Swan@brokenarttattoo.com
I started tattooing in 1994 in a small coastal town in California; Gold Coast Tattoo in Monterey was my home for 7 years. I learned the basics under the wandering eyes of Steve Hendricks and Filthy Bill. In 2002 I opened up Broken Art Tattoo which I relocated to Los Angeles in 2005.
I have developed a skill set over the years that is very broad. Never feeling complete or like I have arrived. I always want to keep pushing. Artistic unrest. The never ending pursuit of art. I like to work with the client to help them realize their vision through my design. Inspired primarily by large bold subject matter that Is pulled from American traditional and Neo-Japanese sources. I like to juxtapose realistic elements off of simple tattoo graphics. Composition is key. Layout and balance used to compliment the body.
Tattoo life has afforded me many different opportunities. Studying architecture/design and music in college; I have been able to crossover into other mediums. I have done design work for many companies. Including skateboard companies, countless t-shirt designs, Ed Hardy, Del Taco, and Macallan Scotch has hired me to do a custom label for them. I have designed and built out tattoo shops, boutiques and salons.
My original introduction to tattooing was through music. I received my first tattoo from a fresh-faced tattoo prodigy named Adam C. Roach. He and I hit it off and started playing music together. The friendship would eventually turn me into a college dropout turned tattoo artist. There are in fact plenty of artist/musicians out there. Coincidentally a lot of musicians get tattoos. It seems like such a natural union to me. Although Tattooing is my metier, It was music that bridged everything together for me. From the first time I held my mothers guitar in my hands I was obsessed. I have played and sang in a number of bands. My current outfit ‘Jeremy Swan And The Black Waltz’ has recently released a new ep ‘Blessed Unrest” available here…
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/blessed-unrest-ep/id426139780
I can occasionally be found playing in LA.
