About Me:
Hi everyone!! My name is Tony & I'm a tattoo artist in San Pedro , California. Previously worked in Long Beach, Ca, Tulsa , Oklahoma as well as Downey & Whittier, Ca.
My tattoo journey began when I was 13 years old. My stepfather (at the time) was an old school east-coast tattoo artist with over 30 years experience named Shadow, who learned and hungout with some of the legends of the tattoo industry. He and my mother owned a shop in Missouri for a year or two and then we moved to Independence , Ks . They opened a shop there and after school, that's where I would go and do my homework. After homework, I would have to sweep floors, clean tubes, set up and breakdown stations. These were just chores to me and I had no idea that this would be the ground floor of my knowledge and career as a tattoo artist.
Like every other artist, I didn't know if I could make it doing just tattoos, so throughout my early years, I tried all kinds of things that interested me , as a way to make a living. I was a Deckhand, Painter, Boat restorator, plastics manufacturer, Sports Marketing agent, lifeguard...they were all fun , but they were missing something. I was missing something.
Then I did my first tattoo. It was a portrait of a bull that was his pet as a child (I know..) . The guy that got it, nicknamed "Hauss" was a burley, hells angels biker gang member and needless to say, i was a bit nervous. After we got done, he looked at it in the mirror, came back over to me and bear-hugged me and lifted me up. Now I was officially scared. I had thought i didnt do a good enough job and he was going to break me in half.
Turns out, he set me down and thats when i saw the tears. He was so happy that he had his childhood pet forever on him as a reminder of his roots. His heart was full of love and I had never personally affected anyone like that in such a positive manner. I had somehow brought joy into his life. That feeling in indescribable.
Thats why I'm a tattoo artist. I have been chasing that feeling ever since.
Favorite Movie - Catch Me If You Can
Love basketball (Lakers Baby!!)
Favorite Food- In N Out
Favorite place to be- On a Boat in the ocean
Most important thing to me- Make my family and friends proud
Love the outdoors
Tattooing experience- 16 years
If you would like to know more, Just ask! I'm an open book!
See more of my videos and tattoos on Instagram or TikTok below: