Wolfman Frank
I actually began tattooing while attending art school at the Colorado Art Institute. Shortly after graduating I opened my first tattoo studio in Lafayette, Colorado. Nine months later I was lured to the big city (well, big by my experience) of Denver by Paul and Sugarbear of the Emporium of Design.
Being a self-taught tattooer, this gave me the opportunity to learn from, possibly the two best tattoo artists in the state, Paul and Sugarbear. And learn I did! I stayed at the shop until midnight everyday for the first two or three years I worked at the Emporium of Design. I’d watch Bear and ask questions, when my curiosity got the better of me.
Bear always said of me that first year: “Frank, you wouldn’t say shit if you had a mouthful.” He was right of course. I was so painfully shy, it’s amazing I even sold any tattoos that first year!
I worked at the Emporium of Design for eight fantastic years! Then for some crazy ass reason I thought I had to continue on with my commercial art career, as a graphic artist for the phone company no less! As soon as the phone book project I was working on was done, so was my job and I knew I had made a big mistake.
I tried to go back home to my beloved Emporium of Design, but my position had been filled and I had to go to work for someone else. Luckily I found a job with a couple of really great guys in Colorado Springs, "Snake" and “Uncle Bud" Yates. They owned Snake’s Tattoo Company.
But, the drive from Denver to Colorado Springs took it’s toll on me and I quit and went to work for Mickie Kott back in Denver. Anyway, long story short (and besides if I tell you what happened next, you won‘t buy my book), four very long years later I finally got my job back at the Emporium of Design!
Then in 2000, my mom got really sick, so I took a leave of absence to take care of her. My Mom died in 2004, on her birthday nonetheless and, as luck would have it there were no positions at the Emporium of Design. So I waited, and waited and then…
I waited a little longer. In July of 2007, Dusty (Paul’s son) told me I could have my job back. So, here I am. Rested, clean of all illegal drugs, sober and ready to tattoo again! So give me a call and let’s get to work. I have a lot of new ideas, techniques and a newly remodeled tattoo studio to work in!