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While I was having my own tattoo inked, I was talked into apprenticing as a tattoo artist. I apprenticed with Matthew Bower at Perforations (a division of Avante Guarde) He taught me quite a bit, but it wasn't until Frank Fencepost worked for a week at Perforations that I realized that just because Matthew is an amazing tattoo artist, does not mean that he's a great teacher. Soon after, Perforations closed and I decided not to follow Matthew around anymore. Since then, I've been studying up with other artists, sometimes in shops, sometimes via the internet, sometimes with videos. Matthew did teach me one thing, though. After you have the safety part of it down, really the only way to learn is to do. This is my portfolio thus far.
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After getting kicked out of Australia, I was living at home with my parents at 33 years old. I took a job at the County Fair to make some money while I tried to figure out my next move. While I was there, an older co-worker made mention that he wanted to get a tattoo for his lady friend. I told him that I was something of an artist and offered my services. I drew up this little guy in a couple hours after work one night and he paid me by buying me lunch. Finished September 2006. Back to Top
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From September 4th, 2005 to August 9th, 2006, I was employed with SleeveMasters Tattoo in Kings Cross, Australia. With the help of Ben and Toby, my helper monkeys... I mean my counterhands, I created more tattoos than I could even take pictures of. Oh, and Billy helped me on Sundays... ok, well mostly he just scared the customers. Anyway, this is a selection of the work I did there. I hope to get back soon. I miss everyone there. Back to Top
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While living with Stacy and Becky, Stacy asked me to design her a tattoo. She wanted it to look like a rip in her skin, and to show a rainbow underneath. I came up with several designs and she finally decided on this one. Finished July 2005. Back to Top
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Here's where I get cocky. Dunham had that chaos symbol on his shoulder, and he just seemed to live his life under a black cloud. Well, I couldn't help him financially, but I try for a little bit o' good gris-gris. Dunham wanted more ink and I came up with a design that would talisman the chaos symbol. The skull biting down on chaos symbolizes his control over it. The stone gargoyle represents strength and a ward against evil spirits, just like on church facade. The wings stand for freedom. The tattered wing on the back representing the past and the new wing on the front symolizing the future. The gargoyle stands on the rock wall of a castle, illustraing unmoving support. The gargoyle holds a spine in his hands, with his fist wrapped around the same place where Dunham's spine was injured, symbolizing a strengthening of the wound. I went through three redraws before either of us was happy with it. The final is quite impressive. Finished June 2005. Back to Top
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Dunham had this tattoo done when he was 18. It needed some touch up if nothing else, but I had plans for his shoulder, so I wanted it all to look good together. I added a little of my own to the skull and tried to straighten up the arrows as best I could. Also used hair to cover up the red behind the skull. Finished January 2004. Back to Top
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Matthew had asked me for an idea for some interesting wings. I knew his affinity for nautical stars, so I fashioned these. He thought they would be too complex to draw on someone. Me? I'm aching to do them. I think they'd look great across someones shoulderblades. Finished January 2004. Back to Top
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I don't know why the Rev didn't like my original drawing, but he wanted something much more simplistic. Here is what I ended up coming up with and some photoshopping for placement. Check here and here for what the finished product looks like. (He went somewhere else to have it done.) Finished January 2004. Back to Top
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Dunham had a friend that wanted a full back tattoo of a chrome spine. This is the first drawing that I came up with. Finished December 2003. Back to Top
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My brother's girlfriend wanted a tattoo on her lower back. She was into conservation and had a thing for oak trees. She specifically wanted this quote. This is what I came up with for her. She liked it, but we never ended up getting together for the tattoo. Finished October 2003. Back to Top
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Finally! Someone wants something simple! Ray was my roommate at the time and wanted his girlfriends name on his neck. I didn't care much for Ray so I did it. With anyone else I would beg and plead that they don't do such a stupid thing. Finished December 2003. Back to Top
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As detailed as my first tattoo was, Dunham wouldn't let up. As a gift for being my guinea pig...er, first tattoo customer... he gets free ink for life. He didn't waste any time in figuring out what he wanted next. This is a recreation of some Misfits artwork. The detail in the "death" card astounds me even now. Finished October 2003. Back to Top
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Ah, my first tattoo. Ok, not really my first one. I practiced every night for weeks on chicken breasts from the grocery store across the street from the tattoo shop. I think I was pretty close to ready when the time came, but had I understood how complex the tattoo that I had created was, I don't think I would have chosen this as my first. Finished August 2003. Back to Top
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When I showed Matt the artwork, he didn't like how squat the jack was, and he wanted to change the spring from a cloth covered spring to a shiny, metal, elongated spring. Picky bastich... free artwork isn't good enough for him. I used Anyway, here is the redraw with color, he liked this one. Finished July 2003. Back to Top
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Well, I got to be such good friends with Matthew Bauer that I ended up apprenticing under him. Spent my time at the tattoo shop and finally got my own guinea pig... I mean first tattoo customer. Matt Dunham wanted a jack-in-the-box on his leg. This is the original artwork that I came up with (scanned from sketchbook). Finished July 2003. Back to Top
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After I finished the design, I then had to go about finding an artist. Matthew Bauer came highly recommended. I can't say enough about how steady his hands are. They're like friggin' rocks! At any rate, Matthew was kind enough to transfer my image onto my skin for me. I gave him a bit of leeway as far as the rendering went, but he kept pretty close to the original. The first pictures are of some photoshopping I did the week before the tattoo. I went in for 4 to 6 hours at a time, once a week, from March through May 2003. Over 43 hours were logged in (That's JUST needle-in-my-back time, folks.) Especially notice the last photo, a comparison between my original photoshop and Matthew's finished work. Impressive. Back to Top
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The first tattoo I had any experience with was my own. I had wanted a tattoo for as long as I can remember, but it was very important to me that it be the perfect tattoo... something that I wouldn't be ashamed of in a week or a year. At 18, when I could finally get a tattoo, I started designing mine. You can see the results of that design throughout my website. The dragon crest. After a decade of designing, I finally came up with the final rendering of what I wanted for my tattoo. Finished February 2003. Back to Top
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