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I cannot remember when exactly my facination with tattoos began (mainly due to the fact my first memory involves talking to my mom about it). My mom was really into drawing and everytime I got on her nerves she would hand me a pencil and tell me to use it. It could have gone to writing (which it did later but that's a different story), but instead I chose to draw. In school, I would always get in trouble for drawing "flash" in my books and on the corners of all my papers. (and my desk, and on the chalk board before class, and... well you get the idea)

Personal Information

Name:Shirley Rene Kunert

Age:Old enough I hope... Too close to 30 to be really comfortable with it.

Location:Bonn, Germany

Interests:Tattooing, and it has been since I have been old enough to hold a pencil in my hand (though my mother was more than supportive when I was 10). And of course music, as with most other artists. But also I have a few other hobbies aswell. I like to do threadwork, clay sculpting, painting, writing, webworking, among a crap load of other things that have no relevance what-so-ever to tattooing or drawing. Though tattooing is my main interest, and probably will be from now until never.

Mediums:I like to work mainly with graphite and charcoal. Though now and then I will turn to watercolors and my good ol' Prismacolor pencils.

When I was about 10 years old, my mom got a tattoo on her arm that was done by "this guy she knew". It was a really good drawing but a poorly preformed tattoo. I told her, after a couple of years, that I would be the one to fix it for her, thus started my path to become a tattoo artist. In 2005, I fulfilled that promise and redone her rose when I felt I was good enough to attempt it. I wish I had a picture of it now, but it is on a harddrive of a computer that crashed. Since then, I have given her 5 tattoos (along with various others to the rest of my family. They have been good guinea-pigs.)

I have been tattooing on and off for 13 years. My "skill" was self-obtained; no thanks to a druggy "mentor" in Hot Springs, Arkansas, who took my money and skipped town. Other than that, I did not have an official apprenticeship but have had a lot of friends to help me along my path. Big thanks to Framey, Shadow, Runic, (screennames of course) and many others. You all know who you are!

Had some major problems in 2006. My equipment got stolen (bastard). Friends pulled together and replaced 99% of it all. Still, I cannot thank them enough! After that miracle, I tattooed again for a while until I moved to Vienna in November of 2006. Took me a while to realize my power supply apparently did not work on the European power system. And of course... I fried it. So after I finally get that little minor deal out of the way, I will try again here in Bonn, Germany actively looking for a mentor. That is, as soon as I can moderatley perfect my German.

I have been on a break for the last year due to those events, but am more than happy to continue with my drawing. It would take losing both arms and a foot to keep me from holding a pencil.

I am still trying to find my niche. Working from reading knowledge alone is harder than it seems. What normally would take someone about 2 years to learn has taken me 12 but still I did learn a little. Though those giving me pointers and advice have been much more than helpful.

Now that the personal info is done, we can get on with the rest of the site. Hope that was at least decently interesting...