When I think of “tattoo,” the image I picture in my head immediately is the American traditional style of tattooing. For others, it could be the “basic-bro-Chicano-black-and-grey” look; it really depends on one’s taste and inclinations. My personal bias comes from a random photo I found on Google when I was in high school. It was of a young lady wearing a white v-neck tee and black skinny jeans and adorned with a full American traditional arm sleeve. I wanted to be her when I grew up. To me, that was the quintessential “tattooed look.”
American traditional has a rich history. It began with sailors who got tattoos as mementos of their journey to the great tattoo cultures of Japan, China, and the Pacific Islands. During WWII, a former Navy man named Norman 'Sailor Jerry' Collins refined these designs and changed the world of tattooing. Being the first Westerner to learn from Japanese tattoo masters, Sailor Jerry created a new style with his American sensibilities, technique, and innovative nature. This is why Japanese and American traditional are very similar in style, characterized by bold lines, iconic imagery, and lots of black.
From L to R: Los Carlos, Paul Belciña, and Rheed Lauronilla
Knowing the history, it’s amazing how American traditional tattooing reaching our shores feels like a full-circle moment. I sat down with three Cebu-based tattoo artists whose specialties include American traditional.
Paul Belciña has been professionally tattooing for eight years now, and yet, he's still picking up new tricks. During his days off, you can find him out on the streets with his precious Fujifilm X-E3 in hand, capturing the world from his perspective. His hobby of street photography keeps his creative juices flowing and ensures he doesn't get too comfortable. He shares, “This balance between tattooing and photography fuels my passion for art in all its forms.”
Paul and his tattoo works
Rheed Lauronilla made the leap to full-time tattooing in 2017. But his journey began in 2007, when he bought a "real" tattoo machine to dabble in his off-hours. Back then, he was working at a casual dining restaurant in Cebu, tinkering with a homemade tattoo machine crafted from a VHS tape rewinder dynamo. For Rheed, tattooing is a unique therapy—like “having the license to stab someone”—his words, not mine. The thrill of creating painful masterpieces on living canvases pushed him to leave his shift manager gig at the restaurant and follow his passion. When he's not tattooing, you can find Rheed camping, on his fixie, or enjoying other adventures.
Rheed and his tattoo works
Los Carlos is a man of many interests and experiences: from contact sports and cycling to toys and comics to fashion and pickleball (his current obsession). But what has remained constant his entire life since childhood is drawing. He pivoted from being a fashion designer and owning physical stores in two of the city’s malls to being a tattoo artist during the pandemic in 2021. He may be new to the game, but he’s been an illustrator his entire life, he’s a nerd who knows his tattoo machines (don’t call them guns, please) and watches nearly 2-hour long Waboripedia episodes on YouTube for fun.
Carlos and his tattoo works
Let’s see what this intriguing line-up of tattoo artists have to say.
How or where did your love for American traditional begin?
Paul: I became drawn to this kind of tattoo style when I started following and listening to metal and hardcore bands. I noticed the bands and its community often have bright and bold tattoo designs.
Rheed: College days; I like punk rock bands and skateboarding, so didto nga scenes mostly naay traditional tattoo. But my first love was Oriental style because of its symbolic significance. Tattoo magazines at the time also were the best and only reference, and most of the designs were American traditional.
Los Carlos: My wife. She got them first and the style grew on me. It perfectly matches with how I illustrate: bold lines, simple figures, bold colors.
What are your favorite flash designs to tattoo?
Paul: I love doing traditional designs in general, not just American but also Japanese and their ‘neo’ variants, especially those with floral elements.
Rheed: Black works and black and red traditional tattoo kay maldito kaayo tan-awon.
Los Carlos: A rose, a skull, and a snake head
L to R: Works by Paul, Los Carlos, and, Rheed
Because it has a distinct look, how challenging is it to create your own style? Or is that even an objective for you?
Paul: It involves study, research, and constant practice. To apply my style, I have to re-draw most of the parts and incorporate my accumulated knowledge from various inspirations to create my own unique designs.
Rheed: I enjoy tattooing bold and solid lines. Until now, I'm still learning and studying for my own style. Kinahanglan kaayo pasensya ang solid lines in tattooing. Sometimes if the client has a design ready, I sometimes suggest that we can do it in a traditional style, especially if the client is a tattoo collector.
Los Carlos: I wouldn’t say it’s easy, but it’s not that hard once you get the basics down. There’s a certain approach to American traditional, wherein if you just follow the rules, you can have your own style. As an objective, of course, in every tattoo that I do, I try to find my own voice even in what is perceived as traditional.
Ideally, it would be amazing to exclusively do American traditional, right? But is it the case realistically? If so, great. If not, do you think Cebu will catch up in terms of increasing interest in the style?
Paul: Exclusively doing American traditional tattoos? No, at least for me. However, I sometimes incorporate traditional elements into other designs. Creating traditional tattoos feeds my soul, while the others pay the bills.😉 I don't think traditional tattoos will gain widespread marketability in Cebu City, not in the near future. However, I’m grateful for the small number of clients who have an interest in traditional tattoos.
Rheed: Yes puhon, if I'll be a professional tattoo artist or padong nako retire, old school all the way exclusively. As of now, dapat open pa kaayo ko mo try sa lain tattoo style and techniques para makat-on. Cebu has a lot of very talented tattooists, nga mga bangiitan sa nagkadaiyang nga estilo, daghan na kaayo og options ang Cebuano. And for me it's good, American traditional or the old school style is not for everyone.
Los Carlos: Well, I always like a bit of variety since I also do a lot of Japanese traditional. I always like to do both because there are days when I prefer to do something quick, bold, and bright. And there are days when the complexity and scale of Japanese is more to my liking. I can’t really say I love one more than the other because it’s like two sides of the same coin and the coin is me. As for Cebu, it’s always possible. The style will always be there since it is traditional; it heals well and stands the test of time. I believe with more exposure to the internet and everything else, American traditional will come around. I’ve been doing it since I’ve started tattooing. I feel like there’s a lot of it now and it will just continue to grow from here.
Who are the top 3 tattoo artists you look up to or are influenced by?
Paul: Yoshihito Nakano, Shigenori Iwasaki, Myke Chambers
Rheed: As of now, William Taylor, Steen Jones, and Marta Montero
Los Carlos: Myke Chambers, Chris Garver, and Kiyo
We can’t impose American traditional on people, but why should they get it? 😂
Paul: They should get one because it's cool! If you want to feel and look cool, then a traditional tattoo is the way to go! That’s it.
Rheed: Yes, I can't impose any tattoo style on my client, specifically American traditional, because it's only for the people with bold and solid hearts. But people should get it because it is timeless.
Los Carlos: It heals well and stands the test of time. It’s a classic look; it’s traditional and everyone can wear it. There’s always something for everyone in it. If it suits you, get some. It’s bold, bright, and simple. Why not?
So to answer my question if American traditional is a thing here in Cebu, I would say, it could be. Many love it, for sure, but it’s not popular enough for Cebu to claim that we have a community for it here. But it’s fine. We grow. Meanwhile, let’s get some American or Japanese traditional tattoos.
Make sure to follow the tattoo artists featured in this article and continue to support your other local artists!
All photos taken from the artists' personal archives. Shout out to Paul, Rheed, and Los Carlos!
Check out the upcoming Savage Ink International Tattoo Convention this September 14-15, 2024 at the Fili Hotel - Nustar Cebu featuring around 200 participating local and international artists, including judges and guests from around the globe, including the Philippines, Japan,
Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, France, USA, UK, Sweden, Switzerland, Malaysia,
Indonesia, Australia, Italy, and Poland. The event will feature a car and motor show and Artist Alley, where aspiring and professional artists can display their works for sale. The convention is thrilled to announce Dice & K9 (Saturday, September 14), Typecast, and Shvriken (Sunday, September 15) as the main musical acts plus more local acts.
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