![]() I simply need to do my part, and live up to the hype….” To be recognized and promoted by the leading tattoo needle cartridge in the game is quite inspiring. This is simply a step that will motivate me to be better in all genres of tattooing while also further developing my style. “I am flattered, humbled and honored to be a part of this team. And Mark is now a proudly sponsored artist on the Helios Pro Team along with a roster that includes other InkMaster alumni and some of the most solid tattooers in the industry. It has truly been a blessing to be on such a journey. I get to travel the country, doing tattoo conventions and guest spots, while rubbing elbows with some of the best artists in the world. Which has been made much easier to do by the exposure television brought me. “Although I learned that TV Land isn’t necessarily a place I want to be, there is no denying that it definitely helped my tattoo career as well as gave me a swift kick in the ass to step my tattoo game up. ![]() An approach that got a big boost after being chosen to compete in season 2 of Spike TV’s hit reality TV show, InkMaster. Since then, Mark has made it a point to continue to learn and absorb all that he can from any artist he gets to work alongside. As decent of a tattooer as I thought I was after 10 years of being self-taught through trial and error, I would have been after only two years had I had the right knowledge and education shared with me through an apprenticeship.” It is here that I finally saw the disadvantages of being a non-apprenticed, self-taught tattooer. “Fat Cat Tattoos in my hometown of Sacramento was the first shop that introduced me to higher levels of tattooing, the purpose of tattooing, as well as what it takes to become a solid tattooer. ![]() It was here that Mark’s eyes were opened a bit and his loyalty now lays, no matter where he tattoos in the world. Mark eventually worked for many of the tattoo shops in his hometown of Sacramento, CA before settling into a shop that bred the early members of Mark’s “Tattoo Family”, Fat Cat Tattoos. Like making my own needles, Cleaning and sterilizing my own tubes, etc.” I also learned many of the old school ways of the trade at this shop, that are now lost in today’s tattoo industry. But, it taught me valuable lessons of how NOT to conduct business moving forward. “The shop was more of a party every day than a workplace. After being turned down by several shops, based on his non-apprenticed approach to tattooing, he finally found employment at what was the worst shop in town according to his personal hindsight…. Upon release from his prison term, Mark purchased professional tattoo equipment and began looking for employment. ![]() It was during this time that Mark decided that he would pursue tattooing as a full-time career once his release date came. A prison term in the early 90’s removed Mark from the hustle of the streets and allowed him some solitude to focus on his art day in, and day out. Although he may not be too proud of the work he did as a young street tattooer, he does appreciate the determination he acquired through the challenges of self-taught tattooing on a street, as opposed to professional, level. Fascinated by art ever since sliding out of the womb, Mark eventually gave in to the requests of neighborhood friends and began his self-educated journey into tattooing at the young age of 17 years old. with our beloved dogs doing conventions and guest spots and looking forward to whatever new adventures the future may bring.Mark Matthews is a proud member of the Helios Pro Team. Our youngest is now an adult and on his own so my wife and I have undertaken a cross country odessey in our r.v. Even the grandkids rock marker art from time to time. My family is my world and tattooing has become a part of all of our lives. I am the proud father of 4 kids, 2 of which have children of their own which makes me the grandfather of 5. We have successfully built 3 shops over the years in which we learned the ins and outs if running a shop and crew.Īs an artist, I recognize that there is never an end to learning and that inspiration often comes from unexpected places. Through the years we have been so fortunate to have been able to travel and meet some of the most influential artists in the industry as well as some of the most amazing clients. We gave up everything we had to take a risk and it definitely paid off, but not without a lot of hard work and sacrifice. My career as a tattoo artist began back in 2001 when my wife and I moved to Las Vegas from our small town of Idaho falls, Idaho to take on a formal apprenticeship.
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