As a kid, Russ Abbott loved making art, foreshadowing a future career in the field. Dabbling mostly in Realism, Russ created everything from Still Lives to Animal Portraits. Excelling at the creative process, Russ took every opportunity to express himself, such as volunteering to work on set designs for the theatre program at his high school. Originally leaning towards a career in graphic design, Russ changed his mind after receiving his first tattoo at the age of 18. After a brief attempt at learning the techniques on his own, Russ realized the proper route to a successful life as a tattoo artist was through an apprenticeship. Since the very first day of his apprenticeship, Russ focused on learning “the right way to draw tattoos and to properly apply them.” To this day, Russ dedicates himself to learning everything he can about the craft. That kind of dedication has allowed Russ to become the creative mastermind he is today. Russ bases his work in the tradition of the craft, but, at the same time, he is always finding new ways to propel his artwork to a new extreme. A lot of Russ’ style is “based on the time-tested theories that previous generations of tattooers have already proven.” Understanding the “limitations of tattooing as a medium,” Russ spends a good deal of time concerned with “how the tattoos are going to age” and how the tattoo is going to change throughout the life of the client. “I want to find ways to progress my tattooing style without crossing the line of what’s going to work as a tattoo, but I still believe there is room for growth.” To promote such growth, Russ constantly experiments with his technique. This, in part, allows him to remain incredibly versatile. Working within a multitude of styles, including realism, illustrative, and traditional, Russ maintains the ability to create a variety of different tattoos. “I’ve had the opportunity to try a lot of techniques and build a set of theories that I now base my work on.” Artistically, Russ focuses on theme, placement, clarity, complexity, color scheme, lighting, and drama. “I really enjoy dramatic, illustrative tattoos that seem to tell a story.” Approaching tattoos in a similar fashion as a novelist approaches a story, Russ creates tattoos he feels evoke a sense of epic quality. As for subject matter, Russ enjoys working on “projects with a timeless appeal.” To do this, Russ gravitates towards projects that have a historical theme to them, especially those that revolve around the theme of Americana. From cowboys robbing trains in the desert of Arizona to wolves chasing pioneer wagons through Montana, Russ retells the story of early American history through the illustrative imagery of a tattoo. After over 10 years as a tattoo artist, Russ Abbott has finally found his comfort zone “I’ve been fortunate to have a large clientele of serious collectors who know what I’m all about and want to be a part of it.” He continues to expand his knowledge of the craft of tattooing while simultaneously working hard to expand the reputation of his tattoo studio. The thing that Russ enjoys the most about tattooing is that “I’m constantly looking for new techniques, different color mixes, and fresh ideas… I’ll never stop trying to become a better artist.”

Recent Tattoos

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Travel Dates:

Richmond Tattoo Arts Festival Fall
11/20/09 - 11/22/09
Holiday Inn Select - Koger Center
Richmond, VA