Mike's been laying ink for some time now... He started getting inked [by old school tattooers in Auckland] in his early teens and then in his early twenties, concentrated on a professional tattooing career in Auckland, New Zealand.
Mike exceeds in the realm of tribal and celtic and was a National PTAA 2000 Best Tribal Award Winner with a huge tribal dragon he inked on his mate Johnny. Mike's outlines are solid, sharp, intricate and balanced. From full tribal sleeves, either fluid custom neo-tribal, Polynesian, or ta moko, to subtle grey wash. Mike is also enjoying working more in colour these days, as you can see by the pics in his bio - the colour is solid, bright and nicely blended as well! Check out the February Tattoo Of The Month!! (now in archives)
Mike's private studio reflects his personal taste. He has always been interested in ancient history and where we all came from [Hell you say??] and this is mirrored with what is on his walls, along with personal taste of course which could be considered slightly 'low-brow'. There is an African carving sent from 'Enigma' mounted below a Maori Tewhatewha, - a gift from Morag back in '98. There's a crocodile skull, Egyptian steel, big chunks of crystal and of course, 'tattoo stuff.' One of his fav things is an original 'Easyrider' poster of Hopper and Fonda and if you happen to visit Mike's studio when the clock strikes, you'll hear Cuban abuse blasting out of his 'Scarface' clock... funny as... ''you cock-a-roaches!!!!'
So, if you want to come and see Mike, make an appointment with him either by calling the studio or jump online and send him an email - yes he does check and personally answermost emails, but if you don't hear back from him you might wanna grab some binoculars and check out the coastline......
Keep checking back with Mike's biog for updated photos of tattoo work. Updated monthly.
Generic and specific Ta Moko design of the New Zealand Maori
Specific geographical tribal tattoo is becoming more and more popular in the western world. The solid black neo-tribal art that Leo Zulueta and Hanky Panky made famous in the 80's [Henk inked Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers - tribal heart armband and Leo has tattooed many well known celebrities over his long and prestigious tattoo career], although still popular is being superceded by tribal art of specific cultures and locations.
Tattooers have been replicating the Celtc art of Ireland, Scotland and Wales - decorative and intricate tribal art for sure, for decades along with Borneo tribal spirals and stamp-type solid markings to denote stage of life and rite of passage also, however tribal tattooing from Tahiti, Hawaii, The Phillipines, Samoa, Tonga and The Cook Islands - not to mention our very own New Zealand are becoming prevalent in western society.
The breathtakingly beautiful art that these cultures create and wear, not only as tattoo art, but also carved in wood, painted on textiles, etched in jewellery and dyed on plant fibres, are being respectfully replicated by artists world-wide and worn with pride by peoples of all race and creed
