I started by tattooing out of the house in October of 1994. After about 9 or 10 months I realized I wasn’t figuring it out. Basically, just messing up my friends with one out of thirty tattoos coming out so-so with the other twenty nine being pure crap. I checked every shop from Sunset Beach to Dana Point that I could find, some several times looking for an apprenticeship, but no luck. I ended up having a friend who knew the manager of H.B. Tattoo in Huntington and she asked him if he would give me some tips on how to get an apprenticeship. So the next day I went to H.B. Tattoo (where I had already been shot down twice!) and was given a shot at an apprenticeship. I served a grueling but thorough year in training with a great group of artists. If I had received an apprenticeship else where I probably would not have whatever skills I have now. Instrumental in my training were Rob Nunez, Bucky Crispin, Jerimah Thomas, Yutaro Sakai and several other who came and went in my formative years. Anyhow, I apprenticed from November of 1995 to November of 1996. I tattooed there professionally from November of 1996 to October of 1999 when I moved to Oahu. I tattooed in Hawaii at Skin Deep from October 1999 to May 2000 when I moved with the rest of the crew there to open Robert Hackney’s shop “A Tiki Tattoo” on Kuhio. It was amazing and Robert is a great guy. I worked at Tiki from May of 2000 to September of 2001 when I moved back to California. After coming home I took off a few months to rest. Doing up to ten tattoos a day in Hawaii had me really needing a rest, so I stayed with my dad in Landers outside of Twentynine Palms for a few months. Feeling fresh I started tattooing in Orange County again when I met the love of my life Staci. I worked at English Ink in Costa Mesa from February 2002 to July of 2005 where I got to work with my good friends Jason English, Jim Daza and some other great people. I learned alot and started tattooing some clients who would make the trek from Bakersfield. On September 1st, 2005 I took the leap with my wife Staci and opened A.R.T. Studio on Brundage in Bakersfield! Within six months we had established a thriving reputable shop. After a few years we decided to sell the shop in November 2007. I stayed there until February of 2009 when I moved to Tattoo Six at 1820 L St, where I am presently loving life. Without the support of my friends and family, especially my wife Staci whom without I would not be where I am today. A special thanks goes to anyone who has ever gotten tattooed by me. See you at the shop!
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