So it has been a crazy year, hell its been a crazy 9 years or so. I have gone through some changes over the years, especially after Dahlia was brought into our life. She literally became the focus of my wife and I. That is also when Jeff and I opened Oddball, it’ll be 10 years next May! Dahlia is older now and Justine and I are able to focus on ourselves again a bit. Things change, that’s the only permanent I quess.
As of last year Jeff and I decided to make some changes. Short version to date, Jeff is traveling around in Mexico and I now am the sole proprietor of Oddball. This is an amazing thing and I am very excited about this opportunity. It’s like Im getting a mulligan.
Over the years as things have changed so has my understanding of tattooing and tattoos. Aesthetically and stylistically I have grown. My approach to tattooing, art, living, it has all changed. Kids put everything into perspective. I no longer wish to see tattooing and “fine art” sharing the same space like when Oddball started out and had “art” shows. Not that anything is wrong with that, but it’s not me now. I an not impressed with rainbow colored fancy styles anymore, again nothing wrong with it. I have fallen in love with the simplest aspects of tattoos, and I am no longer interested in seeing tattooing progress. Progress has led to bullshit tv shows and rockstar kids with snotty attitudes. That’s not synonymous with tattooing or Oddball.
Oddball is a tattoo studio. We do tattoos, we strive for timeless, classy tattoos. Tattoos that will look great in 10, 15, 20 years. This is no simple task. Classic tattoos, the approach, the execution, was done in a manner that kept the medium, the craft in mind. This is where my interest lies in tattooing now. I obviously have a love for traditional Japanese tattooing, I have a thing for all kinds of traditional tattoos. Crude hand poked tattoos, prison style, biker style. All legit, all about the mark, the pain, the growth.
I am making some big Japanese inspired work right now and I have some big projects coming up in the near future. I am leaving time in my schedule for walk ins and smaller tattoos, because those are important to me as well. I am in a great place and am putting out the most important work of my life right now. If you’re thinking of getting a tattoo by me now is a good time, large or small, epic or simple. It’s a good time to get tattooed at Oddball as well. Everyone is doing the best tattooing of their careers, developing their styles, refining.
I want to thank everyone who has gotten tattooed by me over the years, especially the ones who keep coming back. And thanks to all of you who support Oddball.
Tattooing is my life, it is something I hold very dear, as is Oddball.