Steve Azzara (RIP) President/Editor in Chief/MFIC
Pamela Haven Co owner/President/Writer
Matt Sellers Writer/Creative director/Editor
Contributors
Cypress Bates Video Journalist/Writer Santelmo (Saint) Vazquez
Cover- Thialanii Photographer- @image_faktory
Special Thanks to...
Daniel Kearney, Santelmo (Saint) Vazquez, Mark Lawrence, Shawn Alexander, Tommy’s Supplies, New England Tattoo Expo, Sellers Ink Tattoo, Sean Hightower, Walt Anderson, Carnival of Ink, The Most famous studio, Urbans edge tattoo after care. New England tatoo expo, DR. Rebecca perry Pro Team
Lydia Bruno, Pammy Sellers, Pepe Carire, And Jimmy Dalessio, Ninetoes, Nikko Gould, Josh Paul, Mike Geyer, Tyce Johnson
Royal Disorder-114 Spotlight-128 Kay & Sam-138
Queenbee-150
Paul Booth
Streaming on all major platforms
So you are currently located in New Jersey, are you originally from there? Tell us a little bit about yourself and what was it like growing up?
I was born and raised in New Jersey! I am actually from Union County, NJ, growing up in both Roselle Park and Kenilworth. Growing up I was a weird, introverted art and theatre kid. Believe it or not, I was incredibly timid and shy. I was always found invested into hobbies that were wildly different than all of my peers, yet most of it surrounded art and creativity. I have very, very supportive parents that I am forever grateful for, and they have always accepted my uniqueness.
What originally got you into tattooing? What started it all
In high school, I desperately wanted to go into an art career in my future. I initially had a fascination with gallery art, and wanted to go into painting and art history prior to ever discovering tattooing. However, I was always drawn to the more unusual ideas as to where to take my future, and I discovered a love for tattooing. I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to explore different tattoo conventions years before ever setting foot inside of a shop, and that made my love for the community grow long before becoming a part of it. My dad distinctly remembers the day I ran down into the living room at 15 and proudly announced, “That’s it! I want to tattoo!”, and he knew what I would become ever since.
Did you have a pretty hard apprenticeship or an easy going one?
My apprenticeship was incredibly easy going. I got so lucky joining my shop, Working Class Art, and getting to work under my incredible mentors, Mike and Nikki. They have both taught me everything I know and have always been incredibly supportive of me. They have watched me grow from a scared 19 year old to an incredibly outspoken and confident 24 year old, and I can’t thank them enough for leading me into the path I am on now. I tell them all of the time that they better get used to my antics if they aren’t already, because they are stuck with me.
How long have you been tattooing for and how has the journey been going for you?
I have been tattooing for almost 5 years! It has definitely been an interesting journey thus far. I started at Working Class about 2 weeks before the Covid shutdown in 2020, which I would say had a huge impact on both my upbringing into the industry, as well as the industry as a whole. However, once everything settled down with the world, I was able to travel and meet so many new people and other tattoo artists-- and I cannot be more fascinated with the different work I have gotten the chance to see throughout the years. I have tried my hardest to come out of my introverted shell and meet new people, and it has completely changed the course of my career! Some days are hard, especially trying to find clients that resonate with where my work is currently heading towards compared to where I started, but I wouldn’t change anything.
Seems like you specialize in Neo, traditional style tattooing? What originally got you into that certain style did it pick you or did you go after that style?
I like to say it chose me! When I originally approached which style I’d like to specialize in, I had a love for traditional Japanese, actually. Over time, I fell out of love with the more traditional, to-the-book aspects of Japanese tattooing and started leaning towards Neotraditional Japanese. Being able to create designs with the imagery of typical Japanese subjects without the limitation of the traditional rules is something I enjoy making. I also have a great love for Illustrative Dotwork and black and grey tattooing, and I hope to be able to create more pieces where I can integrate more Neo and Illustrative styles into one piece!
You are an award winning artist what other big accomplishments have you achieved in your career?
I wouldn’t necessarily consider myself an award winning artist just yet, haha. There are so many goals I want to accomplish in my career that I haven’t had the opportunity to just yet. So far, however, I am really proud of myself for simply gaining the confidence to show off my work to artists I look up to without fear of rejection. My biggest accomplishment is being proud of the work I am putting out into the world, and onto my amazing clients for them to carry with them forever.
And then the talk of the town after some research is that your favorite snack/ food is you can devour some mushrooms! When did you first notice your favorite food was mushrooms? Which mushroom is your favorite?
Nooooo no no no. Settle down. I would die before eating a mushroom, actually. I won’t even touch them with bare hands. Just know, if you eat a mushroom near me, I am judging you. That’s gross. It’s a FUNGUS!! They’re ALIVE! Has nobody ever played The Last of Us? I will be the one to survive that apocalypse because I do NOT mess with mushrooms. Ew. Nasty.
Tell us a little bit about yourself where your from and what was it like growing up?
I was born and raised in Colorado. We started off incredibly broke, and struggled a lot. But as life progresses the struggle became less and less. I moved out at 17 and immediately started going down the wrong path. Drugs, gang banging, stupid ass shit. I lived to fight. It wasn’t until my early to mid 20’s that I found tattooing. It saved my life quite literally. I ended up fully sobering up, finding my amazing wife, having 3 kiddos, and fully immersing into tattooing and all that surrounded it. Now I live for the moments, while balancing dad/family life and the life of an artist and shop owner! I wouldn’t have it any other way!!
What originally got you interested in art and tattooing?
I always grew up doodling and making art. It was a release and escape. Even on school assignments I filled out all extra space on paperwork etc with my art doodles. About 18 years ago I had a friend and coworker see my talent and push me to start tattooing… at home ha! After a few years of kitchen magician work, I found myself pulled for more. Something more legitimate. So I found an apprenticeship. After my apprenticeship at a street shop I went and did an internship at a custom studio. And fell even more in love with the craft. Thanks to an amazing mentor and Friend, Chris Nami.
How long have you been tattooing for and how has the journey been for you?
15 years professionally. The journey has been full of ups and downs, highs and lows. But it’s all part of the journey and I’m blessed to be on this side of the paper towel ha!
What style best defines you and how did you get into that certain style of tattooing?
I specialize in large scale. Neo Trad and geometric are my favorites, but I do it all minus hyper realism :)
How has tattoo culture changed since you began? Good or bad
The shift to social media has been wild. It’s a completely different animal these days. Gotta stay with the times, or get left behind!!
Who are some of your biggest influences in the art and tattooing industry?
Alfonso Mucha: Herman Yepes : Jewp: but to be honest I pull inspiration from so many artists globally and locally. Blessed to be surrounded by so much talent. I feel like such a small fish in a massive ocean of sharks ha!
Do you have any big plans for the new year?
I plan on continuing to create epic art for my clients. Continue running a successful shop (EmpireBound Social Club). And plan on starting to get EMT certified so I can also do firefighting on the side!!!
Let’s start off with telling us a little about where your from and what was it like growing up?
I’m originally from St. Louis, but I moved around a lot growing up. I spent most of my childhood bouncing between really small towns in Arkansas and Missouri, like population 200, everybody-knows-everybody kind of places. Growing up there was tough for me because I never fit the mold. I was originally a city kid, wasn’t into church or sports or any of the things you were “supposed” to be into in those towns. I gravitated toward darker aesthetics, art, and self expression, which made me stand out even more.
If you picture the quiet, loner emo kid sitting in the back of class, drawing instead of paying attention, that was me. Art was my escape. It was how I processed life when I didn’t have much of anything else. I grew up with very little, but even then I always knew I wasn’t meant to stay small. I knew I wanted more than the limits around me, and I was determined to make a name for myself and build something bigger than where I came from.
As a female artist what was it like trying to get an apprenticeship or job in the industry?
Getting an apprenticeship felt like I was constantly having to prove my worth. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I accepted one almost three hours away and showed up every day, only to be degraded and publicly humiliated by my mentor. I wasn’t taught, I was broken down. When I finally walked away, two other shops offered me apprenticeships immediately, which showed me the problem was never my work. Even after that, I dealt with power plays, manipulation, and having my license held over my head. I survived it, and I’m more successful than any of them.
How long have you been tattooing for and how has the journey been going for you?
I’ve been tattooing for about three years now, and the journey has been brutal, but in the best way. Tattooing is hard every single day. Between toxic work environments, trying to find my own style, and balancing real life in the middle of it all, nothing about this career is easy. But I love it. I love the hustle, the connections, and the way tattooing allows me to help people feel more confident in their own skin. This journey has shaped me as a person. I’ve learned who I am, what I stand for, and how resilient I can be. I’ve also faced a lot of negativity within the industry, especially locally. In a small town oversaturated with shops, it can feel like everyone’s competing instead of creating, and I’ve definitely had shots taken at me, both in person and online. At the end of the day though, I stay focused. I let my work speak for itself
What’s your favorite style to tattoo and why?
My favorite style to tattoo is black and grey realism. It’s what I’m most comfortable with and what feels the most natural to me. I’ve been a realism artist on paper my entire life, so transferring that skill onto skin felt like a natural evolution. I especially love doing portraits. Black and grey realism is timeless, and I love how much range and storytelling you can achieve within it. But that could also change in the future. I haven’t had a lot of time tattooing to explore and get comfortable with different styles.
You’re also into modeling and have been in or worked with the divine angels, what got you into modeling and do you have more plans with that?
Being part of Divine Angels was an amazing experience. It’s such a unique concept, and I loved everyone involved. I made some really solid industry friendships through it. I definitely plan on participating again in the future. Making it to top 5 and competing at TDITC pushed me creatively and taught me a lot about confidence, professionalism, and showing up for myself. I originally got into modeling because I was always the oddball, the girl who got made fun of for how I looked and dressed. I decided to turn that pain into power. I started doing shoots in my bedroom when I was younger, just experimenting and expressing myself, and somehow that snowballed into professional shoots that have been published, which still feels surreal. Going forward, I’d love to travel, work with more photographers, and do some really creative shoots.
How do you balance work and family?
Balancing work and family, especially as a mom, is a daily challenge. Tattooing demands long hours and a lot of emotional energy, but my child is my why. Everything I’m building is for him. Hence why I named my shop after him. I’ve learned to be really intentional with my time, to work hard when I’m working, and to be fully present when I’m with him. Motherhood has made me more focused, more disciplined, and more driven. It’s not about perfect balance, it’s about showing up, creating stability, and building a future for my son.
Do you it’s a common issue where people slip into an artists DMs to book a tattoo and a date?
Yes, it happens all the time. There’s a right way to approach an artist, clear details, respect for boundaries, and understanding that tattooing is a professional service. Mixing booking inquiries with flirting usually backfires. When someone turns a booking message into a personal or romantic advance, it shifts the dynamic in a way that makes most artists uncomfortable. Tattooing is our job, and when professionalism gets blurred, it’s off putting. It doesn’t help your chances of getting tattooed and often ends the conversation entirely.
Let’s start off with where are you from and what was it like growing up?
I’m originally from Southeast Missouri but live in Pueblo Colorado now. Growing up I played sports throughout school and didn’t pay attention in any classes except art. Art was my life and still is.
Can you originally remember At what age you got into art?
I’d
say around 11-12 is when I got into art. I doodled on anything and everything.
What was it like entering the Tattoo industry for the first time can you remember?
Not gonna lie it was scary asf. It’s been the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done tho.
How long have you been tattooing for and how has your journey been so far?
I’ve been tattooing professionally for 5 years. My journey has been great, a lot of work but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
What style would you say you specialize in?
The style of say I specialize in would be color realism and black and grey realism
Do you have any big plans for the New Year’s?
I won’t lie, I fell asleep on the couch watching cartoons at 8:30 haha
What are some of your biggest accomplishments?
Some of my biggest accomplishments would have to be winning awards and being able to travel. Winning an award for something that you put your soul into is an amazing feeling of accomplishment
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What makes Royal Disorder Unique is they are all about Authenticity and Love for Fellow Artists. Their Goal is for Artists to inspire or to be inspired by other Artists. Alex and Tasha find it important to be more focused on family reunion vibes while enjoying healthy rivalry during Competitions. There’s nothing better than providing a sense of community through common interests and respect. Supporting Small and Local Businesses are the lifeblood of our community especially in a time where corporations try and push out the ‘little guys’. The moment you arrive at Royal Disorder Tattoo Expo, they welcome you in the family atmosphere. From having Easy check in for Artist & Vendors, polite staff you can approach, to providing water, snacks, and a quick lunch, they are prepared to make everyone feel welcome.
With Gnarly Performances by Hoop Aerialist, Jessica Kienenburger, and Drummer Prodigy, Drake May, showcasing their skills as well. The Car, Bike, & Truck Show felt nostalgic while awarding winners with Tattoo Gift Certificates in each category. A Portion of the Proceeds, from the Art Show, went towards getting Art Supplies for the local school’s Arts Departments & for children staying at local non-profits. Also Alex, Matt, & Chris each gave away a Free Tattoo Gift Certificates to door prize winners. Local Vendors kept the guests intrigued and came back to buy their artwork, coffee drinks, cookies, resin art, apparel, candies, & more. Can’t forget to mention Masterful Inked Photography, Ernie Bustamante. He captured the art of tattoos on the body, competition winners, and fun candid shots, using the most breath taking techniques.
The Royal Disorder Tattoo Expo had a solid lineup of Artists, including Special Guest Judges, Brad Dunkeson & Tim Richardson. There was no shortage of tattoo styles. For the Tattoo Competition, there were 32 different categories to choose from. Best of the Day winners received a goodie bag from Royal Disorders Product Sponsors, HexTat and Trippy Butter Tattoo Glide. Next, The Best of Show Winners also received a goodie bag from HexTat, Trippy Butter, plus extra gifts from Rockabilly Ink Tattoo Supply, And $400 CASH Prize!
The Hosts want to give a big shout out and Thank You to their staff, volunteers, photographer, family, friends, vendors, guests, and most importantly, THE ARTISTS!!!
Tattoo of the Day Winners (for all 3 days.)
*Black & Grey- Matt Young, Stupid Face, & Silver Perez
*Color- Luke Scammel, Kaerina Gregory, & Daemon Grae
**Best of Show **-Black & Grey- Gavin Millam
**Best of Show ** -Color- Michael Rumsey
The Royal Disorder Tattoo Expo will be back for another round!!! Mark your calendars for September 11-13th 2026.
FB: Royal Disorder Tattoo Expo
IG: @royaldisorder_tattooexpo website: royaldisorderexpo.com
