Tattooing by Nick Colella @ The Chicago Tattoo Co.

I began tattooing in September of 1994 under the guidance of Dale Grande. He taught me to tattoo the way he learned from Cliff Raven, the original owner of Chicago Tattoo. I still feel honored to have learned my trade in the oldest existing tattoo shop in Chicago from men who have become part of tattoo history.

The old time spirit of Chicago Tattoo is a perfect fit for the traditional American style I prefer. Traditional American tattooing refers to the style that originated in the 1940's and 1950's, when tattoos looked like tattoos and you could tell what they were from across the street. Every traditional piece I do has clean solid lines, heavy black shading and bold bright colors. I am lucky to be working with today's health standards and the popularity of tattoos, but must thank the many men who laid the framework to make tattooing what it is today. My greatest influences include Sailor Jerry Collins, "Brooklyn" Joe Lieber, Owen Jensen, Burt Grimm,Ed Hardy, Cliff Raven and Dale Grande.