I started tattooing around 1972 under the name of "Thunderscratch". After that, dropped the name, but called the next half dozen shops "Thunderscratch Studios". I started before "information sharing" was popular, so there was no real 'apprenticeship', but I got my start from "Big Joe" Kaplan. Most of the learning technique was 'learn by getting tattooed'. I met Zeke Owen when he worked in Big Joe's shop. Even back then, he was gaining a rep for being one of the best.

He let me pick his brain quite a bit, and told me things offhandedly that otherwise would have taken me a long time to figure out on my own. So a tip of the hat to both of these gents.

I worked in Westchester County, New Paltz, Newburgh, New Windsor, Balmville, Wappinger Falls and Poughkeepsie; all in New York. I went into partnership with Ken Fleck in July of 1998. His shop was called "Tattoo Expressions". So we took the 'Thunder" from "Thunderscratch Studios" and the "Express" from "Tattoo Expressions", and "Thunder Express" was formed as a 'cool conspiracy'.

Unfortunately, I never took very many pictures of my work until recently. I just did the tattoo and off the customer went. So, my picture collection is small, but growing. I'm sort of a generalist, and don't really specialize in any one technique, but I guess "old school" is where my heart and head is, since I have been doing tattoos when "old school" was mainstream.

These days, when there is a new top gun slinger every week and so many claim to be 'the best', my goal is to execute tattoos with consistent excellence. I have been doing that for over 25 years and will continue to do so.

Here are some interesting tattoo's I've done, and the stories behind them.

This tattoo was fun to do, but needs some explanation.

A guy named "Thumper" came in and gave me a picture of his dog, a picture of his car and a Mopar logo.

Then he gave me a picture of a tattoo he saw in a magazine that had an old Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth style to it.

He wanted his dog driving his car using the same "Rat Fink" style.

And here's what the finished tattoo I created for him turned out like.

This is a picture of my youngest daughter and her new tattoo. Her mother died of cancer last year after a 4 year long illness. Anyway, her mother told her she was coming back as a hummingbird.

I drew up a small design that my daughter dumped in favor of the one she is now wearing. I like doing tattoos that have meaning and that the person getting it connects with. This one was a little close to home, though.

To view John's Gallery of Images: click here.

To veiw the other artist's pages, click here: Ken Fleck.