Artist Spotlight! 2

        In today's artist spotlight we will be talking about Ami James. Born in Israel to a native Israeli mother and a Jewish converted American father, Ami was drawn to tattooing at a young age. It is said that because ADD was a big problem for him he needed something to get his mind away from it. Even though his father left when he was four year old Ami was still inspired by his fathers love of painting and the tattoos his father had. James moved to the United States at age 11 or 12, living with his father's parents before moving to Miami at the age of 12. He moved back to Israel in his teens and completed his military service in the Israel Defense Force as a sniper. At the age of 15 he got his first tattoo, an experience which made him determined to become a tattoo artist himself. In 1992, he started his apprenticeship with tattoo artist Lou at Tattoos By Lou. Later, after he left that tattoo shop, he started his own with his friend Chris Nunez. Located in Miami, Love Hate Tattoos became popular fast and his shop even became a TV series named Miami Ink. Around 2011-2012 Ami left Miami and went to New York to start a new shop and a new series called New York Ink which centered around his shop, Wooster Street Social Club. Recently it has been announced that Ami and some of his co-workers from Wooster Street Social Club and Love Hate Tattoos are moving to London, UK to film a new show centered around his new shop Love Hate Social Club.

 

        
         Honestly as much as Kat Von D was a hero to me when it came to tattoos, Ami was the first. I remember sitting in my bed watching Miami Ink with my parents and seeing this awesome guys do some kick butt tattoos. Its always been my dream to be apprenticed by him even though I know it will never happen.