Meet Chad.
Ohio born. Vegas made.
Chad James is a Las Vegas tattoo artist and illustrator with 25+ years of experience. Raised in Columbus, Ohio, he draws New School, traditional and pop-culture work in loud colour with comic-book energy, and he bleeds Buckeyes scarlet and Raiders silver.
The story
Chad grew up in Columbus, Ohio: the kid who won an art contest in fourth grade and drew shoes obsessively. Saturday-morning cartoons like Johnny Quest and Scooby-Doo shaped his eye, and in high school he found sports graffiti. In the early '90s he studied art in Columbus, aiming for a career at Disney or Pixar.
Tattooing pulled him in instead. He started in Ohio, then moved to Las Vegas, where he tattooed at Starlight Tattoo (pictured with the crew in the Review-Journal's Best of Las Vegas 2013), spent many years at Studio 21 Tattoo Gallery, and later worked at Hive Tattoo. [Chad: correct any of this and add the years.]
Today Chad tattoos at 5th Element Ink in Southern Highlands, Las Vegas. His work runs from bold New School characters and pin-ups to traditional pieces and black-and-grey or colour portraits, and he works the convention circuit, from Philadelphia and Chicago to Phoenix, and was a featured artist at DesignerCon in Las Vegas. [Chad: what you love to draw, and what clients can expect in your chair.]
The road so far
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Columbus, Ohio
Where it startedWon an art contest in fourth grade, drew sports graffiti in high school, studied art in the early '90s and began tattooing in Ohio.
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[years]
Starlight Tattoo
Las Vegas, NVTattooing in Las Vegas at Starlight Tattoo, pictured with the crew in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Best of Las Vegas 2013 readers-poll section. [Chad: years, and was this the shop on the Strip?]
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[years]
Studio 21 Tattoo Gallery
Las Vegas, NVJoined the Studio 21 team and stayed for many years: New School paintings on the gallery walls, custom work and walk-ins. [Chad: highlights.]
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[years]
Hive Tattoo
S. Rainbow Blvd., Las VegasAfter Studio 21, Chad tattooed at Hive Tattoo, where he ran flash events like Sneaker Week. [Chad: years, and what you loved about it.]
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Now
5th Element Ink
Southern Highlands, Las VegasChad's home base today, at 10430 S. Decatur Blvd. #107. [Chad: what it's like, and how to book.]
Conventions & guest spots
Gila Tattoo Expo
DesignerCon XX
Villain Arts Chicago Tattoo Arts Festival
Villain Arts Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Festival
Styles & themes
Cartoons & Pop Culture
Saturday-morning cartoons, video games, movies and comics.
Sports
Ohio State, the Raiders and the rest of the sports world.
Game day
Buckeye for life
Ohio born, and it shows. Chad is a huge Ohio State fan, and Buckeyes season is the best time of year. [Chad: your favourite Buckeyes memory.]
Raider Nation
Now a Las Vegas local, Chad has Raiders season tickets. [Chad: confirm, and add a game-day story.]