Like many artists, I grew up with a pencil in my hand and a passion for comic books. I've been drawing for as early as I can remember, usually faces, and always without ears for some unknown reason when i was young. My grandfather was a large influence for me in art. There were countless afternoons where he and I would sit in his basement and paint while eating butterscotch candies. He mostly painted scenic landscapes and western portraits. There only ever seemed to be two things on their TV at any given time; it was either golf or Bob Ross on PBS, who also quickly became a huge influence. My grandfather was also how I was introduced to comics, or what he affectionately called "the funnies," from the Sunday morning newspaper he picked up at the local Acme. My love for comics truly came when I was about 9 years old.   I started the 5th grade in a new town. Almost instantly I felt like the black sheep in the community, and comic books offered an escape from reality.  I'm fortunate to have grown up with two artistic, loving and extremely supportive parents that helped  fuel my interests, as well. Instead of fishing, hunting or sports memorabilia, I would get Bob Ross painting kits for Christmas, canvas and sketchbooks every birthday or holiday,  not to mention the monthly trips to the comic shop starting when I was around 10 or 11 years old.  

 

At first, like many young kids, my favorite superhero was Superman, back then, that was Christopher Reeves.  Then my Dad took us to see batman with Michael Keaton.  That  Summer everything was Batman, and I completed the package with the bat symbol shaved in the back of my head.  The following year, Image Comics hit the scene and changed the industry forever.  The artwork alone in Image Comics blew my mind. The stories were fresh and edgy and not your run of the mill 'Superhero beats up Supervillain' story.  I would spend hours every day studying and copying the artwork of J. Scott Campbell,  Todd McFarlane, Rob Liefeld, and eventually Joe Madureira, doing my best to draw like them. A few years later I would create my own characters and each one had a way to in-depth back story, one of which I'm currently and pain-stakingly in the process of reviving.  Needless to say, I jumped head first into the fantasy that comic books offered. To this day, comic books and movies are still my escape.

 

While some artists like tattooing skulls and flowers, I'll take a comic book or anime style tattoo or portrait of favorite movie character any day of the week.  Which is where you will find me today.  I currently own and operate Classic Ink & Tytan Comics in downtown Bradenton, Florida. It is the Bay Area's first and only tattoo, piercing, and comic shop. I prefer realistic portraits of your favorite superheroes and movies, and illustrative pieces that bring my passion for comic books to skin.  I have worked in the tattoo and comic book industry for almost 20 years now.  Starting off as a comic book cover artist, I would quickly realize inking comics is very similar to tattooing.  It would take a few years however before I had enough confidence in my tattoo career to move towards tattooing in a genre I loved. Since then, I have traveled and tattooed in 9 different countries, published in multiple magazines, and became an award winning tattoo artists. I've tattooed some amazing people as well, from actors and athletes to doctors and florists. I'm also a Licensed LucasFilms Tattoo Artist and over the years I have been fortunate enough to have my work endorsed by companies such as CBS, Paramount, Warner Bros., AMC, and DC Comics. 

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an entrepreneur at heart, I have owned and operated 9 different companies in the past 20 years.  Some worked out, some didn't.  When I'm not tattooing and drawing, I am usually work on a conjuring up another endeavor to take on, or traveling the world with my beautiful wife and three kids.  I enjoy tattooing, reading comics, drawing, watching movies, working out, and hanging out with my friends and family.

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I am constantly trying to make progress in my art so that I can better my skills and offer my clients the very best possible work I can deliver. I'm very fortunate and grateful to be able to create permanent works of art on skin.