Bio

 

Clark was born in Chadron, Nebraska in 1963. At age four, his family moved to Maywood, SouthGate area of Los Angeles CA, (Maywood is where he first started seeing and drawing tattoos). His family later, 1969, moved to Huntington Beach CA, where he spent his youth in its close-knit Motorcycle Club / Beach Community of the 1960s & 1970s.
  • 1979 through the 80s: "Hand-Poke" tattoos on himself, friends & their friends.
  • 1991-1994: Learned professional tattooing from Rick Walters.
  • 1994-2004: Full-time tattooer at Kari Barba’s Outer Limits Tattoo, Anaheim, CA. 2001-2004 Manager at Outer Limits, Costa Mesa, CA.
  • 2004-2009: Lead / Head tattooer at Hart & Huntington, Palms Hotel Casino, Las Vegas, NV.
  • 2005-2007: Featured on A&E’s TV show “INKED.”
  • 2009-2011: Tattooing at Kent Kelley’s StayTrue Tattoo, Las Vegas, NV.
  • 2011–Present: Working privately as Peony Tattoo, Las Vegas.
  • 2014: Recognized as one of the top 50 tattooers worldwide in (Tattoo magazine) “Tattoo Masters” Issue #1.

Early Inspiration:

Clark has been drawing tattoos since age 4 (at that time his mother had a boyfriend who was fully-cover’d with tattoos, he was a Tattooer in the Los Angeles, Long Beach area).  Clark started hand poke tattooing on friends and their friends in 1979, it was Mike Brown at the Whittier TattooLand who taught him to make Japanese-tattoo-needles and how to stretch the skin properly. Clark continued sporadically hand poke until committing full-time to the craft in 1991. 
He has been drawn to classic Japanese tattooing since first seeing it at the age of 11. Inspired by original 1800s style Japanese artists. His focus today is entirely on old Style Japanese tattoos, including body suits, sleeves, as well as the smaller "One-Point" designs.

Path to Professionalism:

Primarily self-taught, Clark also trained under respected artists in the American West: Mark Mahoney, Rick Walters, Mike Brown, Kari Barba, and Catfish Carl. By the late 1970s, he had developed his skills, assisted in needle making and tattooing techniques, and refined his classic Japanese style.

Turning Point:

In 1986, Clark’s journey faced a major setback. An accident left him with extensive injuries, including the loss of an eye as well as loosing his mother the same month. To recover from his life being flipped upside down he moved to Florida and lived with his aunt and her family where they helped him regain his passion for art and tattooing. Later returning to California, he resumed tattooing friends.

Learning Under Rick Walters:

In 1991, Mark Mahoney introduced Clark to Rick Walters at Bert Grimm’s Tattoo in Long Beach, CA. Rick mentored Clark on the side, teaching and refining his techniques, professionalism, and tattooing longevity. Clark balanced his day job while training with Rick and tattooing in the night-hours.

Professional Career and Recognition:

Clark’s career has included a decade at Kari Barba’s Outer Limits Tattoo, even managing her Costa Mesa location.

In 2004, he moved to Las Vegas to join A&E’s TV series called "Inked" where he tattooed at Carey Hart’s "Hart & Huntington". He later worked with Kent Kelley at StayTrue Tattoo before establishing his private practice.

 

With over 30,000 hours of experience and at least 15,000 to 20,000 clients, Clark now focuses on large Japanese/fusion-style tattoos requiring the dedication of many multiple sessions.

Personal Life and Gratitude:

For what he is today: Clark credits his mother Phyllis Estella R.I.P. for encouraging him to draw & play guitar, his father Frank Ragel R.I.P., aunt Verna Keller R.I.P., Cousins Carl Keller, Junior' Robert Keller R.I.P., Burt Keller, Linda, Letha & Butchie Keller, his brother Paul, his sister Paula Hawkins R.I.P. wifes Terri and Holly, his children Ian & Cameron for their support throughout our lives. He expresses deep gratitude to his mentors & friends: Mike Brown R.I.P., Mark Mahoney, Scott Sellers R.I.P., Rick Walters R.I.P., Catfish Carl R.I.P., Kari Barba, Phil Sims, Paul, Jake’s & Ben Herbst, Thomas Pendelton, Little Thomas, Skully, Linda Tobin, Shotsie Gormon R.I.P., Kaname Ozuma R.I.P., Horikyo1 R.I.P., Lyle Tuttle R.I.P., Tennessee Dave1 R.I.P., Tommy Gun, Twig Sparks, Lacey Loo McClennan, Kent Kelley & Carey Hart, as well as his many patient and inspiring clients whose trust in a one-eyed man and collaborations together have shaped his career.