I love tattooing because of the personal connection I have with my clients and because of the chance it gives me to be creative. All my tattoos are custom designs and I work with each client to create something unique and special.

When I was a kid, I never thought I would grow up and be a tattooer. I thought it was a profession for bikers and circus freaks. But when I got my first tattoo in 2000 at the age of 26, I immediately found myself wanting to learn the craft.

So for the next three years, I got tattooed and asked artist Colin Stevens tons of questions about tattooing. After much persistence, Colin became my mentor and he, along with Chris Conn, agreed to help me get my start.

I then landed a job at Black and Blue Tattoo, where I cut my teeth working in a busy shop environment. I quit my office job as an editor and started tattooing full time. After two years, I had the opportunity to work for Karen Roze at Sacred Rose Tattoo. For the next three years, I honed my design skills and focused on larger custom work.

In 2009 I started to travel. I worked as a guest artist in shops and at conventions across the country and overseas. At the end of the year, I started tattooing at Lighthouse Tattoo, but have now found a permanent home at Diving Swallow Tattoo.

Come get a tattoo and we can chat about pop culture, fried snack foods, circuses, pirate radio, and art. Or challenge me to a game of Ms. Pac-Man. And yes, I have a Ms. Pac-Man tattoo.