I was born in the 8th century in a small Norse village that for personal reasons ( mainly to avoid reprisals), shall go unnamed. I started drawing and tattooing at about the time of the Black Plague (but I refuse to be held responsible for this) and I have been tattooing ever since.

Before starting to tattoo, I worked in the auto repair field and did custom airbrushing on motorcycles, cars and vans. I still occasionally do airbrushing as well as painting in oils and acrylic, custom leather work, glass etching and metal engraving.

COURSES AND EXPERIENCE
I have taken the Alliance of Professional Tattooists course in Infectious Disease Control and Sterilization and The Prevention of Cross Contamination of Blood Born Pathogen's. I also take refresher courses every year in these subjects.

I have had training in black and gray shading and doing portraits from both Jack Rudy and Brian Everett, coloring and spit shading flash from Mike Malone, and tattoo color blending from Guy Atchinson. I continue to take seminars that are related to tattooing.

I have also taken refresher art courses at Glendale Community College and have finished with a 4.0 average.

ORGANIZATIONS
I have been a member of The Alliance of Professional Tattooists (APT) since 1994 and am now on the Board of Directors.

I have been a member of The National Tattoo Association since 1994 and can be found always volunteering to help at their annual convention.

I also belongs to The Society of Creative Anachronism (SCA) where I am known as Ragnarr skinnskrifari. That's Ragnar the Skin Illustrator for those of you that do not speak fluent Old Norse.