Artists
Anti Bry
My name is Bryan Johnson, born in 1980. My artistic genesis was undoubtedly the countless coloring books, drawing contests, and art classes my mom involved me in when growing up. She put the pencil in my hand that allowed me to develop the eye I needed to work in the arts. I received an art degree from Adams State College in 2003 with an emphasis in drawing, painting, and photography. One professor there in particular, Eugene Schilling, really helped me sharpen and evolve my style.
Anton
I was born in 1977 in Moscow and I'm currently still here. I learned to draw before I began to walk and talk. As a citizen of the USSR, I graduated from school and entered a special secret Moscow art school. I drew everything everywhere from the very beginning. After graduating from art school, I entered the Moscow State University of Industrial and Applied Arts Sergei Grigorievitch Stroganoff. I graduated from there with a diploma in design from the industrial arts faculty.
Bob McClure
My name is Bob McClure and I was born in Denmark on December 22nd, 1968. I started drawing when I was a young child and have continued developing my skill over the years. My interest in tattoos started around the age of 8 or 9. My dad had a lot of them, and as time passed by, he got more and more. His friends also had many tattoos, and I remember always being fascinated by them.
Brandon Bond
Brandon was born on the small island of Perdido Key in Florida. He began his artistic endeavors due to the encouragement of his amazingly supportive parents. He spent almost all of his time as a child playing music and drawing. The growth of his abilities eventually carried him to college in Texas where he studied Fine Arts. It was at this point in his career that he first picked up a tattoo machine, a gift from his friend Jim Wolfe, and consequently he set down his musical instruments. This experience forced a dramatic change in his life. He immediately began tattooing all of his friends and got some of his earliest pieces published immediately.
Brian Burkey
When I was really young I remember seeing my dad come home with fresh tattoo work and thinking it was the coolest thing ever! Not long after that my brother and I would sneak down to the local tattoo shop in Denver, Colorado where R.J. Rosini slung ink. We would stare at the flash on the walls for hours, or at least until he would chase us off. I was so interested in them that I started drawing tattoo art. I got my first tattoo when I turned 18 and within one year after that I was doing tattoo work myself.
Brian Williams
My name is Brian Williams. I was born in Greeley, Colorado in 1977 but grew up in Denver with my mother. My interest for art and design started at a young age and I always knew that it was my calling. I was the "anti-sports" kid (never played an organized sport). Instead, my sport was using my imagination. I was the kid who played in a cardboard box!
Chris Cox
Chris Cox was born in Billings, Montana and grew up in the Denver, Colorado area. Most of his professional life has been spent in the automotive and constructions fields. As a teenager, he became interested in drawing and soon was copying patterns for a tattoo artist. Over time he began running a tattoo machine himself. As his drawing got better he started doing reproduction consignments which consisted mainly of Native American and wildlife art.
Chris J'Tot
Chris J'ToT is a Colorado native. He has been involved in art since he was a child. Determined to break into special effects make-up, Chris and a friend began dumpster diving at a local Halloween mask manufacturer.
David Walker
I've drawn my whole life, but when I was 13 or 14, I started tattooing with a needle and thread and Indian ink with other kids in my neighborhood. My grandmother had shown me a picture of her uncle on a ship at war. He was wearing a sailor suit and covered in tattoos like Sailor Jerry, and I thought his ink was cool. The other kids and I messed each other up for awhile, but I kept with it.
Demon Dean
My Full name is Dean Phillip Baumgartner, (loved that one in School) and I was born and raised in Minnesota back in 1963. My influence to start doing some real artwork came when I was about 10 years old and I saw what my uncle had done when he was in High School, which inspired me to draw. I took art throughout school and then joined the military for 4 years where I served as an Illustrator. That's where all the fun began!
Douglas Heuton
Hi, my name is Doug. I was born October 21, 1966 in San Francisco. I am currently being held hostage by the State of California. I've always enjoyed doodling, and it seemed even more enjoyable if I did it during class. As a kid, that got me into a lot of trouble!
Edge
Well here's a little about me. I was born in Split, Croatia in 1978. How did i start drawing and doing tattoos? When my father was 18 he went into the Army and got tattooed. As i grew up a little (around 13 years old), my only question to him was, "How did you do it?"I was curious and knew if I continued asking, an answer would come.
Edward Lee
I'm writing this new bio because everyone tells me my old bio sucks. I wrote down some facts and they were turned into a bio. To be honest, I'm not the 'bio' type of person. I see that whole scene as some bigwig, which usually turns into some big head ordeal, which I don't want no part of. I've read a lot of peoples' bios. I like to see how others grew. But usually some place in there is the big head. That's what drove me to not want to do my bio.
English Jonny
Jonathan Pinfield-Wells comes by his nickname quite honestly. Born in England, “English Jonny” came with his family over to The Colonies at the age of 12. He describes drawing as a lifelong passion, and had a knack for it even as a child. He and his family eventually settled down in the state of Michigan. Out of high school, he went to work in the graphic design field. After 5 years, he felt the job didn’t allow for the creativity he needed to further his art skills and he decided to pursue tattooing.
Eri Takase
Japanese Calligraphy, or Shodo, has been a part of my life since the age of six. My training both at home and in calligraphy would be more familiar to the martial arts practitioner than to that of an artist. But as my mother assured me, this was to the betterment of my character.
Fish
Hey there, my name is Michael Fishkin, and I’m a flash artist and tattoo artist from Colorado, U.S. I have been drawing tattoo flash and have also been a tattoo artist for a long time. One of these days I hope to open up my own tattoo studio. When I draw, I like to create flash that I enjoy tattooing. With drawing, you are constantly changing and learning.
Freehand Robert
Coming soon!
Friday Jones
Friday Jones started her apprenticeship at the prestigious Inksmith & Rogers studios in Florida in the early 1990's while simultaneously completing a Bachelor of Science in Philosophy and Art at Jacksonville University. Her unique style and ability to develop intricate designs gleaned from her clients' imaginations have enabled her to perform her craft on some of the world's most iconic artists, including Angelina Jolie, Janeane Garofalo, Aaron Neville and Robbie Williams.
Furmanov
My name is Sergey Furmanov. I was born in Kazakhstan and still live here today. (Kazakhstan is part of the old USSR.) I have been interested in tattoos since I was about 15-16 years old. Before this time, I used my drawing skills to create artwork of many different types and styles. After becoming interested in tattoos, I started to create tattoo designs for my friends which they seemed to really like. In 2002 I started tattooing.
Gail Somers
The legendary artwork of Gail Somers is a long time favorite of tattoo artists and tattoo customers alike. Her enormously popular tattoo designs first debuted over 10 years ago in Tattoo Magazine, causing quite a stir - and the career of “The Rocky Mountain Recluse” was born. Gail brings a unique style and extraordinary coloring to her art.
Gene Ramirez
Ok, I know what you're thinkin, it's another damn long winded life story of some tattoo artist that was born with a pencil in his hand and was coloring on the walls in his bedroom at age seven because the Texas sun is just too frickin' hot to be out in.
Gentleman Jim
My given name is Jim Skaja, and I have been tattooing now since 1990. I can't remember a time in my life that hasn’t revolved around art. It wasn't until I met Rand Johnson from Cherry Creek Flash, that I finally understood art and what I was capable of drawing. Rand and his lovely wife Kay took my family and me under their wings and refined my skills to what they are today, and for that, I am eternally grateful!
George
George was born in 1968 in Sevastopol, Crimea. His real name is Sergey Bardadim. The name George came from his childhood nickname 'George Best Buddy'. George became interested in tattoos during his childhood, and remembers asking his father repeatedly about the origin of the tattoo on his wrist. He was especially impressed by the fact that the letters would not wash off with soap, and would stay on his Dad's wrist for life.
Gonz
My name is Gonz, but I go by Gunz N Knivez. I’ve been in the tattoo industry since 1998. I took up an apprenticeship through a good friend, Juan Carlos Hernandez (J.C.). I picked up my first four years of experience at Cool Cat Tattoo in the city of Bloomington, California. I also did a couple years at a shop in Orange County, California, called Big House Tattoo.
Guy Aitchison
Guy Aitchison has been tattooing since 1988 where he apprenticed in Chicago at Bob Olson's Custom Tattooing. He began as a professional illustrator, painting album covers for small-label heavy metal bands in the eighties, and brought much of this graphic experience into tattooing. Combined with his other myriad influences, including comic art, modern and Renaissance painting, psychedelic art and computer graphics, his style has evolved into the distinct look that today's tattoo fans are familiar with.
Hudson Assis
My name is Hudson Assis. I am a Brazilian Tattoo Artist living in Rio de Janeiro.I have worked as a Flash/Tattoo Artist for more than 10 years. I started drawing flash by searching for my own inspiration and style, different from what I had already seen. I am honored now that my flash will be sold to tattoo studios all over the world through Flash2xs.com! I hope you enjoy it . . .
Jeanie Newby
My name is Jeanie Marie Newby. I was hatched on June 19, 1978 on this planet we call Earth. I had the last name of Traaen, until I married my husband Dale Newby in 2001. I can remember as young as 5 or so carrying around a pen or pencil everywhere I went, drawing and doodling on my brother and sisters, as well as on myself. Nothing was untouched . . . the walls in my room . . . everything had a distinct marking of some kind. Man, that really ticked my parents off. But it was a lot of FUN! Ha ha ha . . .
Joe Butt
I am a multi-faceted artistic powerhouse. My life was in pencil until I was about 13 years old. I then began with oils, acrylics, and airbrushing. Even back then, I was "tattooing" my clothes with paint. One particular biker jacket became quite stiff from the layers and layers of different paintings on the back of it. I'm sure anyone would recognize the similarity to my current style. It has always been skulls and monsters and demons. Later in my teens, more and more boobs showed up in my work. Of course.
Lee Little
I got into tattooing at a young age. I worked at a tattoo shop when I was 18 and as the years passed I owned several tattoo studios in the Newcastle area of Australia. Now that I am getting older I am starting to take things relatively easy, as I have established a good clientele over the past 20 years and am very particular with who I tattoo.
Mark Strange
Mark Strange was born in central Indiana in 1969, the land of corn and soy beans. His father was an engineer, and his mother was a cabinet maker who also painted with oils and acrylics. He was artistically inclined from a very young age. Drawing from the time he could hold a pencil, he moved on to painting with whatever he could get his hands on (mom's oils and acrylics).
Marty Holcomb
With over 35 years in the professional tattooing business, Marty Holcomb has done thousands of custom designed tattoos, and has won numerous awards for his art and tattooing. He is an accomplished painter and designer as well as a world renowned tattoo artist.
Melanie Paquin
I got my first tattoo when I was 17 years old and never stopped. A year later, I tried to get an apprenticeship in every tattoo shop in town without much luck. I then graduated from college in fashion design. I did not pursue a career in that field since only a small part of the job is focussed on the actual drawing and that has always been what I wanted to do. After school, I stopped drawing for about 6 years and tried to find something I would enjoy doing . . . fat chance.
Mr. Payaso
My name is Israel Chavez. I was born in 1977 in Grand Junction, CO and remain in Colorado today. Mr. Payaso (my pen name, meaning “the clown”) represents the many hats I've worn in this life. I have spent considerable time, inspired by my creative motivations, developing my own unique style of art. My style falls within the realm of “Hip Hop Street Art” but without any gang influence.
Rand Johnson, Cherry Creek Flash
Rand Johnson has earned his way (and paid his dues) through “art” for over 35 years - working as a graphic designer/illustrator for ad agencies, design studios, marketing groups and publications. A keen interest in tattooing eventually led to an abrupt career change in 1993. Rand traded in his pens, brushes and paper for tattoo machines, ink and skin - and opened the Cherry Creek Tattoo Studio in rural Minnesota. His reputation for fine artwork and attention to detail spread quickly, putting his remote studio on the map and keeping Rand very busy.
Ray Reasoner
I have been tattooing professionally since 1998 with six years of private tattooing on top of that. Private tattooing means "scratcher" for anyone that didn't catch that. I started when I was sixteen, what do you expect? Hehehe. I am currently located at A.W.O.L. Custom Tattooing LLC. I specialize in tattoo cover-ups and reworks, but I love doing new custom tattoos in any style as well.
Rembrandt
Before he ever began work as a tattoo artist he was selling his flash to shops all over. His flash has been bought worldwide. He then began to work in various shops, bouncing back and forth between California and Arizona. He learned the fine art of putting needle to flesh until he opened his first shop, 'REMBRANDT'S ELEKTRIK INK' in Tucson, Arizona. He then moved to Texas to be closer to family and worked for several noted shops in the Houston and Galveston areas before finally opening 'REMBRANDT'S' in the Woodlands.
Shane Hart
I began my tattooing career in 1989 with an apprenticeship by Gary “Professor Inkslinger” Barber of Olathe, KS. He was reluctant to teach me because I was only sixteen at the time, but he did anyway. In 1994, I met East Coast Al and went to work at his studio in Kansas City, KS. It was during this time that I was introduced into the National Tattoo Association and met Rand Johnson of Cherry Creek Flash.
Shane O'Neill
Shane O'Neill is a very talented self-taught artist excelling in all mediums, but his true calling lies in the art of tattooing. He credits his brother with motivating him to learn how to tattoo. Shane's experience as a professional illustrator seemed like a natural transition into tattooing.
Sherm
Coming soon!
Spider Webb
The work of Spider Webb can be seen on thousands of people everywhere. He has lectured internationally and his art works have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world.
Stevie Soto
I was born July 3, 1979 in the city of Orange, CA. I grew up in Anaheim, CA and I’ve lived here ever since. As a kid, I wanted to be a baseball player or an artist. I was always interested in tattoos and luckily my passion is now my work. Growing up, the gangster element was always around so naturally I was exposed to some ink.
Suspek
Mickey Drogsvold (a.k.a. “Suspek”) was born in Phoenix, AZ, and now lives in Colorado. Like other artists, he describes as being born “with pencil in hand.” His early art pursuits often got him into trouble, such as the time he created a bootleg comic book in school, as well as his involvements with graffiti, for example. In 2004, he started drawing tattoo flash with the hopes of landing an apprenticeship. He drew a design for a friend, and went with her to the shop where she was being tattooed (bringing his portfolio of art with him). This got him an apprenticeship in 2005 under Mike O’Neil and Rachael Bardach, Owners of Main Street Tattoo.
Terri Fox
My inspirations for my art came at a few stages in my life. As a child I studied the paintings my Grandfather Fox painted on the walls of his home during a time when they couldn’t afford to buy pictures (something I did, myself, in my own home when I couldn’t afford to buy pictures.) My family always encouraged me, especially my children.
Troy Timpel
Troy Timpel strives for greatness as a self proclaimed “outsider with artistic appeal.” Within nine years of setting foot in the “City of Brotherly Love,” Troy has become one of the most prominent tattoo artists in Philadelphia.
Tattoo Sourcebook cover image by Gail Somers.
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