Issue #135: June 2008
ROBERT PHO’S SKINDESIGNS
LAS VEGAS, NV
Although he got his start tattooing in jail, Robert Pho is no jailhouse scratcher. He first experimented on himself with a borrowed, homemade tattoo machine while he was, locked up in the early ’90s, and gradually, he started tattooing other people. When he got out, he began tattooing professionally in his Southern California hometown. His So-Cal background has crept into his tattooing techniques; he is best known for black and grey work in general and portraiture, specifically. He describes his style as “a lot of black and grey, really soft, realistic work. Anything from fine line detailed work to big pieces…it doesn’t matter to me. I know I like it nicely placed and clean when it’s all done.”
Robert says he’s hard on himself, and he’s something of a perfectionist. When asked what sets him apart from other tattooists, his answer is this self-criticism. “It has to be clean, or I’m not happy.” he says. “I will go out of my way to make it right, and I will go back and touch it up if it’s not right. I’m conscious, and I care about what the end result looks like. I realize especially nowadays that every piece has to be as good as the one before.”
While the state of the tattoo industry today keeps him competitive and on his toes, he is grateful to be a part of this art community. “Tattoos are in high demand, and it’s a great opportunity for artists to have careers…especially for high school dropouts like me!”
Even before he began tattooing. Robert enjoyed working in chiaroscuro. Growing up, he “did a lot of pencil drawing, especially portraits. That helped me get where I am now with my black and grey work that I love so much.” He also credits spending a lot of time in a street shop as helping him to polish his skills. “I had my first shop in North
Carolina from 1998-2005, and I learned by doing a lot of flash work. That time helped me a lot in figuring out what was right and wrong, since I was basically self-taught.” he explains. “I couldn’t afford to be picky, and so I did everything that came through the door, learning from experience.”
He relocated to Las Vegas to open Skin Design in 2005, and he has finally achieved a level of skill and notoriety in his career that he is now able to turn away projects that don’t interest him. “I have been blessed,” he says, “and now I’m able to do what interests me for the first time. We’ve expanded since I’ve been out here, and we picked up an apprentice. Brandon is an awesome graffiti artist and a great guy. I’ll be taking on a sec- ond apprentice this year, which will allow me to work more on my drawings, paintings. flash, books, and other projects…not to mention having some more family time. Even though I’ve been tattooing for a long time, I’m still excited about all the new things that are coming up.”
Robert doesn’t get on the road much, but he does try to hit 3 or 4 conventions a year. You can see if he’ll be coming to a city near you, or use going to get tattooed by him as a great excuse to visit Vegas!