Fatty
Fatty is the founder and visionary behind Fatty's Custom Tattooz. This artist, painter and musician got his start in tattooing the hard way: by teaching himself. After getting a few tattoos and subsequently falling in love with tattoo art, Fatty started tattooing his buddies in high school. Fatty soon accumulated a portfolio and found work tattooing in Frederick, MD. He quickly became disillusioned with the shop he worked for and decided to open Fatty's Custom Tattooz in Frederick, MD in 1994. He was 21 years old. Here, Fatty began to create his reputation as a custom tattoo artist.
Fatty's Custom Tattooz relocated to Silver Spring, MD in 1995. Here Fatty's added body piercing to it's services. In 1997, Fatty was asked to be a speaker for the Maryland Coalition of Professional Tattooists and Body Piercers. Fatty accepted the role with others in representing the industry in front of the state legislator, fighting to keep tattooing and body piercing legal in Maryland.
In late 1998, FCT relocated to Dupont Circle in the center of Washington DC, where Fatty has been able to truly fulfill his tattooing and artistic dreams. Since 2002, Fatty has won 12 awards at tattoo conventions in numerous categories, establishing name recognition in the industry. Fatty began to teach himself to paint in 2005, and began to compile his arsenal of art. On July 18th 2009, Fatty hosted his first art show "Art Attack!" which was attended by many fans, friends, and family. There are rumors that more art shows in the works!
Fatty enjoys and is inspired by working with people and the stories that their skin will tell. Most of the tattoos you see in his portfolio are done free hand, drawing the designs directly on to the skin with markers, avoiding the use of stencils. He creates the tattoo designs in real time with the client present so that he can get their input and feel their energy and get to the essence of his client's passion. Fatty thrives with this personal approach to tattooing and he feels that he avoids artistic stagnation by the unpredictability of what his clients bring to him, which keeps him on his toes. After 17 years of tattooing, Fatty's passion for tattooing continues to grow.
If you would like to contact Fatty, call the shop during operating hours or email him at: fatty@fattyscustomtattooz.com