Frank Ball is a self-taught artist, extremely influenced by the punk rock skater culture of the 80s, and the powerful images of the outlaw biker scene and gang culture that litters the Los Angeles cityscape. 

Frank is also a tattoo artist, and has been tattooing for over 20 years. Frank started his tattoo career as an apprentice to Mark Mahoney, at the early age of 17, and has worked for many of the most famous tattoo artists in the world including Bob Roberts, Corey Miller and Gill Montie, to name just a few. Frank continues to wield his skilled craft to this day (now at Freak Chic Tattoo), and he also continues to paint, with acrylic, water color, pen and ink. 

One of the most notorious names in the tattoo business, Frank Ball has found a happy medium in his career, as well as his family life, as a proud father of three. Life couldn’t be more normal for this young, outlaw artist.

Sixx Taylor’s fascination with the arts began at the ripe old age of eight years old, when he began painting. He has studied art his entire life, and as his college years approached, his skill and talent landed him a partial scholarship to Otis College of Art and Design. Sixx eschewed school for the art of tattooing, which he began to practice at the age of 21.

In his paintings, Sixx uses mainly water colors as his medium of choice, and prefers traditional tattoo art. He never makes prints of his pieces; every one of his paintings is one-off, a truly unique piece.

Sixx currently holds tattooing court at Freak Chic Tattoo. To view some of his tattoo work, please visit: http://www.freakchictattoo.com/tattoo.php.

Bob Vessells is a very unique artist and person: A true eccentric, and a devout student of psychology, paranormal and all things occult. 

After many complaints by concerned parents who were writing his school administration about fear of “ink poisoning”, Bob was forbidden to draw on his fellow third-grade students. Eventually, he would go on to permanently ink friends in high school. In 1987, after two years of art school, he landed his first professional tattooing gig with world-famous founding father of modern tattooing, Mark “The Shark” Mahoney, at Shamrock Social Club on the infamous Sunset Strip. Bob moved on to open his own tattoo shop and art gallery in 1995, “Funny Farm Tattoo,” in Los Feliz, CA. 

Fueled by ADD and obsessive-compulsive disorder, Bob is an accomplished  mixed-medium artist. Mastering oil painting, pen and ink, he also carves Tikis, sculpts “3D” art and art brushes, and is one of the most fun – and funniest – people you will ever meet. Check out Bob Vessells at www.bobvessells.com or www.funnyfarmtattoo.com.

– Freak Chic Tattoo and Tuff Sissy & Co. Owner, Mat Joseph, Joins Forces with Daniel Creadon and “Factory13 experimental skateboard manufacturing” to Raise Funds for Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Victims –

On Thursday, June 16, 2011, from 8-11 PM, Melrose Avenue art duo, “Tuff Sissy & Co.” (www.tuffsissy.com) and neighboring “Freak Chic Tattoo” (www.freakchictattoo.com), will host a Japan benefit and opening artists’ reception for what will be a month-long exhibit of works by eight local artists. The June 16 benefit and art show, entitled “Tuff Sissy & Co. ♥ Japan”, is in partnership with Daniel Creadon and his company, Los Angeles-based “Factory13 experimental skateboard manufacturing”. The exhibit will be housed at Tuff Sissy & Co. and Freak Chic Tattoo June 12–July 7, 2011, and at the conclusion of the exhibit, a portion of the proceeds from sales of the artwork will be donated to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami victims through the Japan America Society of Southern California.

“Tuff Sissy & Co. ♥ Japan”, curated by Ten Terrell, will include works by Daniel Creadon/Factory13; Los Angeles street art pioneer, AXIS; street/graffiti artist SEROE; Baku Watanabe, a traditional Japanese tattoo and visual artist; Konstantin; Bob Vessells, owner of Los Feliz shop, “Funny Farm Tattoo”; Freak Chic’s own Sixx Taylor, and Frank Ball. Daniel Creadon’s section of the show will be a creative installation of Factory13 skateboards.

“At Tuff Sissy & Co., we’re all about art, community and giving back…this exhibit allows us to support our local artist community, as well as help the Japan earthquake victims, through art,” says Mat Joseph, owner and founder of both Freak Chic Tattoo and Tuff Sissy & Co., and tattoo and piercing industry veteran.

Guests at the June 16 Japan benefit and exhibit opening will enjoy a hosted vodka bar courtesy of Absolut, cupcakes from the famous Magnolia Bakery, and O.N.E. Coconut Water. More event sponsors will be announced over the next two weeks. A photographer will be on-hand to shoot the art on the walls, as well as the art on event guests.

Tuff Sissy & Co. and Freak Chic Tattoo are located at 7367 and 7365 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90046 (between Fuller and Martel Avenues). Tattoo and piercing appointments at Freak Chic can be made by calling 323.951.1501. Tuff Sissy & Co. hosts regular art exhibits and art auctions/benefits, as well as figurative and open drawing nights, and other related events (more details TBA). For more information or to RSVP for the June 16 art opening, please email1316: info@stilettomarketing.com.

About Daniel Creadon/Factory13

Daniel Creadon is originally from Mentor, OH, where he founded Factory13 in 1999, out of his garage. Danny has been skateboarding for as long as he can remember, and at an early age, he became frustrated with the same cookie-cutter shapes and graphics being sold on skateboards. Soon after, he began building the press and molds to make his own skateboards – often out of scraps from the factories he worked in as a welder. In just a few short years, he had taught himself how to build the innovative and functional skateboards he had been seeking for so long.

Danny now lives in Venice, CA, and works out of his Factory13 workshop in downtown Los Angeles. In addition to skateboards, he also designs innovative structures as a professional Architectural and Mechanical Engineer.

Factory13 experimental skateboard manufacturing is an independent skateboard company. At Factory13 they design, manufacture, print and ride the most unique and aggressive skateboards on the market. They give skateboarders the opportunity to make every design decision, providing customization at every level. All boards are handmade and screen-printed by skateboarders themselves, in the Factory13 workshop. For more information, please visit: www.factory13.org.

About Japan America Society of Southern California

The Japan America Society of Southern California was founded in 1909 to build economic, cultural, governmental and personal relationships between the people of Japan and America.

We are a non-profit, charitable and educational organization consisting of individuals and corporations with an interest in Japan and in United States-Japan relations. Our membership is open to the general public and currently includes 130 Corporate, and over 2,000 individual members.

We offer unique opportunities to become involved in the business and cultural relationship between the two countries. Our active calendar of events includes breakfast and luncheon programs, business networking mixers, weekend family events, and programs highlighting art, music, fashion, film, performing arts and other special activities. For more information, please visit: www.jas-socal.org.