Originally from Long Island, New York, Dave Attonito has been tattooing since 1993. He is the owner of Good Clean Fun Tattoo Studio, with locations in Snellville and Stockbridge, Georgia. Prior to tattooing, Dave worked in advertising and as a freelance illustrator. He holds a BFA in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. Before opening Good Clean Fun, Dave worked at other shops in NY and GA. Lately, Dave has been doing a lot of traveling to tattoo conventions around the country.
Check out Dave's InkedNation profile here.
Jean-Francois Laverdiere: What are your thoughts of the influence of reality TV shows and the internet on the tattoo industry
Dave Attonito: I think that these are both things that are EXTREMELY BAD for the tattoo industry. I came into this at a time when nobody shared any information, and nobody talked about business. The general public didnt know anything about the technical aspects of tattooing. Thats the way it had been and the way it should have stayed. It is important for the general public to know what to look for in a studio to make sure that they will be getting a tattoo done in a clean, sterile environment, but they dont need to know things like where to buy tattoo supplies or how to mix inks. This is information that, in the past, could only be gained through a traditional apprenticeship. The Internet has become the easiest way for ANYONE to get tattoo equipment. Aside from the fact that these people end up tattooing out of their houses, generally doing really shitty tattoos, they are not trained in sterile techniques or blood borne pathogens. There was a time when the tattoo supply companies made sure that the people they were selling to were in legitimate tattoo studios, those days are gone. I will say that I have made some very good friends through Internet tattoo sites (particularly InkedNation) that I probably would not have met otherwise.
The biggest problem with tattoo TV shows is that they are billed as reality shows when, in fact, they have nothing to do with the day-to-day reality of a tattoo studio. These shows had a chance, when they started, to really make a difference and try to educate the public about what to look for in a clean, sterile tattoo shop, and what the difference is between a good tattoo and a bad one. They chose to ignore any kind of education and just go for pleasing the TV viewing masses.
JFL: What is a scratcher? Please explain the importance of proper apprenticeship.
DA: A scratcher is anyone that is tattooing out of their house, garage, etc. It applies to anyone that is not following proper sterile procedures. It applies to anyone that will do a tattoo in exchange for a case of beer or a baggie of Methamphetamine. The term can also be applied to people working in legitimate tattoo studios that just do plain shitty, scratchy, scabby work.
JFL: How old were you when you decided you wanted to become a tattoo artist?
DA: Twenty five. Thats when I got my first tattoo. Before that, I really hadnt been exposed to tattoos very much. That was only 15 years ago, but tattooing was very different then. You never saw anyone (other than a tattooer- and there werent that many around) that was heavily tattooed. Prior to tattooing, I worked in advertising and as a freelance illustrator. I graduated for the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan with a degree in Illustration.
JFL: What do you do on a day off to spoil yourself?
DA: Hopefully find the time to get into my workshop and work on a machine or two. I have been building custom tattoo machines for about a year now, and I enjoy it quite a bit. Relax on the couch and watch a movie or play some video games. Read a book.
JFL: Whos the artist that influenced you the most?
DA: Joe Capobianco is a good friend of mine and has pushed me in the last few years to get off my ass and promote myself better. I dont know that there is any 1 artist that I can say has been my biggest influence.
JFL: What was your first tattoo?
DA: A sweet tribal design on my left forearm, and no, you cant see it.
JFL: A lot of people are saying the tattoo industry is changing, what do you anticipate happening in the next couple of years?
DA: In recent years the tattoo industry has become oversaturated with tattooers and tattoo suppliers, and I really dont see things getting any better. With the current popularity of tattooing, more and more people are going to pursue it, not necessarily because they care about the art form, but because they think that it is cool. Look at how many Custom Chopper shops there are now -- its the same thing. The media exploits an industry and tells the masses that its cool, and the sheep line up.
JFL: What should a first-timer look for in a shop to be assured the place is safe?
DA: All equipment should be either single use or should come out of a sterile package (that should be opened in front of the client- not before hand). The shop in general should be clean and well lit. You wouldnt go to the flea market or a friends house to get a tooth pulled, so why would you think about getting tattooed there?
JFL: Do you own or work at the shop you are right now? Tell us more about Good Clean Fun Tattoos
DA: I opened Good Clean Fun Tattoo Studio on April 22nd 1997. I have three employees: Jamie, Guillermo and Trey, who are all excellent artists and good friends. We are a street shop that does about 60% custom tattoos- no fancy art gallery, just old school wall-to-wall flash.
JFL: Tricky question, but if there would be one artist you could nominate to be the best out there, who would that be?
DA: You cant choose a best tattooer. Everyone has their own particular style. I can tell you some of my favorite artists- the ones that inspire me: Robert Hernandez, Bob Tyrrell, Joe Capobianco, Philip Leu, Horiyoshi III, Martin Lacasse, Hannah Aitchison.
JFL: What has been your favorite convention in the last year?
DA: The Arkansas Inksplosion Expo. I know it sounds strange that the best convention of last year would be found in Arkansas, but they really did a great job of getting people out to the show, and it was people that were there to get tattooed.
JFL: What is the Dirty Dozen?
DA: A secret order, similar to the Knights Templar. Thats all I can say -- they might be listening and I dont want to lose my decoder ring.
For more information go to InkedNation
Check out Dave's InkedNation profile here.
Jean-Francois Laverdiere: What are your thoughts of the influence of reality TV shows and the internet on the tattoo industry
Dave Attonito: I think that these are both things that are EXTREMELY BAD for the tattoo industry. I came into this at a time when nobody shared any information, and nobody talked about business. The general public didnt know anything about the technical aspects of tattooing. Thats the way it had been and the way it should have stayed. It is important for the general public to know what to look for in a studio to make sure that they will be getting a tattoo done in a clean, sterile environment, but they dont need to know things like where to buy tattoo supplies or how to mix inks. This is information that, in the past, could only be gained through a traditional apprenticeship. The Internet has become the easiest way for ANYONE to get tattoo equipment. Aside from the fact that these people end up tattooing out of their houses, generally doing really shitty tattoos, they are not trained in sterile techniques or blood borne pathogens. There was a time when the tattoo supply companies made sure that the people they were selling to were in legitimate tattoo studios, those days are gone. I will say that I have made some very good friends through Internet tattoo sites (particularly InkedNation) that I probably would not have met otherwise.
The biggest problem with tattoo TV shows is that they are billed as reality shows when, in fact, they have nothing to do with the day-to-day reality of a tattoo studio. These shows had a chance, when they started, to really make a difference and try to educate the public about what to look for in a clean, sterile tattoo shop, and what the difference is between a good tattoo and a bad one. They chose to ignore any kind of education and just go for pleasing the TV viewing masses.
JFL: What is a scratcher? Please explain the importance of proper apprenticeship.
DA: A scratcher is anyone that is tattooing out of their house, garage, etc. It applies to anyone that is not following proper sterile procedures. It applies to anyone that will do a tattoo in exchange for a case of beer or a baggie of Methamphetamine. The term can also be applied to people working in legitimate tattoo studios that just do plain shitty, scratchy, scabby work.
JFL: How old were you when you decided you wanted to become a tattoo artist?
DA: Twenty five. Thats when I got my first tattoo. Before that, I really hadnt been exposed to tattoos very much. That was only 15 years ago, but tattooing was very different then. You never saw anyone (other than a tattooer- and there werent that many around) that was heavily tattooed. Prior to tattooing, I worked in advertising and as a freelance illustrator. I graduated for the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan with a degree in Illustration.
JFL: What do you do on a day off to spoil yourself?
DA: Hopefully find the time to get into my workshop and work on a machine or two. I have been building custom tattoo machines for about a year now, and I enjoy it quite a bit. Relax on the couch and watch a movie or play some video games. Read a book.
JFL: Whos the artist that influenced you the most?
DA: Joe Capobianco is a good friend of mine and has pushed me in the last few years to get off my ass and promote myself better. I dont know that there is any 1 artist that I can say has been my biggest influence.
JFL: What was your first tattoo?
DA: A sweet tribal design on my left forearm, and no, you cant see it.
JFL: A lot of people are saying the tattoo industry is changing, what do you anticipate happening in the next couple of years?
DA: In recent years the tattoo industry has become oversaturated with tattooers and tattoo suppliers, and I really dont see things getting any better. With the current popularity of tattooing, more and more people are going to pursue it, not necessarily because they care about the art form, but because they think that it is cool. Look at how many Custom Chopper shops there are now -- its the same thing. The media exploits an industry and tells the masses that its cool, and the sheep line up.
JFL: What should a first-timer look for in a shop to be assured the place is safe?
DA: All equipment should be either single use or should come out of a sterile package (that should be opened in front of the client- not before hand). The shop in general should be clean and well lit. You wouldnt go to the flea market or a friends house to get a tooth pulled, so why would you think about getting tattooed there?
JFL: Do you own or work at the shop you are right now? Tell us more about Good Clean Fun Tattoos
DA: I opened Good Clean Fun Tattoo Studio on April 22nd 1997. I have three employees: Jamie, Guillermo and Trey, who are all excellent artists and good friends. We are a street shop that does about 60% custom tattoos- no fancy art gallery, just old school wall-to-wall flash.
JFL: Tricky question, but if there would be one artist you could nominate to be the best out there, who would that be?
DA: You cant choose a best tattooer. Everyone has their own particular style. I can tell you some of my favorite artists- the ones that inspire me: Robert Hernandez, Bob Tyrrell, Joe Capobianco, Philip Leu, Horiyoshi III, Martin Lacasse, Hannah Aitchison.
JFL: What has been your favorite convention in the last year?
DA: The Arkansas Inksplosion Expo. I know it sounds strange that the best convention of last year would be found in Arkansas, but they really did a great job of getting people out to the show, and it was people that were there to get tattooed.
JFL: What is the Dirty Dozen?
DA: A secret order, similar to the Knights Templar. Thats all I can say -- they might be listening and I dont want to lose my decoder ring.
For more information go to InkedNation
zoetica:
Originally from Long Island, New York, Dave Attonito has been tattooing since 1993. He is the owner of Good Clean Fun Tattoo Studio, with locations in Snellville and Stockbridge, Georgia. Prior to tattooing, Dave worked in advertising and as a freelance illustrator....