Instinctive Ink: New Jersey’s Inkwell
Posted: July 1st, 2009 | Author: Chris Jirau | Filed under: Lifestyle | Tags: Adam Paterson, ink, Jersey City Tattoo Inc., Parsons School of Design, Revisited: A Tribute to Flash From The Past, tattoo | 2 Comments »
Adam Paterson giving a client a tat at Jersey City Tattoo Co.
From centuries old Polynesian tribes to modern day pop culture, tattoos have had their own unique meanings to people who have ink on their body. The phenomenon has grown so popular today there are magazines, art galleries and international tattoo convention dedicated to highlighting the art form and its artists.
One such artist who has received critical acclaim is Adam Paterson, whose artwork has been exhibited in several galleries in New York and New Jersey. The fine arts major from Parsons School of Design initially worked as a graphic designer and illustrator. After growing bored of the graphic design, Adam decided to serve a one-year apprenticeship under the tutelage of tattoo artist Lesley Allen. The experience was instrumental as the Jersey native started inking his first pieces around town shortly thereafter.
Since then he has been a professional tattooist working in some of the best tattoo studios in New York and Jersey like True Blue, Silk City and Inner City. Adam has also had the honor of being a guest tattooist across the Atlantic in Denmark’s Tato Svend and The Netherlands’ On Edge parlor.
The artist’s pieces have been featured in several international magazines including Tattoos for Men, Tattoos for Women and Skin Art. In 2007 his artwork was also featured in Revisited: a Tribute to Flash from the Past, a tattoo collection featuring modern day renditions of classic flash sheets originally presented in Don Ed Hardy’s Flash from the Past.
While Adam continues to master his craft at Jersey City Tattoo, he took out some time from inking bodies to talk to Scribe Culture about being a tattoo artist, his art background, style and specialties.
