Videos

*****Please Read to the Bottom*******

All Videos are from a project called “American Tattoo Museum” recorded over 10 years ago. Now unearthed and only available to Professional Tattooers. 

About the birth of American Tattoo Museum- American Tattoo Museum was never meant to be a place. Rather America is the Museum and Let me show it to you. The day I thought of the American Tattoo Museum me and my family had hiked to the tallest mountain in Salida Colorado . You could look out and see everything around you a 360 degree view from the top of the mountain. That night laying in bed many things occurred to me. I had been tattooing almost 20 years and had not been to the top of the mountain to look out on Tattooing. At this time I also felt like Tattoo was on the cusp of a great state of change. Not only in the idea of technology but also I felt the links disappearing to the past. So much knowledge lost with the passing of every Old Tattooer. I not only wanted to look out on Tattooing around me both past and present but I wanted to preserve it in a way for those who would come after me. It is that classic Dan Higgs quote about being in the “Middle”. It also occurred to me that night laying in bed I was completely computer stupid and had no way of doing this. I thought about how I could accomplish these goals and also have the most fun doing it.  Eureka!! Sucker your Wife  and one of your best friends at that time  (who happens to be an amazing professional photographer and knows about computer stuff) that lives half way across the country, in going on a 45 day long kamikaze road trip , with our 3 year old son, half way around the other side of the country, in a Honda Fit, documenting Tattoo both past and present. 

About the Recordings - All recording video audio or photography made by Dallis Willard. Find him on Instagram @airwolphism.  I should mention that he was very up front with me that he was at the time “not a videographer “ and the things I was paying him to do was not necessarily in his skill set. In rebuttal, and I still stand by this, the point of this project was not for perfection or movie quality recordings (although truthfully watching them for the first time 10 years later it was amazing to me how good they are) but rather doing our best with what we had and realizing who we were recording it for and why.

Oral History is very Important to Tattoo- Not only for understanding the past and the present but also in understanding the future.  Information about processes, machines, Flash, stories told about Giants that made Tattooing what it is today is priceless.  Stories and sketches first hand accounts of names like Bert Grimm, Paul Rogers, Cap Coleman, Stoney St. Claire , Tatts Thomas , Bob Shaw , Grimshaw, Jonesy told by the people who knew them. Stories of old Dead Tattooers many from old dead Tattooers now themselves. First hand accounts of Tattoo as they lived it , sketches that show us such a colorful history of Tattoo.  In some cases “Letters from the Grave”. 

About the cost of videos- To be very straight and forward with you I took off 45 days of Tattooing and spent 15,000$ on this project pre covid money. Just about every dollar I had at the time. My hope was to help fund the project by selling T shirts. Having over 20,000 followers on instagram generated 30 shirts being sold. Gas, Grass, or Ass no one rides for free. I’m good on the grass and very happily married so really all I need is gas money. 2 dollars a minute or less seems pretty cheap to me to learn about things about Tattoo you won’t and can’t find literally anywhere else on this planet. Cheaper than those phone lines you use to call. What’s worth more knowledge or silver and gold. ?  Showing your homie at the tatt shop over your shoulder is one thing , giving people free access is another. I am able to track who and where people watch these . Cost is for one person on one device only. Watch as many times as you want. All else will be considered theft and will result in being banned from any future videos or sales. Please be respectful of the time and money I have put into this project. 

On Purchasing these videos- Please DM us your receipt @tattooflashpaint and we will send along instruction and password information. Or for faster access please include your Email in the checkout section. 

Final thoughts - These people or these bricks in the wall of Tattoo are not saints. Nor is my intention to show them as anything more than what they are or were.  “ Your idols have clay feet” if you don’t understand that phrase these videos might not be for you. Furthermore if you have a hard time sitting at the adult table these videos aren’t for you. Knowledge at times comes with pain. Red or Green pill it’s up to you. 

Renegade Video 10- Renegade talks about Paul Rogers : “Paul’s Secret” in building a Tattoo Machine, Paul’s character, and a great sketch from a time they spent building Tattoo Machines together. Renegade also discusses what makes the best Tattoo Machines for him and why and also names his favorite. 6 minutes. 

Carl Brennalt Video 7198- The late Great Carl Brennalt discusses the intricacies of living in Wilmington Delaware . Mentions Bill Jonesy and how he died . Mostly talks about Sailor Barney and their relationship and the introduction of Blue,  Orange , Brown, and Bright Yellow in Tattooing. Talks about getting his Rough Rider Tattoo from Barney and Backhground from Bob Shaw Flash. 8 minutes.

Carl Brennalt Video 7179- 17 minutes long the first part is  pretty drinky. If you are offended by language fast forward to about 5:40. For a slow start this video is full of a lot of information. Carl talks about Sailor Barney tattooing his Rough Rider in 1973 and shows it off. Speaks about Eddy Funk apprenticing him . Meeting Bob Shaw in 82. Working for the Shaw’s in Houston. Also talks about “Lumpy”  or George Lawson. “Muggers Style”. The highlight of the video is Carl gives away some pretty great secrets from the Shaw’s including Bobs favorite outline set up and what the Shaw’s and Dave Gibson use to do every week to keep their machines running right. Contrary to current belief . 

Pops Video 2698- 20 minutes . Pops takes around the museum. It’s a wild Ride. 

Renegade Video 6- 16 minutes.  Renegade talks about Meeting Stoney St. Claire for the first time after Stoney stuck his dogs on Renegade. Looks back on their relationship. Also talks about Al Kemp and what happened to his stuff after he died. A must for any Tattoo fan.