But Chuck is very aware of health hazards. From Aryan Brotherhood members to Mexican Mafia vatos to Black Gorilla Family members, and even a bunch of wiseguys. “It doesn’t matter to me who they are, or who they know and run with gang wise.” And he’s tattooed mad gang members with their telltale gang emblems. “I will not put wives, or girlfriends names in ink though.” Alluding to all the cover ups he’s done over the years.Īnd Chuck doesn’t discriminate either. drugs) to money sent from the street to my inmate account.”Īs to the pieces he does Chuck says, “They have to have a pretty specific idea of what they want before they even come to talk with me if they want me to design it from mind to paper to flesh.” Chuck specializes in surreal imagery involving guns, demons, inner hells and the cesspits of prison. “In the past I’ve priced arm sleeves at $250 per arm, and back pieces at $500 up to $2,000.” Chuck says, “I’ve been paid in everything from commissary like food, cigs, shoes, sweats, radios, stamps to contraband items (i.e. He’ll charge “in the neighborhood of $35 to $100 for a small piece.” And in prison where most dudes are making $25 a month that’s a lot of money. Like he says, “Good tattoos aren’t cheap and cheap tattoos aren’t good.” An inkslinger like Chuck doesn’t work cheap though. And considering that most musicians are frequent customers it makes it real easy. Chuck says he uses “India inks such as speedball, black cat or higgins.” Which he can acquire from facilities, or through the art program.Īnd for the needles Chuck says, “The only material I’ve ever used for needle stock is stainless steel guitar strings (the core).” With music programs at most prisons it’s not that hard to get a pack of strings. It doesn’t flow worth a shit, and I won’t compromise quality art on my time with inferior ink.” But that doesn’t stop a whole a lot of other dudes who perpetrate the myth of jailhouse tattoos with subpar work. “I’ve made it a habit of never using made ink. “People make ink by burning articles of plastic, and collecting the soot as a base.” Chuck says. “One piece is easier to replace than the whole thing.”Ĭhuck describes tattooing in prison as “Challenging, sometimes rewarding, but mostly a pain in the ass for many reasons.” The quality and lack of ink foremost. “Every machine is designed for easy quick assembly and disassembly to be hidden in as many places as possible.” Chuck says. And in prison a tattooist has to keep the gun hidden too, because guards will confiscate them as contraband in shakedowns.
“Spinner motors were unobtainable in the early 80’s, so I would appropriate electronic relays and remove the 110 volt coils, which I combined with a plastic frame, band steel off vegetable crates, and bic pens cut down for barrels.” Engineering skills come in handy it seems. They make use with what they can find, and put together on the compound. I’ve even had a few who would give me the greenlight to work is I gave them a machine to turn in, as if they found it.”Īnd the cons in here don’t have a fancy tattoo gun. “But I’ve had a number watch me work and supply me with latex gloves and alcohol pads. “Some guards love to catch someone blasting a piece or getting inked,” Chuck says. Everything is done on the downlow as getting a tattoo or inking one is grounds for a shot and trip to the hole. It’s not like the guards set up a shop for tattooists. “Where I split my time between the Beto #1 unit and the Darrington Unit,” where only the worst of the worst are housed, to “USP Allenwood, FCI Beckley, FCI Beaumont and FCI Gilmer in the feds.” He says.īeing an inkslinger in the pen isn’t a cakewalk. (Texas Department of Corrections),” he says. It’s like penitentiary veteran and jail house tattooist Chuck says, “In this environment if your work isn’t stellar or near perfect a dissatisfied customer is apt to stab you in the fucking neck rather than withhold payment, or report you to the better business bureau.”Īnd Chuck should know. And dudes have been bodied for less than some bad ink. Don’t be putting no clover leaf tattoo if you’re not a real AB. And you better be sure you belong to whoever’s sign you’re wearing. Homies mark themselves accordingly, and they’re not looking for no jive ass sucker to put some inferior work on their skin. In the nether world of corruption and violence convicts take their tats seriously. Like a mural depicting history a convict’s life can be dissected by checking out the ink on his body. As are their girl’s names, the joints they’ve done time at and the number of years they’ve spent inside. Their street names are proudly emblazoned across their stomach or backs. In the pen dudes wear their territorial and gang affiliations on their sleeves. Being sleeved out or tatted up is a sign of respect or mark of belonging. In the belly of the beast a convicts tattoos can define him.
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