respect for the apprentice that has chosen them and
not treat them like some B movie sex slave.
BAW: Where do you think the Tattoo Industry is
going today? Do you think it is getting better or worse?
Artist: Right now, better. But I can see it
getting worse.
BAW: Please share any other comments or views or
questions to the public you might have.
Artist: I really don't respect tattoo artists
that have no tattoos themselves. As Debi the Illustrator once told me
(who I apprenticed under) would you go to a dentist with no teeth. I
think a tattoo artist needs to feel what they're doing to other people
to remind them they're not just a piece of meat. I believe in
respecting all the artists that came before me. One of my greatest
tattoo experiences was in Miami with Lyle Tuttle tattooing my wrist
with the Enigma serenading us with his accordion at the same time.
If I would a been getting a blowjob at the same time it would been
like dying and going to heaven.
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