LA Ink: Tattoo Artist Paul Timman visits his hometown to speak at the TMA

Eye On Art  |  11/27/2013

The first time Paul Timman met Nikki Sixx, the Motley Crue bassist was doing a burn out in a flame-covered '57 Chevy with a porn star riding shotgun. Which is basically the way most of us imagine meeting Nikki Sixx. But, as a tattoo artist on the sunset strip, this is most likely one of Timman's more tame stories. During our conversation, the former Toledoan, who moved to L.A. to pursue his dream of becoming a leading tattoo artist, hinted that he had some True Hollywood Story shit stored away. But instead of pressing him for drugs-and-debauchery-fueled tales of hair metal gods, we caught up with him before he speaks at the Toledo Museum of Art on December 5 to talk about the first tattoo he ever gave, what sparked his interest in traditional Japanese design and chilling with Ozzy. 

On the first tattoo he ever gave.

It was a pacific northwest tribal image of the sun. A friend of mine had some tattoo equipment at his apartment. My best friend was getting tattooed and one of the guys I was there with ? the one who had the equipment ? wanted to take a break and I was interested in tattooing. He kind of outlined it and let me fill it in. Then, moments after that, one of my other friends was like, 'Ok, cool; let's do one on me.' We pretty much did his whole upper back. It was just gigantic. I have no idea why we went so big on it, especially on my first one. Looking back now, I think I'm insane. But, it is what it is. It was a good experience. Walking home that night with my roommate was when I realized that I really wanted to tattoo. 

On what sparked his interest in traditional Japanese designs. 

They look really great on skin. They transcend well, from the art world to the tattoo world. They're timeless. They are unisex. There's a whole list of things that I really like about them. I just like the images. And tattooing them is challenging. 

On moving to LA.

I felt, growing up, I never really fit in in Toledo 100 percent. I love it. It's my home. I had blue hair growing up. I skateboarded. I listened to hardcore and punk-rock music. When I was a kid, that just wasn't the hip thing and I took a lot of flak in high school about it. It's fine. It made me a stronger person and gave me a thicker skin, but when I first walked around in LA, I just felt like I was normal. I didn't stand out. It was actually kind of a culture shock for me, because I didn't get attention. I was pretty much straight-laced out here. Also, I really wanted to improve my tattooing. I knew I could learn bigger and better tattoos. I would get the opportunity to do more and meet the proper people to help push my career.

On tattooing Ozzy. 

Ozzy has been getting tattoos at our shop for years and years and years. When he came in to get tattooed one night, he was listening to the radio and he wanted to hear a particular song. He called the radio station, saying, 'This is Ozzy Osborne. I'm up at Sunset Tattoo and I want to hear…'. The next thing you know, a group of people are standing outside, hanging out, waiting to get autographs and just hang out with Ozzy. Stuff like that is fun.

Paul Timman is set to speak at the Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St., at 6pm on December 5. The presentation is free. For more information, call 419-255-8000 or visit www.toledomuseum.com.