1986 Graduating Class
COTA - Trenton, N.J.
2nd Row - 4th from Left
"The Year I Started Tattooing"
1988 - The First Shop Job
Worked for Lester Delano
In Jensen Beach, FL
1987 - 1988: I worked for Babe Vivona on the midway of Amusements of America, Big "A". I worked state and county fairs up and down the East Coast those summers. That year I met "Diamond Jim" in New York. He was a Coney Island Tattooer. I met Tattoo Al from Mays Landing, NJ. Al took me under his wing and taught me how to make needles and basically how to survive on the circuit.
1989 - 1992: I traveled the Harley-Davidson swap meet circuit. I did Harley Rendevous in upstate New York. This is where I met Pappy, from Kingsport, TN, and his friend Spider. They helped me get spots in shows that year and I did places like Bean Blossom Boogie in Bean Blossom, IN. I did Sturgis at Hog Heaven Camp Ground.
1992 - 1997: I had shops in Fayetteville, then moved to Siloam Springs, on the Oklahoma border to be closer to my Tulsa clientele. In 1994, I opened the Bentonville, AR, location.
1998 to 2000: I moved my shop in Siloam Springs to its location next to the Car Wash on Hwy 412. The "Wild Child" sign was extremely visible from the highway. I had the Bentonville location which was my main office.
2000 to Present: I closed the Bentonville shop to move closer to home. I reopened the Yellville location and began to relax a little. So during the summer months, I share my time between Yellville and Iron Horse Stables in Eureka Springs. The Yellville location is a lifelong dream of mine. I am finally getting to open my rock and gift shop that will be called Ozark Rock & Gem
Present: I personally am semi-retired but the group of up and coming young artists that work with me are an exceptional bunch. They each are an accomplished artist in their own right and I am proud to be the owner of the shops that employ them.
For more information about Wild Child:
Wild Child's Other Interests
Wild Child's Wall of Fame
