Bio

I STARTED LEARNING TO TATTOO DURING MY JUNIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL

After a local tattoo artist saw some of my drawing while working at a local video store (yes, I'm that old) he offered to teach me to tattoo

2002-2007

2 weeks after graduating high school, in June of 2002, I began working at my first shop as a professional tattoo artist. I quickly moved on to a second, and a third, and a 4th shop... as shops in the area at that time weren't lasting long. Owners kept closing them because they didn't know how to run a shop, and I didn't feel I knew enough to open my own. During most of this time I kept a second job, and tattooed part time until about 2005.

2007-2012

After a few years of tattooing locally, I made a move to Miami Florida in 2007, mostly to further my education on tattooing. I learned a lot in Florida, but still had a lot to learn. I spent the next 5 years traveling up and down the east coast between Florida, Virginia, and Pennsylvania mostly. I also attended several conventions in this time frame, still trying to learn what I could to get better all around.

2012-2017

After a decade of tattooing, in 2012 I finally felt like I had learned enough to open my own shop. I decided to open this shop in Central Pennsylvania where I graduated. Nomad Studios became a very successful local shop and I was booked solid for months... but I had issue after issue with local landlords not taking proper care of the buildings, and moved locations several times, but we upgraded at every move and stayed busy. In winter of 2016 my dad passed away and a lot changed for me. So in winter of 2017 I closed Nomad Studios and I moved to Myrtle Beach South Carolina to be there for my mom.

2018-2023

MYRTLE BEACH INK

I spent my entire stay in South Carolina in one shop, Myrtle Beach Ink. In my 5.5 years in Myrtle Beach I think my work vastly improved, more than any other time-frame of my career. I worked with some great artists while I was there, and a couple not so great, hahaha. I believe I learned more of what NOT to do as an artist, and a shop owner, from my time in Myrtle Beach.

BETTER EQUIPMENT

As soon as I got to Myrtle Beach I upgraded all of my equipment to wireless rotary machines. I upgraded all of my inks, needles, aftercare... I began doing more research into what I could find that was possibly better quality to reduce pain and irritation for the customers. I still do what I can to stay steadily researching and working with other artists to better my knowledge in our entire community. I am always trying to pick other artists brains on what equipment works better for them, some of them possibly to a point they became annoyed, hahahaa, sorry. In the years I spent in Myrtle Beach I probably spent more money on new machines and equipment than I did in all my other years of tattooing combined. In doing this I greatly increased my work in all aspects of the job

NEW STYLES AND TECHNIQUES

Working in the large community of artists that makes up myrtle beach, I learned many new techniques and started working in new styles. I believe as an artist we never stop learning, and working around new artists I always pick up new things. In Myrtle Beach almost all of the tattoos shops are in the same parking lot, and I would walk to other shops and talk to other artists, and I believe we all help make each other better in sharing tips and techniques. I think sharing our knowledge will help make the future of our industry amazing for everyone. I feel like Myrtle Beach is a great spot for artists to work, and network with other artists, because of how closely packed in we are on Seaboard Street. It was like every day was a convention and I could walk to another artists booth and brainstorm.

BEST OF THE BEACH

After my second summer in Myrtle Beach I was voted the Best of the Beach in the tattoo artist category, and our shop also won for best shop. They ended the artist category for all years after, but the shop won almost every year, but unfortunately it is now a whole new crew there and they no longer even place. We always had a solid crew of artists in that shop while I was there though, with that being said... I want to clarify that I personally, don't care about the "best of the beach" as much as our owners did. Although I appreciate everyone who voted for me, and the shop. I cant help but feel that since there was never a tattoo judged in any of those "competitions" that those awards don't hold the same value as tattoo awards from conventions. I also have a strong distaste for anyone being called "the best" in any field of art. Art is all about opinions, and one persons best is another persons worst. You will never hear me call myself the best at anything, but I do appreciate those who feel I am at that level, thank you.

CONVENTIONS

In the past couple of years I have started to make a return to conventions. As of yet it has almost all been with the Inkcelsior Tattoo Crew. However, I will begin hitting the tattoo convention circuits again at some point. I still have a couple "nerdy" conventions coming up in 2025 that I tattoo at with Inkcelsior. For the past few years I have focused on sharpening my skills at producing high quality work, in a short amount of time. Both in the design, and application process. I am able to prepare portraits and large scale work overnight if my schedule is open. Working at a beach for 5 years I also did just as much small quick walk-ins as I did large scale work, if not more. Which I believe keep me well rounded and helps in traveling. I am looking forward to getting back out on the road and hitting more conventions again now that I am no longer working full time in Myrtle Beach. Please check my travel page for planned events. Feel free to email me if you dont see your area listed. I do have other conventions I can add on if I have interest coming from that area. I have returned to doing tattoo conventions again as well, with my first one back focusing more on walking around and seeing how conventions are operating now as to 12+ years ago when I last did tattoo conventions. I will be setting up separate design books for tattoo conventions vs nerdy conventions since I did see a BIG difference in what sells at each.

Nomad Studios

I have opened a private studio in Milton Pa. The new shop is open by appointment only during the winter months. We are located at 60 S Front St Milton Pa 17847
I will work from here while in PA, but I am about to make another move to a larger market to expand my portfolio and career potential.

TEXAS

After nearly 2 decades of working on the east coast, I have decided to give the middle of the country a shot, and I recently relocated to Austin Texas. I started working at one of the longest running tattoo shops in all of Austin... it felt like good Karma to find a shop that has been open for 23yrs, the month I celebrated 23yrs of tattooing. This shop has an amazing crew of artists and piercers, as well as some of the best counter managers I have ever worked with. I definitely look forward to spending the next few years here if not more, you really cant ask for a better shop. Aside from the great staff the shop provides me a private room with a million dollar view of the Downtown Austin Skyline from the balcony attached to each tattoo room.

Bio