Joshua South

AREA 51 TATTOO & SALON

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Joshua South

Hi my name is Joshua South. I joined the U.S. Army in 1986 and was stationed in Karlsruhe Germany. I got out of the military and stayed in Germany and started a tattoo apprenticeship under a man by the name of Kevin Heath.

In February of 1990 I opened Tattoo Revolution in Heilbronn Germany, where I worked by myself for over 5 years. I remember very well starting out I couldn’t draw anything straight out of my mind. But then, after tattooing at the first ever Berlin Tattoo convention, I was encouraged to draw every tattoo freehand on the skin, no matter how long it took. So I began doing just that and believe me sometimes it took a really long time, stroking the pen back and forth developing through trial and error the perfect shape and form. As difficult as it was the process began to slowly pay off and my mind filled up with transferable images.

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Joshua South Art Gallery

Before long, I was growing homesick for America, so one day I just decided to move back. So I sold the lease on my building and moved to Las Vegas, NV. Together with my rock star brother, Darian, we opened Tattoo Revolution on Industrial Rd.

Success from tattooing was great, but the fast paced lifestyles of Las Vegas weren’t working in my favor, so I moved west to Oregon. Life here has been super great and my artwork has developed to its personal best over the last three years. Drawing and creative imagery are entangled through every fiber of my mind. I love it!!

Over the last years I have been trying to push my art to new levels, and began painting. I am currently accepting commissions for portrait work and examples can be viewed at myspace.com/joshuasouthart. When I not producing art I am teaching tattooing, together with Chris at Area 51 we now offer 26 years worth of experience in tattooing. I dedicate three days a week hands on with students in the classroom, where every process in tattooing is taught in a fun and creative environment. I encourage anyone who wants to be a tattoo artist to not give up your dreams. I personally know from experience that you do not have to know how to draw to be an artist; you just have to believe that you can become one and then begin practicing.