Here is the point where I am supposed to come up with something brilliant and clever to describe myself so that you can be dazzled with how amazing and creative I am... fall to your knees in deep worship and know down to your very depths that I am the only person in the whole world who is worth trusting with your tattoo.

Well, sorry, but that just ain't going to happen.

In the grand scheme of things I am a pretty simple critter. I just like to make pictures. I have been drawing on everything that I could get my hands on since I was bitty. Since my Mother appreciated quiet activities, this behavior was encouraged. A nice little hobby. To tell you the truth, I wasn't even very good at it.* Not terribly talented, but definitely determined. For a while in my struggle into adulthood I held some "normal" jobs - but they just didn't cut it and I came back to art.

In 1992 I started an apprenticeship under Sailor Fred (thanks Fred!!). Fred was like a Father to me during that time and taught me a great deal. Unfortunately he stopped coming into the Rochester shop and I moved to White Tiger.

By the end of 1993 the previous owner of White Tiger decided that he was moving on. Leaving me with the choice of purchasing a tattoo shop or becoming unemployed. Obviously I chose to stay and the rest (as they say) is history.

Today I am still (believe it or not) enjoying myself. Inspiration walks in the door everyday bringing with it new adventures and if thats not enough, I also travel all over to conventions for even more. Fresh ideas, new angles - things that I would have never come up with on my own. Trying to extract someone's ideas and translate them is still both the biggest challenge and the greatest reward in what I do. I am not a tattoo rock star (and don't want to be). If I can not do a piece well, I will honestly explain why and if warranted, send you to another artist who can better do the job.

What type of work do I enjoy doing? Realistic, Surrealistic, Fantasy, Idealized Figure Work (that's Pin-ups in English), Celtic... the list goes on. It would actually be much easier to list what I don't like doing. Tribal. Still hate it. Still won't do it. Anything else? Let's talk and see what we can come up with.

I am usually at the shop Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from noon to 8pm and Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to at least 3pm. I work by appointment only and am currently booking 6 months in advance. If you would like to set up an appointment, you can stop by the shop anytime we are open. If you would like to sit down and discuss your ideas before that, give me a call and we can set up a consultation time.

Thank you very much for visiting our corner of the internet. Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Namaste ~ TeeJay

email ~ teejay1@frontiernet.net

phone (585) 621-4460

my space

older pictures