A lot of people in that scene had tattoos, and I envied them.  When I was 18, I got my first apartment in West Orange, N.J. I worked in an art gallery nearby, and one of the guys brought in an Ed Hardy book, Tattootime #2, Tattoo Magic. After seeing that book I had to get one. The first professional tattoo I got was actually an Ed Hardy design of a dragon, and aptly I got it from Mike McCabe at Ron’s Tattooing in Elizabeth, N.J.  The reason the experience was so apt was that Mike’s mentor, R.O.Tyler was featured in that issue of Tattootime.

From that day on, I wanted to become a tattooist.  I got more work from Mike, and also donated some framing and artwork to his private studio in Greenwich Village, letting him know of my interest in tattooing.  Michael was very encouraging, which did not prepare me for the doors slamming in my face from other artists in the years to come. You see, Mike had a degree from Columbia, and coming from a very academic family, I got the impression that the tattoo world had more of his ilk than there really were.

 This was 1988-89 and the talent was not there that there is today. It was just beginning to happen, and I’m very glad I was there to witness.  The old school mentality persisted in the tattoo world, with the old guard seeing the young bucks as a threat. Although I had access to modern sterilization (my sister is a dentist) and had secured an account with National Tattoo Supply, I just could not get my foot in the door. I thought that was all I needed, boy was I ignorant.

    Back then I was working in art galleries as a framer, and doing some restoration, mostly for a good friend who is still a close associate, and has been like a father to me. Through Johnny Cosmo I got to see the seedy side of the art world, met a lot of mobsters and porn stars, and got to see how crazy rich people lived. It just felt right to me at the time. I kept trying to get jobs tattooing, but the price people were asking for apprenticeship was out of my league. I am sure I could have pulled it off, but I had no discipline, and liked to use mind-altering substances on a regular basis.  I just did not have my shit together enough to tattoo in a shop, so I kept hacking people up in my home, getting lucky with some pieces here and there.  

 In 1993 I moved to Miami with the intent of getting a full-time tattoo gig. It took awhile. I got a lot of doors slammed in my face. Merlin of Merlin’s Tattoos was very supportive, and Lou Sciberras was not at first, but one day he pulled me aside and offered me a job. I’m not sure to this day exactly why Lou took a liking to me. Most of his artists were world-class, and I was far from it. Either way, he gave me my first big break. Having a reference like Lou was the edge I needed. He went on vacation, and his daughter dug into me like a vulture and basically forced me out. I had an attitude problem back then, and I can’t say I blame her, but I will never forget the horrible experience.  I left Lou’s rather than get fired and went to work in a shop about 20 miles away.

    The thing that kept my work from growing was why I was interested in tattoo. You see, my first interest was sparked by the tattoo as a cultural, or maybe spiritual medium, not as much as an art form. It was powerful, and spoke to me in a certain way.  Working in a street shop changed that a bit. After awhile I realized that I needed to be able to interpret what my clients wanted, rather than express myself on other people’s bodies.

   Over the next few years I honed my skills at several shops, some great, some left a bad taste in my mouth, as I did theirs. By 1996 I was mastering the skill of outlining and coloring, and trying to refine my drawing.  Sometime around 1998 I started doing large work, mostly custom. The drawing was coming along well.  Now I do mostly very large artwork in a sort of fusion of traditional American and Japanese styles. I get a lot of people who like Japanese art and sea life. Coming from a long line of Seafarers, Commercial, Military, and Pleasure Boaters means I have been dragging animals out of the sea and navigating bodies of water since I was a pre-teen.  I love the ocean, and it makes up the bulk of my subject matter these days.

    I was also a Network Technician. I stopped tattooing for awhile to pursue that. I believe a person should live life to it’s fullest, and never limit themselves by staying narrow minded, and only on one track.  I firmly believe that one should use all the tools God has given us to improve our minds, and our understanding of the world around us.  We only get one shot at this life, and it is very important to be passionate about what we do, and maybe not think it to death.  I think a man who makes only calculated, educated decisions does not learn the fragility of being human.  To protect yourself from the Demons of your own imagination is to blind yourself to the wonderful spoils of excess.

     If it were not for my reckless youth, I would not be the man I love being today.  I knew I was different as a child, therefore I felt alienated.  As a man I now rejoice in being unique.  And the best part of that is the people in my life.  Tattooists, freaks, beautiful women.  I have the best collection of friends, colleagues and clients any man could hope to have in one lifetime.

     I would really like to thank Mike McCabe, Ron Lopez, Lou Sciberras, Ken Cameron, Albert Sgambati, Morgan Brown, Troy Lane, Donovan Stringer, Memphis Mike Lewandowski, Frank Lee, Darren Rosa, Cliff White, Joey Nobody, Jef Whitehead and the Ciferri Brothers for all their help and advice early in my professional career.

     Most of all I need to thank my daughters for helping me get past the recklessness and self-doubt that was so self consuming.  They've provided me with the perfect environment to help me achieve my goals. I was blessed with my first daughter, Nina on April 17th 2004, and my second, Gwen on May 6th, 2005. These girls are my biggest inspiration.

August 6, 2001, revised April 12, 2007