It all started in 1977. Rusty Gordon got his first professional tattoo at a tattoo parlor in Washington D.C. and was hooked from there. He struggled hard in the beginning, with a few good teachers along the way, but after 30 years here he sits, loving this business more than ever.
Several parlors and five states later, Gordon works in Knoxville, Tennessee, doing what he loves to do everyday -- painting permanent pretty pictures on people. Gordon wouldn't say hes an old whore stuck in a rut, but everyday is an adventure with new techniques, new styles, and new artists to keep up with. His tattooing has progressed in the last 10 years just watching the evolution of the craft.
Gordon owes most of his career to people hes met and artists he enjoys. They know who they are and he thanks them all for what he has today. For if it weren't for them, he might be stuck digging ditches or living the rock star life in the Playboy Mansion, swimming naked with angels. Oh wait a minute, Gordon laughs. I shouldn't be thanking you guys, I should be kicking your asses.
The following interview consists of InkedNation user submitted questions.
Kornut: Rusty, at what age did you decide you wanted to be a tattooer?
Rusty Gordon: I was 13 when I realized that my grandpas tattoos would wiggle [laughs] he had a hula girl with g-mas name on it and used to drink his Black Label beer and call me over to watch her wiggle... that was about my first contact with tattoos. I got my first tattoo done by Joe Farrar in Washington, DC at 14 and was hooked.
Kornut: Do you have a favourite style, or one you feel most comfortable with?
RG: I like traditional cause it was what we had when I started and its all basic tattooing. I enjoy all styles except portraits... they boggle the mind.
dave419: What was the first tattoo you remember doing?
RG: An eagle.
dave419: What do you think of tribal and kanji?
RG: It still pays the bills.
Imortalkiss: Who has inspired you the most in the industry?
RG: I can't put my finger on one artist but I would have to say my heroes in this business when I first started were Randy Adams, Paul Rodgers, Sailor Jerry Swallow, and Brian Everett and, no, I dont like Pina Coladas, but the rain is always good... [laughs].
Tantrix: Rusty, how many of us retards have you now met on InkedNation and do you plan on meeting more of us?
RG: I hope to meet as many people as time will allow and I'm a weetodd too... so I'll fit right in.
Tiedyedcorset: After having been in the business for hundreds of years, do you feel the tattoo industry has changed due to popular tattoo related television shows and the ability people now have to find information on the Internet?
RG: The popularity of tattooing, to me, started in the MTV generation where it was thrown in the face of all the video watchers. I do think it got glamorized and overrated as far as the new tattoo related shows. I don't watch any of them, as I dont have the time or the will to see this business trashed anymore than it already is. But yes, I do believe the popularity has skyrocketed and the amount of people seeing "the glamorous life we lead has made the influx of scratchers get out of control.
Tiedyedcorset: How do feel about the growing number of new artists and new shops opening? How is it different from the "old days"?
RG: Being different from the old days is exactly that. I remember two artists shooting at each other and going out to lunch the same afternoon. I dont believe the camaraderie is still here anymore. Unlike the conventions of several years ago, I think egos have taken control
Ieatmybrocolli: If you were given the chance to tattoo whatever you wanted on Dave, what would it be and where?
RG: Fried sperm on his ass.
Downskindrome: What is the best thing to happen to tattooing in the last 10 years?
RG: Hey Chris... you are the best thing that has happened to tattooing in the last 10 years, of course.
Downskindrome: What is the worst?
RG: The worst is stupid suppliers that sell to anyone just to pad the pockets from our beloved corps and go eat cupcakes.
Jfoerster: With all the drama, the complications, the hardships, the scratchers, and the other bullshit, and with having spent as much time in this business as you have, the question remains: how do you manage to keep such a level head, a good sense of humor, and not be burned out?
RG: I love what I do and it keeps me sane... I tried walking away several times, and I have been told I should have stayed away. But seriously, I will tattoo til my eyes or hands just give out.
Kohai: Do you think with all the fantastic work artists are turning out these days that old school still has a place in the industry?
RG: Traditional will always have a place in this business; its the basics of all we do. Some artists just choose to embellish on it and make it their own... thats why we are artists we are, and the bar is set really friggin high, too high for me to reach.
Bodamic: Is there anything you learned years ago from your mentors which you feel was extremely important, but today isn't taught?
RG: RESPECT FOR THIS BUSINESS.
Ianmckown: I know I've got that one artist who I think is just the "bees-knees" when it comes to this industry. Do you have one as well, and would you care to share who it is?
RG: In my opinion, Dan Hazelton.
Troydunn: Do you feel that the changes in styles that seem to come more frequently in tattooing (such as "newskool" or the "lineless color portraits") are necessary evolutions? Or are they precocious flashes in the pan compared to more traditional styles of tattooing?
RG: I like challenges too but I can't keep up with the artistry some of these guys and girls are putting out.
Troydunn: Do these present new challenges to a veteran artist such as yourself, or are they merely fashionable nuisances?
RG: The popularity of the tattooing of my early days, I hope that shit stays in the basement besides the traditional. I think that the early 80s was a time for experimentation just like todays popular portraits and no line bifocals...
Fizzylizzy: Do you have one tattoo that you've done that was just really memorable, and why?
RG: Really memorable? I would have to say a rose bud on a clitoris... It was like a small penis, about 3/4" long... freakin huge actually.
Check out Rusty Gordons InkedNation profile here: http://www.inkednation.com/rustygordon.
Several parlors and five states later, Gordon works in Knoxville, Tennessee, doing what he loves to do everyday -- painting permanent pretty pictures on people. Gordon wouldn't say hes an old whore stuck in a rut, but everyday is an adventure with new techniques, new styles, and new artists to keep up with. His tattooing has progressed in the last 10 years just watching the evolution of the craft.
Gordon owes most of his career to people hes met and artists he enjoys. They know who they are and he thanks them all for what he has today. For if it weren't for them, he might be stuck digging ditches or living the rock star life in the Playboy Mansion, swimming naked with angels. Oh wait a minute, Gordon laughs. I shouldn't be thanking you guys, I should be kicking your asses.
The following interview consists of InkedNation user submitted questions.
Kornut: Rusty, at what age did you decide you wanted to be a tattooer?
Rusty Gordon: I was 13 when I realized that my grandpas tattoos would wiggle [laughs] he had a hula girl with g-mas name on it and used to drink his Black Label beer and call me over to watch her wiggle... that was about my first contact with tattoos. I got my first tattoo done by Joe Farrar in Washington, DC at 14 and was hooked.
Kornut: Do you have a favourite style, or one you feel most comfortable with?
RG: I like traditional cause it was what we had when I started and its all basic tattooing. I enjoy all styles except portraits... they boggle the mind.
dave419: What was the first tattoo you remember doing?
RG: An eagle.
dave419: What do you think of tribal and kanji?
RG: It still pays the bills.
Imortalkiss: Who has inspired you the most in the industry?
RG: I can't put my finger on one artist but I would have to say my heroes in this business when I first started were Randy Adams, Paul Rodgers, Sailor Jerry Swallow, and Brian Everett and, no, I dont like Pina Coladas, but the rain is always good... [laughs].
Tantrix: Rusty, how many of us retards have you now met on InkedNation and do you plan on meeting more of us?
RG: I hope to meet as many people as time will allow and I'm a weetodd too... so I'll fit right in.
Tiedyedcorset: After having been in the business for hundreds of years, do you feel the tattoo industry has changed due to popular tattoo related television shows and the ability people now have to find information on the Internet?
RG: The popularity of tattooing, to me, started in the MTV generation where it was thrown in the face of all the video watchers. I do think it got glamorized and overrated as far as the new tattoo related shows. I don't watch any of them, as I dont have the time or the will to see this business trashed anymore than it already is. But yes, I do believe the popularity has skyrocketed and the amount of people seeing "the glamorous life we lead has made the influx of scratchers get out of control.
Tiedyedcorset: How do feel about the growing number of new artists and new shops opening? How is it different from the "old days"?
RG: Being different from the old days is exactly that. I remember two artists shooting at each other and going out to lunch the same afternoon. I dont believe the camaraderie is still here anymore. Unlike the conventions of several years ago, I think egos have taken control
Ieatmybrocolli: If you were given the chance to tattoo whatever you wanted on Dave, what would it be and where?
RG: Fried sperm on his ass.
Downskindrome: What is the best thing to happen to tattooing in the last 10 years?
RG: Hey Chris... you are the best thing that has happened to tattooing in the last 10 years, of course.
Downskindrome: What is the worst?
RG: The worst is stupid suppliers that sell to anyone just to pad the pockets from our beloved corps and go eat cupcakes.
Jfoerster: With all the drama, the complications, the hardships, the scratchers, and the other bullshit, and with having spent as much time in this business as you have, the question remains: how do you manage to keep such a level head, a good sense of humor, and not be burned out?
RG: I love what I do and it keeps me sane... I tried walking away several times, and I have been told I should have stayed away. But seriously, I will tattoo til my eyes or hands just give out.
Kohai: Do you think with all the fantastic work artists are turning out these days that old school still has a place in the industry?
RG: Traditional will always have a place in this business; its the basics of all we do. Some artists just choose to embellish on it and make it their own... thats why we are artists we are, and the bar is set really friggin high, too high for me to reach.
Bodamic: Is there anything you learned years ago from your mentors which you feel was extremely important, but today isn't taught?
RG: RESPECT FOR THIS BUSINESS.
Ianmckown: I know I've got that one artist who I think is just the "bees-knees" when it comes to this industry. Do you have one as well, and would you care to share who it is?
RG: In my opinion, Dan Hazelton.
Troydunn: Do you feel that the changes in styles that seem to come more frequently in tattooing (such as "newskool" or the "lineless color portraits") are necessary evolutions? Or are they precocious flashes in the pan compared to more traditional styles of tattooing?
RG: I like challenges too but I can't keep up with the artistry some of these guys and girls are putting out.
Troydunn: Do these present new challenges to a veteran artist such as yourself, or are they merely fashionable nuisances?
RG: The popularity of the tattooing of my early days, I hope that shit stays in the basement besides the traditional. I think that the early 80s was a time for experimentation just like todays popular portraits and no line bifocals...
Fizzylizzy: Do you have one tattoo that you've done that was just really memorable, and why?
RG: Really memorable? I would have to say a rose bud on a clitoris... It was like a small penis, about 3/4" long... freakin huge actually.
Check out Rusty Gordons InkedNation profile here: http://www.inkednation.com/rustygordon.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
naty:
love the interview
thejuanupsman:
Great interview.