OPB’s Tattoo People: Oregon History at Tip Top Tattoo

OPB reporter Frankie Benitez came to Tip Top Tattoo in Portland to interview me for the Tattoo People, a short film about Oregon tattoo history.
We talked about my apprenticeship with Don Deaton at Sea Tramp Tattoo, Bert Grimm’s legacy, and the stories I still cherish from that shop .
Frankie, her camerman and my friend Damion spent nearly three hours talking about the past and current conditions of tattooing in Portland.
I tried to honor Don as best I could.
Frankie’s film does a nice job of trying to capture a small part of Oregon’s tattoo history, Tattoo People, a story that is older than the state itself.

I am entirely grateful to have been included in this project and to be given the opportunity to share my insights and experience on tattooing in Oregon .

Please give the film a watch:

Watch Tattoo People on OPB:

Damion and I with the finished Knight piece.

Ms. Mikki tattooing Damion as OPB camerman does his magic

Ms. Mikki tattooing Frankie with the fern design off her OPB flash

Bert Grimm inspired flash and OPB requests by Ms. Mikki 2026

Tattoo People lettering #1 by Ms. Mikki

Tattoo People #2 for by Ms. Mikki

Sticker designs for OPB by Ms. Mikki

Tattoo People Drat and Ms. Mikki at the OPB screening