Seeing tattoos at a very young age totally thrilled me. Derek, my father’s employee, had been in the South African merchant navy and was covered with tattoos. When I was a student in New York at Parsons School Of Design in 1983, for the first time in my life I saw a well-made artistic tattoo on a man working at a pet store; that’s when I decided this would be my pursuit of happiness. I was an idealistic young man that hadn't the foggiest as to what this all entailed. It was a difficult and arduous journey but my insistent character had me travel between Europe and America many times in search of Tattoo knowledge.
I guess you could say I am a bit of a Hi fi geek. When I was young we used to go fishing in the rivers and lakes of Zambia; it was absolutely amazing. When I get older that’s what I want to do again. I love traveling to beautiful destinations; I grew up in Africa and was born in a place called Choma. So my call to nature is very strong. I miss the outdoors; I have been cooped up in concrete jungles for years. Let’s hope the coming years will see some change.
Tattooing has become mainstream, which is alarming. I think a young tattoo artist should fear this medium and fully gravitate to the reality of their responsibility to create a permanent mark on another living human being. YOU ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR LAST TATTOO. That’s my philosophy about the job. Treat it with respect since those before you have toiled hard for you to gain the benefits of methods and techniques. Others suffered and made the mistakes and sacrifices so that now the younger generation can create seamless art. That is if they study hard and listen to their elders. The new artists, they simply start where others left off. I wish I could have been a young kid again; boy would I go far with it. Yes Siree, it was really tough learning to tattoo, at times it has been a very lonely path. Being in Cyprus alienated from the rest of the artistic world, with virtually no influences and plagued with financial problems, I can say my growth was rather stunted.
Fame comes at a price. Here in Cyprus one could say that after so many years, I am famous... The jealousy and skullduggery from other tattooists that I have had to endure have at times made for some very difficult moments. But I am a resilient bugger and have fought tooth and nail to keep my honour. If you believe that you have been dealt a dirty, keep your head up high and ignore the stench. The new breed of bull shit tattooists that did not go the proper route to learn the basic fundamentals are quite simply ruining tattooing and its splendour.
Tattooing has been around for thousands of years, it is only beginning to have universal acceptance now, you are aware of the Reality shows on TV. I salute Chris Garver and his endeavours. He and his team have brought a sparkle of hope to this beautiful art.
Parris Tattoos is now In Charlotte North Carolina USA. My New studio is next to Sunset Club, Pewter Rose and Tutto Mundo , 1820 South Blvd Charlotte, NC 28203
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