Tattoos

As of September 3, 2016 I have been tattooing for 20 years. The way I approach my tattoo work has evolved over the years and will continue to as I push myself to learn more about my craft. Just like my other artistic ventures I like to jump around stylistically to keep it fresh and challenging.

What is consistent is my desire to work within my clients' parameters. I enjoy the process of trying to be as creative as I can while following the specific restrictions of a client's request. Of course, some of you have crazy ideas that just won't work as a tattoo! That's OK, give me your ideas and then trust me to find the best approach to turning them into tattoos.

Smile You're Dead

2015

We all die, but let's try to have as much fun as we can and keep smiling. So I built skulls out of happy little boys and girls.

This series is an expansion of the Smile Until It Hurts body of work. I added a few stencil elements to the process to help bring out the skull shapes.

Smile You're Dead #1

printing ink and spray paint on wood panel
10" x 10"

Smile You're Dead #2

printing ink and spray paint on wood panel
10" x 10"

Smile You're Dead #3

printing ink and spray paint on wood panel
10" x 10"

Smile You're Dead #4

printing ink and spray paint on wood panel

12" x 12"

Smile You're Dead #5

printing ink and spray paint on wood panel

10" x 10"

Smile Until It Hurts

2014 - 2015

Smiles creep across our faces for a number of reasons. They can range from joy-filled to an attempt to appease to thoughts of malice.

This is the concept that emerged as I created this body of work. Sometimes I start with a concept and sometimes I start with a process that leads to a concept. This time I started with the process of painting portraits using stamps of the smiling faces of girls and boys in lieu of a brush.

I smile because I've got nothing left to smile about

printing ink and spray paint on wood panel
16” x 16”

I smile to hide my true intentions

printing ink and spray paint on wood panel
16” x 16”

I smile to make to make the gray sky a little brighter

printing ink and spray paint on wood panel
16” x 16”

I smile a little bigger with each passing year

printing ink and spray paint on wood panel
16” x 16”

I smile when you smile

printing ink and spray paint on wood panel
16” x 16”

I smile to make you like me

printing ink and spray paint on wood panel
16” x 16”

I smile until it hurts

printing ink and spray paint on wood panel
16” x 16”

Broken Smile (boy)

printing ink on wood panel
12” x 12”

Broken Smile (girl)

printing ink on wood panel
12” x 12”

I Remember

2008

Memories almost instantly degrade from the actual experience from which they are born. With time they drift in our minds with all our other experiences until only splinters are left. And when recalled, our imaginations fit the pieces back together. They are often exaggerated, distorted, and sometimes completely fabricated. Every year we put more distance between our oldest memories and the present. It's in that fuzzy, unclear picture of what we remember--regardless of how deeply it remains rooted in reality--that I have found my inspiration for this body of work.

I remember how the sun seemed to shine in my eyes from all directions that day

watercolor on paper
16” x 20”

I remember how quiet the house was on your first day of school

watercolor on paper
16” x 20”

I remember eating a whole box of fruity pebbles

watercolor on paper
16” x 20”

I remember the pop of the needle as it left the record

watercolor on paper
16” x 20”

I remember thinking you were dead, and then wishing you were

watercolor on paper
16” x 20”

I remember the day we stopped being friends, and now how it seems so silly

watercolor on paper
16” x 20”

I remember not knowing what was going to come out of my mouth next

spray paint, dry pigment, and wood putty on wood panels
12” x 12” x 40"

I remember thinking I could fly

spray paint, dry pigment, and wood putty on wood panels
40” x 12” x 72"