Getting To Know ... Robbie Reeves

Hometown: Sandusky Profession: Tattoo artistDescribe your style as a tattoo artist: Neo-traditional to color-realism to portraitsWhat is the most memorable tattoo you have created? Probably one of my first tattoos. I was able to tattoo my father. It was a memorial tattoo for his mother, my grandmother. How long have you been a tattoo artist? 15 yearsWhy did you pursue this career? My father was a tattoo artist. He used to tattoo at a shop downtown, called Brothers Tattooing. Then I followed in my father's footsteps. I am strongly influenced from my father. He was artistic and creative. He was a sign designer, worked with commercial graphics and hand lettering. So art has been a big part of my life.What is your favorite part about being a tattoo artist? Being able to help somebody through the grieving process, as far as a memorial tattoo. The hours are always nice. I enjoy the flexibility with the job.How many tattoos do you have? Not enough. I have a full arm sleeve, a few pieces on my back and a start to a leg sleeve. I want a lot more tattoos, but I don't have the time when I have the money. And I don't have the money when I have the time.Do you ever tattoo yourself? Yes. I did the top of my hand myself, and I did all my thigh and calf myself. It's very hard tattooing yourself because you don't want to put yourself through pain, but you try to and have to override that.Did you take art classes or are you self-taught? I went to Sandusky High School. They have about 20 art programs offered at the school, and I have pretty much taken every single one. But I'm pretty much self-taught and a natural talent.Do you paint or draw outside of work? You spend so much of your creativity at work. When you try to work on your personal projects, you're kinda burned out and exhausted. I am working on a few Tim Burton-themed pieces. He's a big influence of mine.Hobbies/Passions: I draw and paint, of course. But I also work on project vehicles, like small trucks, raising my three kids, and I weld sometimes.Robbie Reeves, a local tattoo artist at Pain and Pleasure.