My name is Mike Wilson, and I am from Sacramento, CA. When I was younger, I was not sure what I wanted to do with my life, and at young age Sean Enos and Henry helped me find my artistic path in life. Sean motivated me to pursue my art through tattoos, and from that moment in 1995, I have never looked back. Ever since then I have been tattooing, drawing and painting my way around the country…
I have over 13 years of experience in the industry and have been following in the footsteps of the tattoo pioneers Sailor Jerry, Mike Malone, Ed Hardy, Scott Serling, J.D. Crow and Lyle Tuttle. These individuals have set the standard for the artwork and the successful business model (that is used at all of the most important shops throughout the country). Since starting to tattoo, I have been learning, developing and honing my skills through my experiences all over the country
My years of experiences have seen me grow from "apprentice" in my early years to the role of "mentor" that I play now. I have built up to this point where it is time for me to open my own shop.
Here is my story….
Ink City — Stockton, CA: This was my first job I apprenticed at and tattooed for Henry for years.
Sketch Tattoo — Stockton, CA: This was my second job, and I worked for my self as the owner; at this shop I learned the following: I needed to work with better artists to lean more. This was the reason I sold my place and moved on. I also apprenticed Lucky there, and he now owns a successful shop. I tattoo there as a guest sometimes.
Lady Luck Tattoo — Hemet, CA: I worked for Roy, Amy and James. At this shop, I had a lot of fun because it is a busy place and because it is where I started tattooing Brian Deagan from Metal Militia, as well as many others.
Ink Spot Tattoo — New Port, VA: At the shop, I worked for Davy, J.R., Larry, Chill and Dean Kiven. This place was a big step — I worked with a lot of smart people and good artists — it really helped me fill in the gaps and realize what it was to have a truly great job.
Toucan Tattoo — Glouster, VA: I worked for Jerry at this shop. The most important thing I learned here — what not to do.
JD Crows Ancient Art — Virgina Beach, VA: All of these experiences lead me to one of the tattoo icons of the east coast. (Who is JD crow? Crow has been around for over 40 years in the tattoo world; he has one of the biggest tattoo flash companies in the world; you cant go into any shop in the world and not see one of his designs; plus, with all the shops he runs in Virgina, this has to be the most successfull ones I have seen and worked at.
Sick Boy Ink — Chattanooga, TN: This was my sixth guest spot; I worked for Justin. I did three weeks here helping a friend.
River City Tattoo — Sacramento, CA
Cartel Ink Works — Carmichael, CA: I did consulting for them by teaching them how to run a tattoo show.
Fat Cat Tattoo — Sacramento, CA: I helped open this place, as well. I worked for Chris, and he was very good at running the shop. It is one of Sacramento's best shops to this day
Hard Luck Tattoo — Lodi, CA: This was another turn with a guest spot.
Stuck For Life — Lockford, CA: Another guest spot.
Lyle Tuttle Tattoo — San Francisco, CA: This is a world-famous shop, and Lyle is a pioneer of tattooing.
Lucky Linda’s Body Art — Shakopee, MN: I did some consulting work here; it is owned by Linda Malone, Mike Malone's ex-wife.
Ink Lab — Minneapolis, MN: I am tattooing here and have set out on a course of developing a clothing line and a company to sell flash art — swing on in to see the sketch book that is developing on my down-time.
I have over 13 years of experience in the industry and have been following in the footsteps of the tattoo pioneers Sailor Jerry, Mike Malone, Ed Hardy, Scott Serling, J.D. Crow and Lyle Tuttle. These individuals have set the standard for the artwork and the successful business model (that is used at all of the most important shops throughout the country). Since starting to tattoo, I have been learning, developing and honing my skills through my experiences all over the country
My years of experiences have seen me grow from "apprentice" in my early years to the role of "mentor" that I play now. I have built up to this point where it is time for me to open my own shop.
Here is my story….
Ink City — Stockton, CA: This was my first job I apprenticed at and tattooed for Henry for years.
Sketch Tattoo — Stockton, CA: This was my second job, and I worked for my self as the owner; at this shop I learned the following: I needed to work with better artists to lean more. This was the reason I sold my place and moved on. I also apprenticed Lucky there, and he now owns a successful shop. I tattoo there as a guest sometimes.
Lady Luck Tattoo — Hemet, CA: I worked for Roy, Amy and James. At this shop, I had a lot of fun because it is a busy place and because it is where I started tattooing Brian Deagan from Metal Militia, as well as many others.
Ink Spot Tattoo — New Port, VA: At the shop, I worked for Davy, J.R., Larry, Chill and Dean Kiven. This place was a big step — I worked with a lot of smart people and good artists — it really helped me fill in the gaps and realize what it was to have a truly great job.
Toucan Tattoo — Glouster, VA: I worked for Jerry at this shop. The most important thing I learned here — what not to do.
JD Crows Ancient Art — Virgina Beach, VA: All of these experiences lead me to one of the tattoo icons of the east coast. (Who is JD crow? Crow has been around for over 40 years in the tattoo world; he has one of the biggest tattoo flash companies in the world; you cant go into any shop in the world and not see one of his designs; plus, with all the shops he runs in Virgina, this has to be the most successfull ones I have seen and worked at.
Sick Boy Ink — Chattanooga, TN: This was my sixth guest spot; I worked for Justin. I did three weeks here helping a friend.
River City Tattoo — Sacramento, CA
Cartel Ink Works — Carmichael, CA: I did consulting for them by teaching them how to run a tattoo show.
Fat Cat Tattoo — Sacramento, CA: I helped open this place, as well. I worked for Chris, and he was very good at running the shop. It is one of Sacramento's best shops to this day
Hard Luck Tattoo — Lodi, CA: This was another turn with a guest spot.
Stuck For Life — Lockford, CA: Another guest spot.
Lyle Tuttle Tattoo — San Francisco, CA: This is a world-famous shop, and Lyle is a pioneer of tattooing.
Lucky Linda’s Body Art — Shakopee, MN: I did some consulting work here; it is owned by Linda Malone, Mike Malone's ex-wife.
Ink Lab — Minneapolis, MN: I am tattooing here and have set out on a course of developing a clothing line and a company to sell flash art — swing on in to see the sketch book that is developing on my down-time.