- How did you get started and what inspired you to become a tattoo artist?
I got started in 1999. I was that punk rocker in high school who painted everyone’s leather jackets and did all the band art. When I graduated high school, my super religious, military parents kicked me out of the house and moved. I was homeless for 8 months, like living in the woods, taking showers in McDonald’s restrooms, homeless.
I managed to climb out of that and into working at first Chuck-E-Cheez, then a whole string of minimum wage jobs until I became a bike messenger, saved up, and attended art school. Two years later, at the urging of my teacher, I left early and moved to NYC to start a career.
All I had to my name was a backpack full of clothes and a 15-year-old motorcycle, but I was determined to be a comic artist. Interviews with DC, Marvel, and Image made me realize they paid very little and offered no creative control. Book and magazine companies paid more, but gave out jobs maybe twice a year. Definitely not enough to pay NY bills.
So I ended up doing artwork for bands in the punk and metal scenes, working at a restaurant, and barely paying rent until Chad Divel, a tattoo artist of 7 years and friend of my brother’s, offered to teach me tattooing. Initially, I accepted just as a way to make money doing art, while I waited for a “real job”. But I ended up loving it, and 20 years later, here I am.
- What are your main sources of inspiration and how would you describe your aesthetics?
Some of the tattoo artists that inspired me when I started were Aaron Cain, Jay Wheeler, and Tom Renshaw, but it’s an ever-evolving process, and two of my favorites now would be Robby Latos and Tommy Lee Wendtner.
I paint and draw as well, often incorporating artistic elementsI see into everything from illustration to tattooing, and three of my favorites artists outside of the industry would be John Totleben, Ashley Woods, and John Harris.
As far as my work aesthetic, that’s a little bit of a story. I’ve been jumped by Nazi skins, had my tendon severed by a crackhead, came down with brain cancer, and my wife died in a hit and run. But you can’t let the bastards win!
I like to look at the world as a glass half full, and with no time to lose. So I probably do way more than I should, but it keeps me busy! I write novels; illustrate books, magazines, and comics; compete in Brazilian Jujitsu and Muay Thai; write and interview for tattoo magazines, and travel all around the world doing conventions and guest spots.
- What are your favorite subjects to tattoo and what is your process when designing a piece?
I lean to the dark side, so there’s a tint of that in almost everything I do. I tend to primarily hit three areas subject matter wise. Space sleeves, steampunk sleeves, and horror pieces. All I enjoy, and the ideal agenda is to alternate.
If it’s space, I have tons of books. Hubble telescope books, satellite images, all that. With steampunk, gear-inspired stuff, I figure out what type of gearing applies best for my client, and lookup stock photos.
With horror, I used to mainly do popular movie characters like Jason Voorhees tattoos or Leatherface tattoos, but more often now I draw up original designs with a strong horror element, and I much prefer that.
- What’s been your favorite moment in your career, so far?
I don’t know that I have a single one! Frank Frazetta’s daughter, Tommy Castillo, and Tom Sullivan all complimenting my art put me on cloud nine.
Guy Aicthison and Tommy Lee Wendtner liking my work I took as a huge compliment. Getting healed photos of a sleeve or back-piece I’ve slaved over is a great feeling of accomplishment.
But then again, I’ll see ancient ruins like Machu Picchu or Chichen Itza and feel small! So it depends on the day and where I am at the moment. Baby steps!
- What do you like to do when you’re not tattooing?
I have way too many hobbies. I write novels, I recently put out my third, paint covers for books, illustrate magazines, clothing lines, albums and more.
I practice Muay Thai and Brazilian Jujitsu full time, write articles and do interviews for tattoo magazines, and vacation all around the world (often visiting ancient ruins).
I work on cars and trucks, road-bike almost every day, and probably do more I can’t think of at the moment – I blame the bad memory that came with brain cancer for that!
- What advice can you give to artists who are just starting out?
Just keep at it! It took me 15 years of working shitty jobs and struggling to make rent, constantly with the nagging frustration that I should be doing more until I finally found a way to pay my bills doing what I love.
My guidance counselor in school told me “get ready for a career of pumping gas because that’s all you’ll ever do”. Don’t listen to the haters!
- In the old days, tattooing used to be regarded as a sub-cultural activity, but now with all the social media apps, it seems to be more mainstream. What are your thoughts about that?
Hey, anything that makes my job easier, and gets me less hassled by the police, is a good thing. I think a bad tattoo looks worse than clean skin, and fortunately, the art has evolved so much that you have people now that are blowing stars of yesteryear out of the water.
More and more, I’m seeing full sleeve and back-pieces that are works of art, and I love that.
- What are your thoughts regarding tattoo trends like watercolor tattoos, embroidery tattoos, etc.? We as tattoo aficionados, when we’re thinking about getting a new tattoo, should we follow the trends or should we stick to the established ones?
Well, I remember when I started, I would get shit for not putting a big black line around everything. But then again, sometimes the old-timers are right. You need strong contrast and plenty of blacks to make a tattoo that is both readable and stands the test of time. It really depends on the specific issue at hand.
Old school tattoo style is safer, but if that’s all anyone ever did, we’d be missing out on the genius of people like Aaron Cain. Do your research before you get anything, you know it’s kind of permanent! But hey, be open to new stuff, some of it will be the tried and true of tomorrow.
- A few tips on tattoo aftercare?
The best is to go with the advice of the artist who tattoos you. They tend to know what method works ideally with their tattoos. As far as my client advise, I wrap it up with cling wrap, tell them to keep it on overnight, and wash it off thoroughly the next morning.
Never cover it again, but wash it off and put on a thin layer of Aquaphor. Repeat that 4 times a day for 3 days, then switch to a white, unscented hand lotion. Wash the tattoo off 3 times a day now, don’t pick or scratch, and continue until the whole area has flaked like a sunburn!
- Talking about the tattoo industry, what would you like to see done differently in the future compared to now?
I’m pretty Libertarian in general. Do what you want, the best work will rise to the top. I can see voluntarily being a member of a tattoo safety organization, but get the government out of it. They f*ck up everything.
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