What is your favorite music?
My favorite bands are Led Zeppelin, Tool, Black Sabbath, Soundgarden, Queens of the Stone Age, and Journey. My favorite song is Imagine.
What is your favorite movie?
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
What is the strangest tattoo you ever designed?
E.T. & Mr. T having a picnic on my wonderful friend, Ben Wahh
What is your favorite tattoo on your body and what does it symbolize?
My sleeve on my right arm because I got it early on in my career. I got to watch Guy do the tattoo which was really inspiring to see because he was the person that made me want to tattoo and be a better artist.
What's your horoscope sign?
Cancer
What is the best vacation you ever took?
Costa Rica! It was where the rainforest met beach on the Pacific coast. I was awakened every morning by the sound of howling monkeys and lulled to sleep by the flutter of bat wings in the evening. I love animals and was in awe of being a guest in the home of the most exotic of creatures. Between the wildlife and the plant life, I felt insignificant and probably the most at peace I've ever experienced. I did not want to come home.
What are the 5 things in your life that you couldn't live without?
- My family and friends (including my cat)
- Yoga
- Music
- Art (of course)/being creative
- Coffee (hehe)
If you only had 1 meal left to eat, what would you choose?
Super thin crust pizza with wild mushrooms, taleggio cheese, and black olives... followed by a giant chocolate-chip cookie.
Where are you from?
Cleveland, Ohio.
When did you first start drawing and tattooing?
I've drawn my whole life. My Mom has a picture I drew when I was about a year old and it actually looks like a fish. I started tattooing when I was 18.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Everything! I love fairy tale art, art nouveau, religious art, the simplicity of far eastern artwork, hindu diety paintings, Tibetan thangka paintings and just about everything in between. Aside from that, just daily life and interaction with people, my yoga practice, and recognizing the the ever present balance of action and reaction (energetics) keep me excited about furthering my personal growth.
Name some artists that inspire you.
Salvador Dali, Alphonse Mucha, Caravaggio, Gustav Klimt, Gustav Dore, Bernie Wrightson, Mark Ryden, Glen Barr, James Christensen, children's book illustrators, comic book illustrators, and Hokusai.
What's the last book you read?
Superfudge
Is there a charity you'd like to get involved with?
I don't know if this really exists, but I had such a hard time in my teen years, like so many do, that I would like to somehow work with teens in trying to help them cultivate an interest or skill that would give them something that will give them a focus and a sense of self that enriches them internally, and gives them self-confidence and a meaningful purpose in life that no one can take away from them.
What were your first thoughts when TLC approached you about being on LA INK?
My heart fell in my stomach and I knew that I was supposed to do this. I don't know why, but I've had the same feeling before when certain opportunities have presented themselves. I'm just trying to roll with it and not expect too much, but enjoy the ride and see where it takes me.
Is there anything else you'd like us to know about you?
Whatcha see is whatcha get.
