I began my tattoo journey over ten years ago. As long as I can remember, I have always wanted tattoos. I remember when I was young, I used to go over to my uncle's and see him and his friends hanging out. I would sit and gawk at the sleeved out arms and various other tattoos. I loved them! They were so colorful, so beautiful, but yet so very detailed! I had to have one! So, when I was 22, one of my tattooed friends finally gave me the opportunity. My first was an Indian face on my hip. I was real proud of it then, but now that I know more about tattoos and tattoo culture; and know what tattoos mean to me, I get only what I consider "real tattoos" now. I am real proud of my tattoos, so please take a look! Thanks for checking out my web page! Please come back again! I will be trying to update my page as often as possible!

"Real Tattoos" might be a bad name for them, but it is true. Tattoos are not just pretty pictures sewn into people's skin! Each and every tattoo out there has a story behind it; it's own culture if you would. Since my first, I have had a major part in every tattoo I have gotten. Thanks to my dear and good friend (whom I will probably never be able to thank enough) "Chris Gunn". Chris owns his shop here in Austin, TX called Southside Tattoo. I can come up with an idea and theme and he can put it on paper, and then on my skin. Together we come up with beautiful creations of art that mean a lot to me and that I take a lot of pride in!!! Click on the Tattoo Pics link above to see some pictures of my tattoos!

The Japanese believe, and so do I, that tattoos are your inner beliefs and feelings projecting themselves outwardly to a physical form onto your skin. I also believe that tattoos are part of both the person getting the tattoo and the tattoo artist. The tattoo artist adds to the tattoo his or her beliefs and his or her own creative style. For a few hours of pain and an eternity of pleasure, the tatooee and the tattooist will share a common bond forever!

Since my first tattoo, I have come up with a special idea, a special theme, or a special story for all of my tattoos. Take for example my pride and joy on my calf. It depicts an ancient mythological story from the Japanese culture. My chest piece depicts a couple of different things. Ancient traditional Japanese art merging with new and exciting Japanese art (the two samurais on my arms are actual 16th century pictures while the two samurais on my chest are creations of newer Japanese art - one being a kind of anime-like samurai). My chest piece also has the clash of two worlds - fire and water. My newest creation is something that I have wanted to do for a very long time now........a Scooby Doo collage. It has some of my favorite pictures from some of my favorite Scooby Doo cartoons. I will try and get some pictures up soon. Currently it is about 2/3 done. Click on the Tattoo Pics link above to see some pictures of my tattoos!

I am an avid fan of Oriental art, mythology, and culture. Many of those things are very important to me. So if you are thinking about getting that first tattoo, DO NOT just pick something off of the wall at the tattoo shop! Try and find something that means something to you. You can take an idea from off of the many walls of tattoo flash, but make sure you add your "special touch" to it! The tattoo artist can then add his creative touch to it and you will then have a beautiful piece of art that you can show off for the rest of your life (seeing how tattoos ARE forever!)!! Oh, and of course, I will leave you with one final more tip: bigger is ALWAYS better!!!!!