TATTOONOW ARTIST INTERVIEWS

My neck tattoo got me hired Not fired hired

By Gabe Ripley

June 22, 2015

At the risk of encouraging people who don't know themselves or art getting highly visible tattoos, my neck tattoo didn't get me fired, it got me hired. Now, clearly bad neck tattoos are devastating mistakes that have lifetime repercussions, but for me it is tough to read all the news headlines about people who have made bad neck tattoo decisions without responding with my story of how tattoos can be empowering to a professional career.

Larry Brogan 7 28 2006

Off the Map was thrilled to host the world traveling Larry Brogan last week and the beautiful tattoos he cranked out during his stay made our clients very happy campers! True to his wide range of talents, Larry did a bit of everything during his stay, but by far the standout pieces included a phenomenally detailed and colorful dragonfly, and an all day session on a sleeve chest/piece. The dragonfly piece landed in Larry’s lap through an interesting twist of fate. The client had not been tattooed in 18 years, but had received his first in Lockport, IL, coincidentally Larry’s home base. Seeing his impending arrival at Off the Map inspired him to get tattooed again, this time in his current residence, the happy Valley. After a bit of research, the client brought in a few images ... Read More »

Luca Natalini 10 3 2006

From: lucatat2@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Interview questions
Date: September 29, 2006 2:35:57 AM EDT
To: gabe@tattoonow.com Allright Gabe ,it takes me for ever to write in a decent shape in english so take it easy,with the questions:-) First up, the easy questions. When did you start drawing and did you have any formal training? I started when i was a kid,my dad helped me approaching to it,he used to oil paint back then ,so the smell of turpentine and oil pigments is in my first memories.In that period I was also tought by my dad the basics of guitar,very basics him being a bass guitar player.I ve always being divided between this two passions alternating them was a kind of need.After that early approach I kept studying and try to improve but I was lacking con ... Read More »

Nick Baxter 9 20 2006

Interview with Nick Baxter by Aly E. 1. When a client approaches you for work, what do you typically look for in their ideas that can serve as a basis of the piece you will ultimately design?
I try to look for the essence of what they are explaining to me…the feeling and the mood and the meaning behind all the words they are using. If I can get into their head that way, If I can understand where they are coming from rather than ‘merely waiting for my turn to speak’ then the artwork will usually develop from there in a natural, intuitive fashion, with mutually agreeable results. This part of the process has little or nothing to do with art or tattooing and everything to do with human relations and communication skills.
Read More »