I'm one of a handful of women who began tattooing in the 1970s, long before tattooing was as popular as it is today. It was a struggle then to acquire information and even equipment, especially if you were a woman. There were no tattoo magazines, Yellow Pages listings, suppliers or any worthwhile reference materials. It was ideal if you were a guy, got tattooed locally and hung around the tattoo parlor regularly to acquire any information.
There was a convention in Houston in 1976 put on by a Minnesota tattooist by the name of Dave Yerkew. That first convention launched a yearly convention of the newly formed National Tattoo Club. We were starving for information and interaction. Most of the artwork was amateurish and most artists weren't artists.
My background in fine and graphic arts was helpful in achieving good, clean work. My attitude was and still remains to provide custom, one-of-a-kind tattoos at the client's request without inserting my ego in the process. My concerns for placement and composition continue to support my longevity in this business. After 30 years, I still tattoo regularly and still attend conventions. I continue to book by appointment as I have done since I began in 1976. In addition to decorative tattooing, I do eyebrows, eyeliner, and nipple reconstruction. I am expert at repair and rework. No job is impossible to fix!
I learned respect for the craft from noted "old-timers" who paved my way. I pass down the same respect of the traditions of tattooing to my apprentices and staff. It was due to the hard work of those who came before that tattooing transformed into the artform it is today. Without them, tattooing would not have survived nor flourished. (If you are a tattoo artist and don't know your tattoo history then shame on you.) This profession is an honorable one if treated as such.
I'm pleased to see so many beautiful images done by so many of my contemporaries. I am sorry I haven't gotten to meet many of you. As my good friend, SuzAnne Fauser would say, "I have lots of friends. They just live so far away." In the old days, tattooers would correspond by post. The letters were full of well wishing, insight, a bit of gossip and artwork they were proud to share. These days, we Blog and Upload. It's the same.
Please look through the pages at the wonderful work being done at Pat's Tats. Then come and visit us, get tattooed and have an equally wonderful experience, too.
