Ladies and Gents, meet Brando, 25.
Brando enjoys tattoos made by Joe Capobianco (who doesn't, really), Jack Rudy, Filip Leu, Chris Garver, and Guy Aitchison. He admires artists such as Ivan Albright, Giger, and Josep Bueys. Our lovely Chelsea can personally attest to this one. And what the fuck, I will too! Chelsea's stuff looks great. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, Brando tattoos at Sacred Skin (602) 749-8282, but don't worry. Brando travels. In fact, he will be tattooing at the Pomona Body Art Expo, January 12-14, put on by one of our favorites: Baba. (Here's a secret - he's sharing a booth with us as well!)
Veronica: Hey Brando! If you could state ONE person as the best tattoo artist, hands down, who would it be?
Brando: Guy Aitchison, the guy is absolutely amazing and has more of a passion and dedication to the art form than most people. I saw a set of matching reversed biomech sleeves, with fractals, on a guy that took 120 hours to match them up line for line. That's dedication.
V: I agree. I feel like, for some reason, if you can tattoo biomech shit fuckin amazingly, then you could tattoo pretty much anything. Sacred Heart... Pssh, no problem, right?
V: Can you tell us a little about YOU?
B: I was born in Chicago, raised in WI. I've been an artist since I could hold a crayon. I went to art school for a year before becoming Active Duty Air Force for 4 years, including a tour to Iraq. I live with my girlfriend Cassie, and I'm expecting my son to be born in 3 weeks!
V: CONGRATS!
V: Why tattooing? How long have you been doing it for?
B: I started getting tattooed from 17 on, but I was obsessed with it since I was little. I used to sit on my Grandpa's lap when I was a little kid and trace out the old green sailor tattoos he had on his forearms. As I grew up I was always drawing all over my arms. When I got older and decided I wanted to make a living being an artist, I realized that it was a great way to make a living. I have been tattooing for just over 3 years.
V: What is your favorite part about doing what ya do?
B: I love everything thing about the job! The feeling of accomplishment you get when you make someone so happy with a tattoo. The honor it is when someone chooses you to tattoo them. The tradition and respect that comes with the art form. The freedom it affords me to be creative, meet new people, and travel. I wouldn't wanna do anything else!
V: What style of (tattoo) art, if any in particular, do you feel you cater to? Why? Who played a major influence in tattooing, to you?
B: I don't really try to pigeonhole myself to one style. One reason for that is I really haven't been tattooing long enough to just want to focus on one aspect of tattooing. I like doing it all and being well rounded. Chris Garver is a great example of this, I would love to one day be as well rounded as Garver.
V: What do you feel is the biggest misconception about your career? Do you do anything to defy this?
B: That tattooing isn't real art. The things people can do in skin is amazing. If anything, I think it's been one of the most challenging art forms I've ever done. I try to think outside the box, and push myself as much as possible.
V: What are some of your biggest accomplishments?
B: Achieving a lot of my own personal goals: Doing something I love everyday for a living, owning my own house, being exactly where I want to be in life, having fought for my country.
V: What is your goal as a tattoo artist?
B: To never have that rock star attitude so many guys in this industry have... the day you stop learning is the day you should quit. To always push myself to the fullest extent.
V: If you could do any tattoo right now, what would it be?
B: I love doing black and grey pinups... or anything large scale where I get artistic freedom to go off!
V: How do you feel about the general public's necessity to gain tattoos, and their recent growing acceptance of them?
B: I think it's great, and a little scary. People are more educated on tattoos now and more willing to get large scale custom work. Which is awesome. On the other hand tattoos have kind of lost the edginess they used to have. It used to be a way to rebel, now everyone has a half sleeve!
V: Ugh.
V: Who do you most desire to get tattooed by?
B: I would love to get tattooed by Filip Leu, or get a portrait by Kat. I'm lucky enough to say I have been tattooed by a lot of my heroes in this business, which is really cool.
V: Certainly.
V: How do you feel about your own tattoos? Have you ever tattooed yourself?
B: For the most part I have a lot of really good work... so that doesn't suck! Yeah I've tattooed myself before, a small piece on my wrist. I don't recommend it!
V: What's your view on heavily tattooed women?
B: I love when a woman is tattooed heavily, it's very attractive in a woman. I love working on woman too, for the most part they sit better, and it's nice to work with the natural movement the female form has!
V: Damn straight!
V: Describe chainsaw Chelsea to us. What have you tattooed on her?
B: Chelsea is a firecracker!! She's a close friend of mine and underneath all that rough exterior and tofu farts, she's a sweet person! I've tattooed Chelsea a lot, including the robot on her left leg, the right calf sleeve that will be finished as soon as we put a portrait of Freddy Kruger on it. Her lightning bugs on her hips and her little finger tears.
V: Chelsea's got some rad tattoos. I love the robot! Cute!
V: You are a member here on GodsGirls, who are some of your favorite girls?
B: Chelsea- of course, Brenna, Catra, and Veronica besides her. What's not to love about gorgeous girls covered in great tattoos?
V: I step to that!
V: Who would you like to tattoo?
B: Why you of course Veronica! Well Stoya and I are planning on doing a big bright piece which I'm pretty stoked about... especially cause she's so pale! All the girls are so fun, I wouldn't mind tattooing any of them.
V: Woah, isn't Stoya a blank canvas? That's gonna be killer. Who do you think has a great collection of tattoos here on GG?
B: I think Brenna has some great pieces done by some phenomenal artists!
V: Yup.
V: In your career, I'm sure there was a specific time when you knew you went from amateur to professional based on the quality of your artwork and the ability to put it onto skin. When did you realize this? Was it a specific piece of work you did that made you proud?
B: I just remember that after a while it just clicked for me and I could finally make my machines do what I wanted them to! I still feel I have a long way to go, and I still learn something new everyday. I have a feeling it never ends!
V: Describe your first tattooing experience.
B: I had talked shit for months on my apprenticeship on how "I'm ready to tattoo! Lemme do it!" So after 6 months, right before closing a couple guys came in wanting Kanji. My mentor told me to set up and I immediately started shaking. As soon as needle touched skin I calmed down a bit. It took me 20 minutes to get through the Kanji for strength, it was scary but I was stoked about it after it was all done. The guy had no clue either!
V: Describe your first "professional" tattooing experience.
B: I never tattooed outside of the shop or with homemade equipment. My first tattoo was done in a shop.
V: Go on, tell us when you've fucked up.
B: I've chewed up some of my friends pretty bad in the beginning! There's some tattoos walking around this world I'm not all that proud of!!
V: What do you do for fun?
B: I love painting and drawing, wish I had more time to do it! Other than that I am constantly fighting with the '65 Ford truck I'm building.
V: Did you hate this interview?
B: No I loved it! It's actually an honor to be doing an interview at all...thanks for reading through it!
V: That rules, and so do you! I wonder if anybody will ever say yes to that question.
V: Shameless Plugs:
B: My website! Peep it! www.tattoosbybrando.com
myspace: www.myspace.com/bornlucky
The Pomona Body Art Expo, Jan 12th-14th, where I'll be sharing a booth with the ever amazing GodsGirls.
