Where were you born and where are you from?
I
was born in Virginia and moved around a lot as a kid. After Virginia, it was
Guam on to San Diego and then finally to Council Bluffs, IA. I would say I'm
from Iowa, since I have spent the most amount of my life here.
How did you get introduced to the tattoo culture?
I don't
remember exactly what it was, I always seemed to be attracted to tattoos. I
really enjoyed hanging around the shops and stuff. I got my first professional
tattoo when I was 16, it was a cover-up of an ankle tattoo I did on myself when
I was in high school. I didn't know anything about the industry, I liked how
secretive it was and how it was its own culture. I didn't know I was going to
make a career of it, I guess it just never left my life after that.
When did you get started?
I
finally got the chance to apprentice when I was a senior at Iowa State in 2004.
Do you remember the first tattoo that you did?
Yes,
it was a tattoo machine on the inside of my left calf. The design is pretty
whack, new school like almost everyone starts off with. I guess I wasn't too
familiar with the parts of a tattoo machine, because it doesn't have springs or
binding posts.
How would you describe your style of tattooing?
When
I first started doing tattoos that had a cohesive look there was really only
new school and old school, or traditional. Pictures of my tattoos would always
be on blogs with a title like "is it new school or old school".
That's when I started hearing the tern neo-traditional. I don't know if I still
like that description. I want my tattoos to look like tattoos, clean line work,
solid fills and smooth blends. I'm not too caught up into styles as long as the
craft is good.
What were you doing before you got into the tattoo
business, and what made you change?
I
never had a job I called a career before tattooing. In high school I did night
cleaning at a downtown building in Omaha. In college I delivered pizzas for
Domino's.
What influences your artwork?
My
clients definitely influence my tattoos. I just take their ideas and make good
tattoos out of them. As far as my artwork it's a combination of things. I look
at what other artists are doing and how it applies to my intentions. I'm also
heavily influenced by Greek and Roman sculpture and architecture, one of my focuses
in college.
What advice would you give to someone looking to get
their first tattoo?
Don’t
get caught up too much in the meaning. Think about what you want your tattoo to
look like and find a tattooer who is capable of doing it. I believe aesthetics
are more important than meaning, a good tattoo will develop meaning to you, a
bad tattoo with a lot of meaning is still a bad tattoo.
Do you see yourself doing anything other than
tattooing?
In
addition to tattooing I currently build tattoo machines and run Acanthus
Apparel with my wife. Acanthus is a clothing label, we do graphic tees,
hoodies, skirts and dresses among other things. My hobbies always seem to turn
into businesses, but no, I don't ever see myself not tattooing.
Do you have a favorite quote?
"I
don't. I should."
What’s your biggest inspiration, what keeps you going?
Being
able to achieve things that I previously thought impossible. Tattooing with a
beautiful machine I made from scratch, or seeing my current t-shirt designs next
to ones from a year ago. Or seeing a tattoo I did all healed up and admiring the
palette or flow before I recognize it's mine. And seeing what other people are
doing that just blows what I'm doing away, and figuring out how they do it.
What is one thing that life has taught you?
Work
for what you want. When you think you've got nothing left to give, do more.
Where do you see the tattoo culture 10 years from now?
I think the intense popularity will wane. I think the consumers will be left more knowledgeable about the craft, but not industry. I think more people in general will know what a good tattoo looks like.
I think the intense popularity will wane. I think the consumers will be left more knowledgeable about the craft, but not industry. I think more people in general will know what a good tattoo looks like.
Anything else you would like to add? Check
out my website for travel dates, tattoos, tattoo machines and special
merchandise.
For cool Acanthus Apparel visit
If you’re in the Des Moines, IA area stop by Iron
Heart. And don't forget to go to Vitae Design Collective in the East Village, a
boutique my wife co-owns that sells clothing and accessories from tons of
different local, and or independent designers.
Last photo credit: Katie Hilton
Last photo credit: Katie Hilton