Off the Map Tattoo is co-hosting the Paradise Tattoo Gathering
Artist Profile
Mike Demasi View Tattoo Gallery - Email Artist
IM MIKE DEMASI, I HAVE BEEN TATTOOING PROFESSIONALLY FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS. I STARTED TATTOOING OUT OF MY HOUSE WHEN I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL WORKING ON FAMILY AND FRIENDS (THOSE POOR PEOPLE) I DIDN'T REALLY GET SERIOUS ABOUT TATTOOING UNTIL I GAVE UP COLLEGE AND PURSUED TATTOOING AS A PROFESSION . I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN EASILY DRAWN TOWARDS REALISTIC TATTOOS LOOKING UP TO GUYS LIKE DENO COOK,TOM RENSHAW, JACK RUDY,KERI BARBA,TONY OLIVAS, ST.MARQ, BIG ED,DARK HORSE(AKA ARIC TAYLOR),AND OF COURSE MY FAVORITE MARIO BARTH.MY PARENTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE AND NEVER GAVE ME CRAP ABOUT THE DECISION TO DITCH COLLEGE AND TATTOO FULL TIME. THEIR SUPPORT AND NO OTHER DISTRACTIONS REALLY HELPED ME FOCOUS ON TATTOOING, (THANKS PARENTS). AFTER TATTOOING IN YOUR BASIC STREET SHOP JUST UNDER YEAR I WASN'T SURE IF I WANTED TO CONTINUE TATTOOING OR NOT. I HAD A FALLING OUT WITH THE OWNER AND DECIDED TO LEAVE THE SHOP. MY GIRLFRIEND KIRSTEN AT THAT TIME WAS ALSO A TATTOO ARTIST SHE HELPED ME GET A JOB WITH HER AND SOME FRIENDS, ALL THOUGH THAT SHOP WAS JUST ABOUT TO FALL UNDER (YES EVEN BEFORE I GOT THERE) TATTOOING WAS REALLY STARTING TO SUCK, BUT I LOVED IT! ANYWAYS, I DID OFTEN WONDER IF I HAD MADE THE RIGHT DECISION BUT, SHORTLY AFTER THE SHOP CLOSED KIRSTEN, MYSELF , MARIO AND HIS WIFE KIRISTINA DECIDED TO BECOME BUSINESS PARTNERS, AND OPENED ART JUNKIES. WE VOUD TO EACH OTHER TO DO THINGS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN ARE PRIOR WORK ENVIRONMENTS AND CONTINUE TO DO SO. WE HAVE BEEN OPEN FIVE YEARS NOW. IN THAT TIME KIRSTEN AND MARIO HAVE BECOME MY BIGEST INFLUENCES TODAY.
