Meet Peter Hawks | Tattooer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Peter Hawks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Peter, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’d wanted to be a tattooer since I was 12 but didn’t know anyone around me growing up that was doing it or involved in the arts in anyway so it sort of fell by the wayside. I had started getting tattooed 2016, and fell back in the love with the idea. It wasn’t until 2017 though when I started a streetwear / art brand of my own designs, Passed Death, that it really started up again for me. I used the success of those designs as a litmus test for myself, “if these designs do well and people want to wear them then there’s a non zero chance people would get my designs tattooed if I knew how to do it”

Having that under my belt I started pursuing tattooing, but in Oregon you have to go to tattoo school if you want to be licensed by the state and make work legitimately. I didn’t agree with spending $5-$10k being taught by people who weren’t in the industry for more than a few years and didn’t have any interest to teach people in a learning environment that lended itself to longevity in the tattoo world. So I packed up my stuff and headed down to Los Angeles to pursue a tattoo apprenticeship and have a one on one experience with a mentor who’s work I admired.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I mainly make traditional and illustrative tattoos, using images and reference from traditional americana, pop culture, tattoo culture and history, and more to make images, designs, and ideas that excite me or make me laugh. While I have a few styles of tattoo I prefer to do I am down for any and every idea a client may have as long as I know I can execute and apply that tattoo to the best of my abilities. At the moment the work and subject matter I’m particularly focused on and excited about is a mix of fantasy art and fantastical creatures and scenes, bio mechanical and bio organic designs that form to the contours of the body, and some more graphic, exaggerated, or psychedelic combinations of skulls, dice, medieval weapons, flames and more.

My journey into the world of tattooing was long and arduous, as most people’s are, but ultimately so incredibly worth the time, struggle, and effort I put in to get here.

I started apprenticing in May 2019 and began tattooing people May 2021. Within that time I worked 20 hr days 6 – 7 days a week, working a full time graveyard job at a donut shop from 12am-8am in Venice then heading all the way to Highland Park right after that shift ended to work for my mentor, Eddy, from 9/10am til about 6/7pm. Repeat that process every day for a year, with maybe a half day off in between, and you’ve got the first year of my experience apprenticing.

That first year or so was essentially being Eddy’s personal assistant helping with any and everything I could, most of it not tattoo related, in order to help his life be easier. Our agreement was me trading my work and time and help to him in exchange for the gift of tattooing, something that will support me for the rest of my life so long as I choose to do so. That first year most of the work I did for Eddy involved: cleaning up his studio every day, running his Instagram, cleaning his car, making stencils for tattoos, helping out with his family by taking his kids to their extracurricular classes, cleaning up around his house and backyard (Sunday’s were “labor days”), among a myriad of other tasks in his life that were aided by having a second pair of willing hands.

Once we got to the beginning of my second year apprenticing it shifted towards more tattoo focused learning like watching over his shoulder for every tattoo from start to finish, pouring inks in the beginning of the tattoo and during when he needed them, setting up and breaking down for each tattoo, bandaging the finished tattoos, watching him draw, helping organize his reference library, and tag along with him to conventions and work trips to watch how it’s done and make sure he’s taken care of in every situation.

The tasks in and of themselves weren’t necessarily difficult, it was the combination of an all-in all day apprenticeship followed back to back by an 8hr graveyard shift on top of working for someone with incredibly high standards and expectations that added layers of stress and difficulty to the experience. I learned a lot during this time, not only about the practice of tattooing and holding yourself in an industry but also a lot about myself and what it meant to set a goal and really stick to something you care about no matter what obstacles are set in your way.

Getting 2-4 hours of sleep per night for over a year while pursuing my dream of tattooing was incredibly tough, but so worth the reward in the end. I’m grateful for the experience I had and how much it showed me the power of what you’re capable of when setting your mind on a goal and being steadfast in completing it. It was an intense two years before I got to start doing what I love but I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything and would happily make that decision again every time. Tattooing holds a special place in my heart and I’m incredibly lucky it’s what I get to do every day and support myself with.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh tough question, given how big LA is, but depending on what of the city my friend has seen it’d go a lil something like this. First we’d head to Broad Beach up in Malibu to swim in some clear and clean water maybe spot a sea turtle or dolphin if we’re lucky! Then stop at The Window for some gut bomb cheese burgers and make our trek from the west side over to Highland Park to show them the shop. Maybe take a quick stroll from there over to Tropical Juice LA for a big ol’ smoothie and hop on over to Mason’s Dumplings for a snack before we head home to Pasadena. Once we’re there drop by Afters Ice Cream for a scoop or two and end the day walking around Old Pasadena.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have a few people who deserve a shoutout and recognition for where I am in my career. First and foremost, my mentor, Eddy Deutsche. Without him I wouldn’t be in the shop I’m at, have the knowledge I do, or even be making tattoos. He took a chance on me and gave me a gift that is invaluable to me. Thank you forever, Eddy!

Secondly, my mom and my best friend Cody Cushing. These two were integral to my survival during my apprenticeship. I was working 20 hr days 6-7 days a week for nearly a year, and if it weren’t for the emotional support of my mom and Cody I don’t think I could’ve survived my apprenticeship without crashing and burning. I love y’all so much, thank you!

Finally, I want to thank my boss Kal Morrison at Highland Park Tattoo Co. (the shop I currently work at) for taking a chance on me after my apprenticeship ended and letting me continue to work at the shop once my career really began. Not only that but Kal provided an element of mentorship and guidance that I believe was crucial to my success and progressing in my craft of tattooing. Thank you big poppa, I love you!

Thank you to all of these lovely people, as well as all my shop mates that make my work environment so fun to be in and the hugest thank you to all of my clients who give me the utmost trust to make tattoos on them forever. It means so much to me and I quite literally cannot do it without you, so thanks y’all! Big huge love!

Website: Peterhawkstattoo.com

Instagram: instagram.com/peter__hawks