The drive to create art from scratch and to become such a powerful image from nothing is very inspiring when creating original art. My inspiration for creating Tattoos is to be able to give clients the art they want to wear and the fact you affect them for their entire lives by your art and tattoos.
1. Tell us more about your background and journey.
I am a veteran Tattoo Artist of over 30 years starting in 1990 who is an internationally published, award-winning, and coveted tattoo artist and tattoo convention organizer of the infamous Hell City Tattoo Fest. I also own Ohio’s largest tattoo studio and also Ohio’s largest tattoo supply company called True Tattoo Supply.
2. When did you decide you wanted to be a tattoo artist?
I’ve been an artist almost my entire life and I have always had an attraction to taboo and rebellious art forms, so tattooing came naturally to me and became a passion of mine at an early age. having grown up around the punk rock and skateboarding scene, much of the artwork I was seeing at those times looked very much like Tattooer work so that inspired me even more in the direction of becoming a tattoo artist.
3. Is it a financially stable career?
Yes, it definitely is if you work hard to apply yourself to continually learn new techniques with Tattooing. Being a tattoo artist also takes a lot of personal discipline to continually draw new and interesting tattoo designs for clients I had to sacrifice more time at the art table than the bar.
4. Who is your favorite painter/artist and why?
I have many favorite painters but I would say Robert Williams was incredibly influential with my tattoo art in the early years. His beatnik painting style conveyed tattooing perfectly and another one of my favorite artists would be Salvador Dali because of his vast imagination, odd imagery, and his painting skill.
5. What is your inspiration for creating art?
The drive to create art from scratch and to become such a powerful image from nothing is very inspiring when creating original art. My inspiration for creating Tattoos is to be able to give clients the art they want to wear and the fact you affect them for their entire lives by your art and tattoos.
6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future aspiring tattoo artists?
The best advice I have is to stay focused and driven and not to burn yourself out or to be too judgemental of yourself as an artist. Art is meant to be enjoyed visually and also physically by creating it. To be hard as a release of ideas, stress, creativity, and visual influences.
7. Which is your favorite book and why?
My favorite book will be “Reinventing The Tattoo” by Guy Aitchison. This book goes super in-depth into the art of tattooing and the application and theory that goes on behind all of it. It’s a different way of thinking for Tattoo Artist and the tattoo process and is a book that is light years beyond itself with tattoo knowledge. Definitely an important book for any tattoo artist's collection!
Durb Morrison
Interviewed By: Nishad Kinhikar
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