Born in 1976, outside of Cleveland, Ohio. My earliest memory is watching my mom inhale a honey bee at a picnic- it flew right into her mouth. At the time I was playing with a rubber posable godzilla doll and I remember that my diaper was full. My mother says that this never happened- but I can see it in my head plain as day. I suppose that I was about 1 1/2 years old.

When I was 5 or 6 I remember what must have been my first trip to the YMCA. After a good time in the pool, my father took me back to the locker room to clean up. He told me that everyone had the same equipment so it was ok to shower and change in there. After being in the shower for a few moments a man entered who was covered from head to toe with tattoos and I was immediately amazed and entranced. My father noticed this and told me that under no circumstances was I ever to stare at another man in the shower with my jaw on the ground, ever again- but I don't think that he saw what I was seeing. That was the first time that I ever saw a tattoo. And a naked stranger.

I immediately began drawing on my self, my friends and paper with markers and crayons. Soon I turned 13 and began listening to King Diamond and skateboarding. Naturally, I carved anarchy symbols into my self with razors and when my friend Dan got out of rehab he taught me how to do a tattoo with a sewing needle and drawing ink. It was rad and I knew that there was no turning back.

I started tattooing professionally in 1999 at Bodytech in Gainesville, Florida after serving an apprenticeship with Wayne Lessard. I've called Gainesville home since 1996, but I did leave for a few years to travel - I spent about a year in Santa Cruz working for an amazing guy named James McDermot at Staircase Tattoo, I also spent a little over a year in Columbus, Ohio working for the incredible Durb Morrison at Stained Skin.

I take my life as a tattooer very seriously and am always trying to learn and evolve as an artist. At this point in my career, I enjoy doing black and grey and fancy, kind of traditional tattoos. I consider myself universal, though, and try to do whatever my clients want. I will do flash, if that's what someone wants, but I try to draw everything if I can.

I've been blessed with many great teachers and friends, and feel incredibly lucky to have been able to do all the things that I've done and to be able to continue to do what I do. In addition to tattooing, I also enjoy painting, playing guitar, riding motorcycles and free style rapping- the real gangsta shit.Thanks to everyone who has supported me over the years- left to my own devices I'd still be huffing glue at the railroad tracks.

Come and see all of us over at Anthem. Hang out. Get a sweet tatt. It's just "the thing".

-Dave