All or Nothing Tattoo Studio in Atlanta Georgia has been around long enough to have one of the best reputations in the entire state of Georgia and across the nation. The studio places an importance on custom work, artistic creativity, attention to detail, and preparation. The group of artists working out of the shop have some formidable talent and collective abilities and take pride in working as a team and being a drug free environment. They are so dedicated to their work that they eat, sleep, and breathe the art.
Top artist Brandon Bond is known as one of the nations most sought after tattoo artists. He is the owner of All or nothing Tattoo Studio and Art Gallery. His work has been featured in over 600 tattoo magazines. In the past, Bond has worked for some of the nations most prestigious studios including Slave to the Needle, Psycho Tattoo, and Electric Ladyland just to name a few. All or Nothing frequently hosts out of state clients who fly in to get custom work done. The studio takes care of all their arrangements including hotel accommodations and airport pick up. It is said that everyone leaving All or Nothing will have an experience and a story to tell. Brandon is known as a true artist, not just an ink slinger. He is motivated and focused on his art and works towards creating dynamic, innovative imagery with every piece he creates. With more then ten years experience he currently works by appointment only and is booking at least a month in advance, so if you have a chance to get a piece of his legendary work make arrangements early.
Another artist working out of All or Nothing is Dave Tedder who got his start in the industry as a piercer but his heart was always with ink. After apprenticing at a high-end shop in Myrtle Beach, he began to hone his craft into becoming one of the foremost artists of the area. He is also teamed up with Joshua Carlton who has been tattooing for more then sixteen years. He started out with Steve Hayworth at HTC and after being tattooed by the legendary Paul Booth he changed his style and intent. His unique style has become very recognizable and is not one that could be easily learned or duplicated. He is also the author of the successful book ‘Advanced Tattooing Techniques” which is due to be published in June of this year.
Crave: How old are you?
Brandon:Im 30 years old but I feel 90! I work a LOT!!!
Crave: What is you artist name?
Brandon:My name is Brandon Bond.
Crave: What is the name of the shop you work at?
Brandon:I own All or Nothing Tattoo studio and art gallery in Atlanta GA usa www.allornothingtattoo.com
Crave: Is it your own shop?
Brandon:Yes it is the most fun place to work ever! we have a blast every day, we work long hours 7 days a week and do nothing but artwork every piece is collaborated and considered by us all, we review each individual tattoo together and ask eachothers advice, we are stronger together than apart. We tattoo many clinets who fly in from all over, we pick them up at the airport and shuttle them to a hotel, then tattoo them here at the studio and take them back to the airport. We offer large discounts to travvelers and enjoy working on people who are serious about getting tattooed.
Crave: When did you get interested in tattoos?
Brandon:I remember wanting tattoos as a child, I love music and when I was a kid all the rockstars had tattoos, so I wanted one too. I got a couple and they looked like s**t, so I though f*** that I can do it better than that, so I sought out an apprenticeship. The guy who started me out sucked too his work was crap and I had to unlearn a lot of bad habits.
Crave: how was your childhood?
Brandon:My childhood was amazing, I grew up on an island in Florida called Perdido Key. The front yard was the Gulf of Mexico and I was raised by two of the absolute most amazing parents in the history of earth, they are still my best friends to this day. My Father was the best man at my wedding and nothing is more important to me than him and my mother, however my career and my workaholism does eat up vast amount of my time so I cant see them as much as I would like to.
Crave: when and where did you make your first tattoo?
Brandon:I did a tattoo on myself when I was like 15 or 16, it was a FTW (f*** the
World) That was the first time I did a tattoo, however the first tattoo I did on another operson was 13 years ago, I was in Texas USA, I tattooed a tribal leg piece and it was perfect, however the four or five tattoos that followed that one were far from perfect. Tattooing is a process, an evolution, I am constantly changing and growing as an artist, and so are the guys at All or Nothing, we push eachother to be better everyday. I dont feel that I got a solid handle on this artform until about three years ago, so it took me ten LONG years of working everyday to get to where I wanted to be with this medium. I still struggle EVERYDAY to be better and more diverse.
Crave: do youself have any tattoo?
Brandon:I have a body suit in the sence that I am tattooed from my feet to my wrists. Joe Capobianco and Eric Merrill do most of my work including a collaborative backpiece, however I have been tattooed by Chris Trevino, Aaron Bell, Damon Conklin, and a slew of other artists. My Hands and throat are not tattooed only out of respect for my parents. They do not understand fully the lifestyle and artwork envolved in the tattoo industry and I dont want to disrepect them. However, I will get my hands tattooed soon, by Joe Capobianco and Joshua Carlton will be tattooing my ribs next fall. I think getting tattooed is the absolute best way to learn and grow as a tattoo artist, because you are so closely involed with every aspect of the process and you can see it grow and develop through eyes that arent your own. Every time I get tattooed it changes something about the way I tattoo my clients. I have no respect for tattooers with no tattoos, its like a dentist with no teeth. I am what I do in every since, and an artist who is not serious enough to get tattooed, obviously doesnt give the artform the respect it deserves. I was a client before I was a tattooer, I will be a client as long as I am alive, I love tattoos, thats why I do it.
Crave: What was your first tattoo?
Brandon:My first tattoo has been lasered off and "re-tattooed" over by Eric Merrill. It was a demon thing that was horrible. Now it is a kabuki mask type think in water and its gorgeous.
Crave: Where have you learned to tattoo?
Brandon:I learn to tattoo everyday. art is everywhere around us, I use photographs, paintings, models, and other artists on a daily basis to get stronger as an artist. I got tattooed a lot and learned volumes from all of that, I flew all over the country getting tattooed, I traveled the United States, working in every shop I could trying to gain more knowledge and insite to apply toward my own style that is developing. I have worked in Texas, Washington, California, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Miami, Georgia, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, I still learn from every piece I do or see to this day.
Crave: Where do you find insperation?
Brandon:Inspiration is everywhere, you would have to try and not see it to deny it. I see art in everything and since tattooing is the only medium I have time for, I see things in terms of tattoo art. I want to push the limit on what is tattooing, I want to break down the barriers, I want every piece to be more dramatic and dynamic. I look at photographs a lot. Realism is the future of modern tattooing, all that space brocoli crap and bio mech mess, and "new school" s**t has come and gone. The future of tattooing is in getting an image perfect every time. Not in how you can draw it all crazy and hard to read. Illustration is taking a back seat to realism in our modern movement. I want to be a part of that. I find inspiration in emotion, music, lighting, nature, sexuality, history, and sucessful tattoo work. I look at tattoo magazines constantly, theres always something that can be learned from anything. I am a sponge, an "art whore" I will steal from anything and everything. Good artists borrow, GREAT artists steal.
Crave: Do you have any icons? Icons as in influences? Heroes?
Brandon:My parents are heroes to me, Joe capobianco changed the way that I tattoo years ago when he did my sleeves. Joshua Carlton has affected my artwork tremendously, Eric Merrill still blows my mind, Albie Rock has taught me to loosen up and illutrate more, and not be afrais to use gay colors, Bob Tyrell's realism affected my artwork early on.
Crave: what is your favoritstyle of tattoos?
Brandon:I am develpoing my own unique style of artwork I am not using lines much at all anymore, more like painting. I love colorful artwork that when people see ask "is that a real tattoo" that is the best question I have ever heard. I enjoy colorful realism and japanese, I like tattooing so I really enjoy just about everything.
Crave: is there any style of tattos that you dislike?
Brandon:Tribal. I hate it, it is a waste of space, and it is impossible to cover up.
Crave: Do paint or draw?
Brandon:I wish I had more time unfortunately with my huge workload and being booked months in advance I am drawing as fast as I can for each individual client. I rarely even have time to see my own wife, as I am working constantly to the point of total exhaustion, its insane really, so no I dont paint much and it drives me CRAZY! My biggest art project to date is my studio, it is a work of art, and a constant drain of energy. My staff is amazing and our artwork speaks volumes, we have been incredibly sucessful, so that is my big project from last year. I am currently working on a book project, the tentative title is "WHORE" and I am trying to draw for that, it is my first book and Im excited about it, the release should be this summer (05). The book will display sketches, short stories photographs and a chapter by Zeke Owen who has been tattooing since 1953. Albie Rock is writing the forward and Joshua Carlton will also be writing some for the piece. It will be a very intense book of artworks but it is incredibly time consuming.
Crave: If so, what are you most likely to draw?
Brandon:I draw for clients, as a tattooer you have to be on your toes and bring different styles constantly to the table. We are nothing more than commisioned artists who provide what the clients ask for. So that keeps me rediculasly busy.
Crave: In tattooing. Do you have any kind of favorit motif (bird, dragons, butterflyes, ect.)
Brandon:No we have to be good at drawing EVERYTHING! there is no one trick ponies at my studio, so many artists get famous for doing one style and then are stuck doing that for the rest of their lives. Its rediculas really, I cant imagine that fate and want to avoid it as intensely as possible.
Crave: If you should be a tattoo, what kind of tattoo would it be?
Brandon:An exploding realistic heart with aortas and valves on fire that has a banner that says "whore". Or a candle burning at both ends. My lifestyle and workaholism exceeds that metaphor, Im not burning it at both ends, Im microwaving that bitch.
Crave: do you like conventions?
Brandon:yes, I did a lot of shows early in my career, I do enjoy doing conventions still but it is very tiring and I miss being home. I got married this last year and bought a house and opened a studio so I am very tied down to Atlanta GA usa. I have never had an anchor like that holding me down but I actually enjoy it now. I am getting older and dont have the energy for all that chaos as much anymore. I am still touring, but the schedule is much thinner now. I like being home, I like being with my wife, and I like working at my studio.
Crave: What kind of conventions do you like the most?
Brandon:I like larger shows where really good artists come from all over, the smaller ones suck, I dont wanna be a BIG FISH in a small pond, I would rather be with artists I respect and admire. Thats the best way to learn.
Crave: Do you ever make guestappreance in other shops.
Brandon:Yes I am travelling to Chicago in the coming months, and will probably do some other appearences as well.
Crave: Who works in your studio?
Brandon:Dave Tedder, Zeke Owen, Joshua Carlton, Albie Rock, Danny "Pepto", Joe Waulken, Ted Wallen, Eric Merrill, Bill Canales, and myself. I believe that we have put together the absolute best roster of artists in America in the since that ALL styles are covered. Everyone excels at different styles and approaches artistically. As a staff we have been in over 1000 tattoo magazines internationally and there is no other studio in the country right now that has such a diverse and broad spectrum list of amazing award winning "rock-star" type artists. However we are not "rock-stars" at all, we are all just very interested in tattooing, that comes firstevery day, more than money, or women, or pride, or ego, ART is priority every day. I love working there and wouldnt trade it for anything. We all draw together all the time, we draw on our clients with markers together, we lay out artworks together in the back of the studio and we argue about colors and get in eachother buisness, its like an art war every day.
Crave: Have you ever been to Europe or Scandinavia on conventions?
Brandon:no, but I would love to!
Crave: where do you see the world of tattoos ten years from now?
Brandon:I believe that tattoos in ten years will make the ones in this article look like they were drawn by a retarted child. I see an amazing surge in the industry, all the heroes of yesteryear with their poor drawing skills and drug problems are dying off and the young more energetic and creative lunatics are taking over. I want to be a part of that renissance, it is an explosion and its exciting to watch it evolve. Art galleries and tattoo shops are becoming one, art and tattooing are become more and more intertwined everyday, like horny teenagers. The internet has caused a huge change in our industry, we can see what other artists are doing the same day now, I finsish an artwork and its up on www.allornothingtattoo.com that night, people are biting on it the next day, and in all honesty so are we. Theres nothing wrong with that, that is just smart really. Tattoos that dont look like they are tattoos are popping up all over the world and its only getting stronger and stronger. The industry will become a leviathon of art.
Crave: what will you be doing ten years from now?
Brandon:Hopefully not tattooing unless I just want to, I hope to be kicking back with my wife counting money and playing with our huge family of Pit-Bulls. Probably fishing, having a cold beer on the beach somewhere looking back and laughing saying "damn I worked as hard as I possibly could for twenty five years, Im glad thats over." I would also like to see the industry completely free of stereo types, just an art driven industry free of drug addicts and bikers, and full of people who love art and appreciate the gift that tattooing affords those who are immersed in it. It is by far the best possible career for my lifestyle and I knew that immediately when i was 17 years old. I met resistence at first, and my family wasnyt sure that I would be able to make a good living at it, I fought a lot of wierd battles along the way, but tattooing pulled me through and will continue to until I collapse from exhaustion. The first time I ever did a tattoo, I knew I wouldnt do anything else.
Crave: Any final word or advice to all the tattoofreaks out there?
Brandon:yeah buy my book! It will be published by Kinpin publishing and availible through www.allornothingtattoo.com and www.brandonbond.com it will be very wierd and exciting, come get tattooed, dont do drugs, carry a loaded gun and dont pull it out unless you plan to kill someone, the saying "once you go black you never go back" is not true, strippers are people too give 'em some money, get a dog and take care of it, make as much money as possible everyday, have a lot of sex, but always use a condom, always know that resentment brings sucess, stay focused, dont be afraid to do exactly what you want, how you want, for yourself, your the one thats gotta die when its time for you to do so live your life the way you want to, college is a huge watse of time and money and so is sleep, Christmas is the best holiday, dont breed, the world is a cold dark place so your responsible for making your corner shine, no matter how much money you made yesterday you start everyday at zero, being famous is dumb, dont steal, treat your family with respect, stockpile all the ammunition you can get, stop wasting time reading this and go produce something with your life, stand on your own two feet, dont be lazy, find what you want and TAKE it cause no one will hand it to you, dont take any s**t from anyone, dont let people tell you what to do, and remeber if all else fails, you can always be a serial killer. _________________ ALL OR NOTHING Tattoo studio, Body Piercing & Art Gallery... Atlanta, GA 770 435 9966 www.allornothingtattoo.com www.brandonbond.com http://www.myspace.com/brandonbond
