"It's great watching the tattoo industry evolve into this creative wave, driven by young artists with natural ability and artists with formal training." Luckily for tattooists Jay Wheeler, He fits into both of those categories. At the age of twenty six, he already has 7 years of tattooing experience and is currently working on finishing his fine art degree. With unrelenting confidence in both himself and his trade, Jay's outlook toward the future of tattooing is more than hopeful. "Soon the whole industry will be swept away, leaving nothing
Primarily concentrating on custom work, Jay has been creating unique interpretations, breaking away from traditional, 'old school' methods. "I have been composing tattoo work without any outlines, making up loose images by means of color and value." Jay is also designing a variety of elaborate and ornate pieces depicting an exquisite three-dimensionality. "I am very fond of baroque and loose Celtic designs and Gothic and Roman
With such an impressive body of work behind him, one would think Jay is swamped with clients constantly walking in to get inked. "Eternal has five locations and employs over thirty tattoo artists. The location I am currently working at keeps seven artists 'frantically' working at all times. I'm fortunate to be upstairs, away from the day to day hustle and bustle atmosphere. I try to take a relaxed approach to every workday, and being upstairs makes it much it easier."
Although he has already built quite a reputation as a tattoo artists Jay wants to leave his options open for the future. "After this summer, I will slow down slightly on tattooing and put more focus on academic studies. I am taking the study of art much more serious now. I am certainly going to explore other artistic avenues in the years to come. I am not quite sure how many more years I'll be tattooing, but I'm sure it will always have a place with me.
