The Mitchell Atkinson Wandering Roadshow
Comments(2) I’m so psyched Mitch is doing this vagabond thing, despite some of the ups and downs so far. But as we get older, it is so refreshing to see those who are still willing to stray from “the more stable thing” in the name of quixotic adventure.
A tattoo artist sells his shop, gets camera, computer, ink guns and sterilization equipment, loads them into a ’73 Maverick and sets out on the road, filming the entire thing in hopes of getting sponsorship for continuing funds for the operation. Sure, his style is a little “home spun” and some of the antics border on slapstick, but I’d argue this venture is also extremely DIY, and even a bit punk rock.
Follow later episodes through his youtube page (there are 11 as of now). Don’t just stop at one, seriously.
I especially love that he’s gone back to a variation on what he and brother Watson (Twins of Pain) were doing when I first met them 15 years ago. I’ll never forget when they showed up in Athens in that school bus with the rest of the entourage, leaving behind Indiana, where at the time tattooing “on the fly” was considered ‘practicing medicine without a license’, and carried rather stiff penalties, as you might imagine. They made such a lasting impression – not only in our hearts, but also on our skins. I don’t want to give up too many stories now, since I’m actively pursuing an interview for the podcast in the very near future. And if I’m lucky, might even do some time and miles with ol’ One Eye Willie myself.
Er, maybe I should rephrase that…
hey mitch-
i finally found you,i called your shop the day you walked out,left message but never heard from you, just now stumbled across your u-tube journey i am glad to see you and that you are ok. drop me a line when you get a chance.
gary
Crash kills noted tattoo artist
Prominent Athens tattoo artist Mitchell Atkinson, who would’ve turned 40 today, died early Tuesday morning when he crashed on West Broad Street, injuring his passenger, Athens-Clarke police said.