Bio

Randy Holder

Work References

Work History

... Randy Holder, A.k.a. Dragon Randy has been drawing since he could pick up a pencil. His skills were amplified by his perfectionist nature, as well as being a stickler for detail when approaching any field of art.

"" As a kid growing up in Las Vegas, my mother purchased a set of Encyclopedias. Before I could read, I was drawing the images in these books.

... In 1976, Randy met his first tattoo art mentor and received his first professional tattoo, from a traveling Tattoo artist named Slim Jim out of the Bill Williamson shop, of Jacksonville, FL. then owned by Paul Rogers. With some arm twisting and a good art portfolio, Randy was able to talk Slim Jim into an apprenticeship during 1976 thru 1978.

"" I fell in love with the idea of individuals sporting my artwork on them; as a walking gallery of my own work. I thought there could be no better legacy.

... His tattoo education, while under Slim Jim, was  the Traditional Western and Japanese style forms of Tattooing. Traditional style consisted entirely of smaller pieces, conveying an idea or sentiment. Many were sporting a patchwork of small pieces; not necessarily related to each other. Japanese style involved large pieces of epic themes.

"" I was trained in the standard method of working as a tattoo artist used during the 60's and early 70's which was a virtual factory process.

... Patrons picked stock designs from wall displays and books, paid a set price, had it slapped on and were then sent off to make room for the next person. A tattooist made money based on speed of execution and volume of clients.

"" My artistic influences were from the Renaissance period artists like Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo; and the Fantasy artists of the 60's and the 70's like Frank Frazzetta and Boris Vallejo. I really like the fantasy motif, the fine line detailing of these artists works and I began to develop my own fine line style of tattooing. I preferred to tattooed larger work in a Frazzetta/ Boris style, and it was indeed scenery.

... The tattoo industry has a "get 'em in and get 'em out" hustle of the business, which is still a predominant and successful feature of many shops today. This type of tattooing at the time does not really allow for any artistic creativity.

"" After a few years in the business I was burned out. As a tattoo artist, my income was considerably lower then many other vocations at the time. Not wanting to lose my love of art and tattooing, I made the decision to find another field to work in. My artistic influences and style were to illustrate a more artistic tattoo. Which, of course, did not fit in the main stream of tattooing.

...Tattoo styles of the 70's and 80's mainly comprised of tattoo flash from sailor, cartoon, and biker forms of art.

"" This also persuaded me to seek another way of making a living, and to use my talents as an artist as an avocation instead of a vocation...

... I kept hearing my fathers voice, get a job in the need business, people have needs, transportation, food, clothing and the like. The idea of being a burned-out tattoo artist did not appeal to me.

"" Over the years I worked in a wide range of artistic jobs- commercial advertising, painting, designing corporate logos, outdoor murals, illustrating children's books, sign making, all occasion cards and cartooning, to name a few.

...Then, with the communications /electronic revolution of the 80's, I finally settled down in the electronics field.

"" My tattooing became a form of my own free expression of art and I tattooed what I wanted on whom I wanted for many a year. For many years my main vocation was in the electronics industry working for large companies like RCA and other major electronic manufacturers.

... In the late 80's tattooing was in the process of a rebirth. An equally remarkable event was taking place, many artists were choosing to work with the client and developing unique illustrated pieces of tattoo art ...

"" Tattoo artists began to develop new tattoo equipment and better tattoo inks. Pigments became more refined and so did the application of these inks into the skin.

... The ink was brighter and the clients had changed too. From the biker and military client, to sports stars and movie stars. The tattoo business was exploding in new color and styles, and increased income....

"" Making the decision to re-enter the tattoo business came easy. I turned in my Ohm Meter, for full time tattooing. Living in Las Vegas, I contacted some of the tattoo business acquaintances I had formed over the years and was soon working full time as a tattoo artist.

... During the early days there were only a few shops in Las Vegas and all the buzz was happening in California and back East. The players in the main tattoo industry were made-up of a very select few who guarded the business with great zeal.

"" An offer came to go on the road, to expand my abilities and quiet my nomadic nature. I tattooed out of a Mobile tattoo shop at so of the largest motorcycle meets in the West. I started going to conventions and studying other artist's styles and techniques.

... With the 90,s came a new breed of men entering their 50,s trading in the corvettes of their forefather for Harley Davidson and they took to the road in groves. Tattoos, tattoos you could find them everywhere from your children's cereal to movie stars.

"" In 1989,there was the birth my son, I made the decision to settle down into tattooing at local tattoo shops. My talent landed me positions working at some of the largest tattoo shops in Las Vegas, doing 100's of tattoos monthly.

... With the 90,s came new styles like. Tribal, New Wave, Celtic, to name a few.

"" I quickly developed my skill in all the new styles as a matter of the volume of work I was having to do daily It was a blast new blood, new ideas, finally creativity was coming of age.

...Tattooing comes of age, many well defined artist bring new ideas and talent, along with them came a boom in conventions, tattoo equipment, tattoo magazines, etc.

"" Some of my main Tattoo artist influences are Kari Barba for her color work and beautiful fantasy pieces; black and gray work influences are Brain Everett and Tom Renshaw; and Paul Booth for his dark influential black and gray work.

... He takes his tattooing very serious, though. He loves taking the clients idea and turning it into a functional work of art a collaboration, tailored to the their overall taste, creating an a personal biography for  them years to come.

"" I reveal in the fact that I am in a field that is extremely fun and rewarding. I actually like dealing with the public. Over the years, I have been fortunate to tattoo individuals from many countries and cultures. People are very interesting and tattooing has become very rewarding.

... So you may ask, How does a big city tattoo artist come by being in the Tri Cities?  Well, their goes that Nomadic nature again. Though there are even deeper motivations behind the his move.

"" The thought of my son having to enter into his teens in Las Vegas, sent chills down my spine. I wanted my family to live in a better social environment. I am presently looking for a quality Tattoo Studio in a cultural community where I can live comfortably with my family.

... I Finished up this 2003 with over twenty years of tattoo experience, I  was the featured tattoo artist at Bucks TaT 2's on State Street in Bristol, TN where he used a combination of images, ideas and drawing talent to produce your one of kind biographies.