I first heard about Sid’s Tattoo Parlor a few years back when my buddy was going out there and tattooing at Sid’s shop. When my friend just opened his shop I saw all the great flash of Sid’s hanging on the walls and I figured I would try to interview him and get his take on a few things. It’s been really cool in the age of social media to be able to follow people like Sid and see the art they create, and to be able to follow the progress of work on various mediums. Sid’s work is clean and bold, he is definitely a traditional tattooist at heart, but he has a really nice portfolio of black and grey as well. If you are in the area or thinking of traveling for some top notch work, check out Sid’s Tattoo Parlor!
When did you start tattooing and when did you open your shop?
I started tattooing when I was 19, so that was 22 years ago! I opened the shop in ’96, 16 years ago.
Who are your influences in your art and your tattooing?
Bill Lioka, Dave Gibson, Quinn Mallard, Philadelphia Eddie and Greg James are my main influences in tattooing. As far as art, I like a lot of Renaissance painters, especially Georges de La Tour, and my favorite painting is Salvator Rosa’s Saul and the Witch of Endor. If I ever become a billionaire, I want to own the original! That painting was actually a huge inspiration in my decision to paint the entire book of Revelation. My interpretation of John’s vision brought to life by paintings and Chuck Smith Jr. is doing a commentary to the scripture and how it relates to my art. I have the first half finished and hope to see it published by this time next year. So look for it on the web and ask for it at your local stores… I hope it will be ground breaking in the way we view Revelations and also how the world reads it. Hopefully a lot of non-believers will see it and read Revelations with an interest in how crazy and awesome the book really is. Check it soon!!!!
What is the type of tattoo that you enjoy doing the most and why?
I like doing American Traditional. It’s just what I’m into. When I was in 6th grade and I started listening to my brother’s rockabilly records, I noticed all the tattoos the guys in the bands had, and they were American Traditional tattoos! The best! It stuck, and it’s not a fad to me, it is a part of who I am. It’s a part of my scene and the music that I love. When everyone was doing biomechanical and new school, I was doing traditional.
You are a family man, how many kids and how long have you been married?
I have been married for 16 years and I have four kids.
You also have a couple of really nice cars, what cars do you have and what motorcycle do you ride?
I have a ’36 Plymouth Coupe, a ’28 Ford Roadster and a ’57 Ford Fairlane Skyliner. I sold my Harley (police special) and my Triumph (1968 Bonneville/cafe). When I got married me and my wife rode around all the time. Now my hot rod is pretty much like a bike in some ways, no roof, wind in your eyes and face, the open road feel, and the power of an oversized motor in something very light. There’s no time to ride now with kids! But I ride my wife’s Vespa every now and then.
What are a couple of the most memorable stories that you have heard from clients when tattooing?
I tattooed this detective from Miami and he told me that they used to make the new guys search this one male prostitute all the time. Basically the guy had no back side under muscle so he would stuff socks in there so he wouldn’t ruin his pants. Needless to say, a cop has to make sure nothing is smuggled in to jail…you can imagine!!!!!
You are also a believer, how long have you been a Christian and how did you come to faith in Christ?
I became a Christian when I was 17. I was depressed and had stopped caring about life, really. I decided to try church and it all made sense to me, so I gave my life to Christ. 25 years
Do you see tattooing continuing to evolve and become a part of the mainstream, or do you see it as always being a part of the underground?
It’s definitely mainstream now, thanks to TV and Christian Audigier. But those who don’t sell out and hold the art form sacred will probably always be underground, artists and collectors alike.
Do you sell flash, art, t shirts and/or paintings and where can people go to purchase?
Yes, I do! You can get my flash from Cherry Creek. Also, on my Facebook I have all my posters for sale. I should have an Etsy shop up and running soon and sometimes I put stuff on eBay as well. I usually do not sell my originals unless you happen to get one at an art show here and there, but I don’t post them for sell. I had a signature line with Matix clothing for some years until they changed owners. The company Black Market sells some of my prints and posters and you should also be able to find one of my posters for sale in Dice magazine (on their web site). You can always contact me at my email sidstattooparlor@gmail.com or on face book. I also build tattoo machines and sell those but only to artists already working at shops. After my first half of Revelation is published, I will sell numbered and signed lithographs of some of the paintings! Be sure to look for those! Everything will be up on my Etsy shop when I get it done.
Sid’s Tattoo Parlor
13912 Ponderosa Street
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 664-8804
Leave a Reply