I am a multi-faceted artistic powerhouse. My life was in pencil until I was about 13 years old. I then began with oils, acrylics, and airbrushing. Even back then, I was "tattooing" my clothes with paint. One particular biker jacket became quite stiff from the layers and layers of different paintings on the back of it. I'm sure anyone would recognize the similarity to my current style. It has always been skulls and monsters and demons. Later in my teens, more and more boobs showed up in my work. Of course.

That's about the time that I began to get involved in creating designs for my brother's tattoo clients. It wasn't long before I began tattooing clients of my own. Tattooing quickly took over my artistic horizon.

But throughout my life my imagination has flowed from every outlet. I've penned a couple of short novels, more lately a mildly acclaimed screenplay. I love telling stories and creating something fantastic out of thin air.

Check out more of Joe Butt's tattoo designs here!

I try to bring this storytelling to my tattoo designs. I think art of any kind needs to be thought-provoking. Make the viewer ask questions or question their own feelings.

One of my favorite reactions is that uncomfortable mixture of attraction and repulsion. Something that is disgusting but sexy. Gut-wrenching is good. I don't really care about landscapes or still-life. Give me something that makes me squirm! That's what I try to evoke from myself and my art.

As a tattooist, I'm trained in many styles and subject matter I wouldn't otherwise delve into. So I have developed a taste for some things pretty and, well, less evil. I especially enjoy doing portraiture of people as well as animals and flowers.

I've traveled, tattoo machines in hand, to Europe and Australia, and have won awards at international tattoo conventions. I love to experience alien culture, but as I age, I'm tending to leave the machines at home and just go as a tourist. Up next is Hawaii, after which I'm getting tattooed by my favorite artist Robert Hernandez in Madrid. I've been having this inexplicable urge to go explore Iceland. Who knows where I'll end up next. No matter what though, California will always be my home.

The tattoo shop I work at is nestled right by the Redwood Groves in misty Northern California. I absolutely love it here. It's the grooviest place on Earth. Peace of mind, having a great boss, clients and crew... These things are the paycheck.

I am supremely honored to be a part of Tattoofinder and Flash2xs. I have arrived! People all over the world are getting my art. Their kids will grow up looking at it, and what do you know? I'm changing the world, I'm leaving my mark.

Check out some of my links:

Tattoos: www.joedrachekicksass.com
Shop website: www.accenttattoo.com
Art Gallery: www.underbellyusa.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/joedrache

Joe Butt