Feeling productive

Every once and awhile I get inspired to do a little painting, by inspired I mean Shawn Hebrank lit a fire under my posterior. The new issue of I want your skull is coming soon and with a few friendly reminders from Shawn we will hopefully have everyone in the shop in the next issue. I really enjoyed painting this and am looking forward to the getting back in the swing of painting on a semi regular basis.

Proud weekend for Identity Tattoo

I have to say that this last weekend was definitely a very proud moment in my life. I have spent the last four plus years building a business that was always a dream for me. It is now a reality and It really sunk in this weekend at the Minneapolis Tattoo Convention. Ben Rettke and Shawn Hebrank not only took the ropes for the convention but brought the thunder. It was a great feeling to see the shop take home a good number of trophies, from best of show as well as two tattoo of the day trophies, but most of all to see the showmanship and teamwork that went into this weekend. They guys brought their A game and showed what the shop is all about. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to have such great guys to work with and to keep the pressure on each other to continue to push one an other to continue to up our game.

A special thanks to Kyle for keeping the guys in what they needed, even when it included the military crawl between underneath table and between massage table. Also a special thanks to all of our clients that make the whole thing possible. Without the support and loyalty these things could never happen.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this place possible

money magnets and tattoo conventions

Thanx to Seth Ciferri for building me these two money magnets. They may be a little obnoxious but they have proven to be two of the best running tattoo machines I have ever used. Gold is truly an amazing conductor of electricity and with that kind of money inside the magnetic field, lets just hope there is some truth to the myth, if you place money within a magnet field it would attract more money.


On another note the shop got a face lift with all new vinyl on the windows and the pavillion sign out front of the shop. I also had them added to my truck. I just cannot seem to get enough of that army green.


The shop will be working at the kingpin tattoo convention all weekend. If you have work from us come show it off, and hang out. Ben Rettke and Shawn Hebrank will be tattooing all three days
friday2-12 saturday 12-12 and sunday 12-8

A weekend up north

Well my good friend Stephen had a big party this last weekend to celebrate the years he has thus far walked the earth. Let me tell you without him alot of things may never of happened. I was fortunate to be on the LIST and be able to bring my amazing daughter along for the experience. The weekend was packed full of good times. We got to live in the moment and enjoy the amazing Fort Coskran that Stephen and Wendy have built.

Zoe and I also got to enjoy the company of so many friends and live life to the fullest outdoors. Although the weather was a little wet, we enjoyed splashing in the lake, eating hand fulls of wild raspberries, walking up and down the trails, building small forts with Izzy, Atticus and Wolfgang and just enjoying what the outdoors had to offer. I could not of asked for anything more.



In keeping with Mr. Albie Rocks love for fire we built a log cabin fire with a birch bark sleeve for a chimney. With the help of Lonnie it became an awesome fire to watch. Sometimes its easy to forget how clear your head can become if you just take the time to get back to the outdoors.


Thank you for the time we were given

Vip Parties with the BIG BOSS

Last night was a fun chance to take the shop to a VIP party for the opening of the Bodies exhibit at the Mall of America. Since Shawn Hebrank is taking some time with family on the east coast, we got to bring the real boss of Identity Tattoo along. It was a fun event to attend, private viewing, good food, and old friends to catch up with. Zoe kept the guys in line and escorted them around insuring they did not get into any trouble.

Tiny Pint Size Snake skull

Summer is here and it seems par for the course that I feel like a one armed juggler. The shop is doing well, staying busy and planning for the Kingpin convention in MPLS this September. I have been taking lots of time to enjoy with my daughter, and have even managed to get some time ,all be it minimal, to begin to recharge my internal battery. Here is a little and I mean little painting I did yesterday for an upcoming book call pint sized paintings. It is two by three inches. It was a whole different process trying to paint that small but proved to be amazing for my brain. I am going to do one more as soon as time permits.


Outside of that the Bearded Lady Motorcycle show is coming up quick so if you're into old bikes and a carnival atmosphere come down and join in the fun.
It will be held on the 25th of July at the 331 club in Nordeast. for more info go to www.myspace.com/beardedladymotorcycleshow

Grateful for a great day

Monday sacred Monday, a day to recharge the internal battery. What a great day it was, my daughter and I went on a great adventure while the siders finished the house. Off on a bike ride, we met up with our friend Adam and road to the park to play on the slide, swings and climb around. There is nothing that sparks my inner battery more than climbing and running around with my little girl. The innocence, the zest for life and the unbridled glee is so contagious. It makes me feel like a new man, or child for that matter.

As the sun began to heat us up we decided to go tromp through the nearby woods. There were downed trees to investigate, along with old leaves and new growth. We even found a bunch of mushrooms but no morels. The peace and solace found in the outdoors makes me wonder sometimes how I ever could get too busy to make time. With dirt on our hands we used a little stream water to wash up before we got back on our trusty bicycle steed. Back to the house to eat a little food.


Life thank you for what we have been given.