ABOUT

Paul Nguyen

Rarely seen outside of his private tattoo shop, Paul is legend to some and a mystery to most. His innate eye for detail and unparalleled artistry has led his craft to be featured in Flash tattoo magazine, Skin & Ink magazine, Tattoo magazine, and a host of other publications.

Born and raised in Riverside, CA, Paul in the 5th grade was noted as such a great artist his teachers pulled together and awarded him with an art scholarship. Once his private art school began to tell him how to create art, he quickly became disinterested. He dropped out and by 6th grade was expelled and had to enroll in a public school where his rebel attitude led him to the streets tagging graffiti art. Paul sparked an interest in tattooing when he received his first tattoo at the age of 14. His excitement led him to create a homemade tattoo machine from a cassette tape and with a needle and a guitar string.  He tattooed a few friends for fun, but more focused on school he kept on.

In later years, he straightened up, enrolled himself into the business program at the University of Riverside California. After UCR he worked for a marketing firm where his co-workers discovered his artistic talent and pushed him to peruse his interest, giving him a tattoo machine as a gift.  Serious about his true passion, he sought out a traditional apprenticeship under Ben Corn at Epidemic Tattoo Studio in Temecula California. For years Paul scrubbed toilets, sanitized stations, swept floors, vacuumed , built and cleaned tubes, needles and machines before he was even allowed to start tattooing. Four years he studied under Ben Corn, and the other family members at Epidemic Tattoo, mastering the technical aspects of tattoo art.  Ben relocated to Simms Ink in Hayward, and Paul moved on to tattoo for  a few respected shops like Trusted Tattoo Co. in Corona California under Dejah Garcia, Bad Influence under Bob in Fountain Valley California, and Lyle Tuttles Tattoo under Tanja Nixx in San Francisco California.  Humbled to work under such great talent, Paul says much of his learned experiences came from those that he has allowed to tattoo him and has come in contact with through the industry.

Now at the age of 30, he owns a private studio secretly located in Pomona’s Downtown Art district. When not tattooing a client, Paul stays busy drawing, wood carving, wood burning, canvas painting, collecting books and art, studying techniques, and reading stories of great tattoo artists. When you meet Paul, you are instantly embraced by his down to earth personality, passion for life and artistic drive. His knowledge in the history of tattooing, coupled with his impeccable drawling talent, there’s no reason to wonder why so many trust in his work. When asked what he would like people to know about him, he responded, “I can’t, not draw or I will go crazy. I have to draw every day. Drawing is my Drug.” and his extensive portfolio proves as his living testament.