A tattoo apprenticeship is something I never had the privilege of having. I learned by tattooing friends, hoodlums and homeboys in my neighborhood and fought my way into this world of tattooing the best way I knew how. These are my only living apprentices. It is hard for me to put into words how proud I am to not only call them my accomplished apprentices, but to also call them my friends. I did not bring them into tattooing because they had an art degree or a fancy portfolio of drawings, I helped them become tattooers because they are both some of the hardest working humans I know, trustworthy, have a moral high ground and also have sand, which is something too many tattooers are without these days.
They will outwork you,
I promise you this.
But to be honest, all I did was open the door for them to do the work that needed to be done to get where they are. I cannot take any credit for their hard work and dedication. Any expectations I had for their perseverance they have both completely exceeded.
I want to thank them both, for helping me to always feel young at heart, driving me to work harder, inspiring me to tattoo better, keeping me humble and most of all, carrying on this tradition and craft that we treasure so deeply.
I’m proud to tattoo alongside you both. @_bryan_black_@isaac.olivarria
Thank you @joelbullphoto for capturing this moment in my life in film. It means more to me than you know.
I’m grateful to be a tattooer, I’m grateful for my generation of tattooers, I’m grateful I’ve got to live a 30 year vacation, I’m grateful I can do what I love and still provide for my family at the same time, I am grateful for my life.
I normally don’t post personal stuff, it’s just not my style. I use social media as a business platform and don’t care for it as anything else. But today I feel more grateful than usual for these wonderful humans in my life. This woman that I’m still head over heals in love with and these two boys who have also captured my heart. I am smitten, so lucky and blessed.
Thank you for capturing this special moment in my life @ogbillythekid , I appreciate it more than you know, and congrats on your growing family as well.
I had to place that stencil just right to match that mole. Did this one the other day on the very talented @mr_rhythm .
done with my Magic Mix black and gray set by @thesolidink
Here's the still shot of the tattoo on my friend @brettmsaunders from the other day. I post stills of my tattoos because I, for one, dislike looking at a person's feed and it's nothing but reels of their tattoos. I don't want to see all your ASMR setup shit leading up to your tattoo, just show me the tattoo. So for all those people out there who feel the same as me, here's my tattoo, no video. Thank you for looking.
@classicfullerton@thesolidink@saltwatertattoo
17 years.
Those first two photos look fun, right? And they really were fun, I got lots of photos of me with a drink in my hand smiling at times, but no one was there to take a photo of me alone on my knees whimpering into the abyss; spiritually, mentally and emotionally bankrupt. I didn't want to live another day loaded, but couldn't seem to put together one day sober. After years and years of trying, and failing, I gave up and gave in to a life of drinking and drugging. But in 2009 I met someone I cared about more than myself and I wasn't ok with dying anymore. So I just surrendered and followed instructions, I did what sober people told me to do, did the work, and it actually worked. When I put together a year sober I couldn't believe it, it was the longest I had been sober since I took my first drink.
So, 17 years later, I'm still in disbelief that I am living this life. I couldn't put it into words how grateful I am for my life today, for my friendships, my family, my kids, and my loving wife, to whom I'll be married to 17 years tomorrow. I will never take my life for granted.
So to all my friends out there who can drink like a normal human being, have a drink for me today, cheers.
@timhendricks is known all over the world for his black and grey tattoos, but when you look through his body of work - his style is really impossible to nail down under just one category. So we’ll just call it “Tim-style”.
Episode Two is out NOW - follow the link in the bio to watch on YouTube!
#fullertontattoo #latattoo #classictattoo #tattoodocumentary #skindeeptattoo
@timhendricks has one of the best stories I’ve ever heard about how he got his first real tattoo machine.
Rick Walters left such an impact on the craft as a whole - but the personal impact he had on the tattoo artists around him is what makes him live on forever.
Episode Two is out NOW - follow the link in the bio to watch on YouTube!
#fullertontattoo #latattoo #classictattoo #tattoodocumentary #skindeeptattoo
Postcards from our visit at @classicfullerton
Classic Tattoo is the oldest tattoo shop in Fullerton, CA. As the owner now for over a decade, @timhendricks sees himself as more of a caretaker - like the captain of the black pearl - preserving the long history of the shop, and creating new memories for the next owner after him to continue on the legacy for many more decades to come.
Episode Two is out NOW - follow the link in the bio to watch on Youtube!
#fullertontattoo #latattoo #classictattoo #tattoodocumentary #skindeeptattoo
If you were to ask young tattooers right now who inspired them to get into tattooing, you’ll often hear the same name over and over again. Tim Hendricks. @timhendricks
Known all over the world for his SoCal-rooted black and grey work, Tim has been proudly representing classic tattoo culture for decades - while at the same time bringing the art of tattoos to the light for new generations.
Episode Two is out NOW - follow the link in the bio to watch on Youtube!
#fullertontattoo #losangelestattoo #classictattoo #tattoodocumentary #skindeeptattoo
