Antonio works out of plush tattoo & intuitive arts with his wife Amber in Portland; a cute bipoc owned safe space for all bodies (racists not welcome). Be sure to check out their shop if you’re in the area for impeccably chill vibes and fun tattoos!

When, where and how did you first get into tattooing?

“It’s funny that you mentioned in another conversation about Rancid’s “out come the wolves”. I remember seeing “Ruby SoHo” on MTV. (RIP MTV) when I saw Lars covered from head to toe, I knew I was going to be covered in tattoos. That was when I was 10 years old I knew I was going to be tattooed AF. that’s what sparked my interest in tattooing. Fast forward to the future, I’ve always been into art & drawing since I was kid. My parents were retiring out of the military, they moved back to Hawaii, 2005ish. My best friend, @arensado (Aaron SADOYAMA) dropped out of art school & started apprenticing at 808 Tattoo, 2006-7ish. He needed people to tattoo, I told him I could help. I was in college at the time, so fast forward a couple years later, after so many tattoos, I started designing my own tattoos & having Aaron put them on me. He offered me an apprenticeship. I took it. Apprenticed at 808 Tattoo, 2014. Sheesh.”

How does your background influence the way you approach tattooing and/or the styles you enjoy tattooing?

“I’m an 80s baby. We were placed in front of the TVs and movies. Naturally, I watched a lot of cartoons growing up, Hannah Barbara, Looney Tunes, Dragon Ball (the OG). I read a lot of comic books, Calvin & Hobbes, Marvel, DC. Loved the adult animation on MTV & adult swim too. So naturally I was Drawn to the boldness of traditional tattoos. Got into some art classes & that really helped me switch up my style & perspective with my art. I apply that to my art form, especially tattooing. Want my tattoos to look timeless, heal smooth, look like it could’ve been created in 1940s or 2020s. Classic tattooing.”

Who are some artists that inspire you? Tattooers and/or others as well.

“My mentor inspired me, Aaron. He’s a humble tattooer that works hard & lets his work speak for himself. Speaking of letting the work speak for itself, Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins. I studied Sailor Jerry, love the tattoos, they’re perfect. Love Mike “Rollo Banks” Malone, Bless his soul. Love his modern take on tattoos & how his tattoos heal. Love Amund Dietzel, I read his books “These Old Blue Arms”. Classics. Pinky Yun & his pin ups. Tim Beck & Zack, I hope you’re resting easy, thanks for always inspiring me to push forward, enjoy tattooing. Glad to pass on this legacy of tattooing. Too many to mention, RIP to the greats.

Modern Tattooers: GREZ DNA, Chris Garver, Chris Sawyer, Jordan Souza, Adam Vu Noir, Hanky Panky, Ed Hardy, Tim Lehi, Chris Conn, Akio Abdul, Andrew Stortz, Tim Hendricks, Ichibay & the three tides crew, Chris O’Donnell, Becca Genné-Bacon, too many to mention.”

You and your wife Amber run a tattoo shop together, what was the process like of starting a business together and what inspired the two of you to give that a go?

“Funny enough, me & Amber were coworkers in college, in 2008. We met at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, in Honolulu, HI. S/O 3011 crew, RIP Diamond Head CBTL. Coincidentally, the coffee shop we met at closed down. Anyhow…we met at work, we went from coworkers, to homies, to later dating some time years later. We got married the same year I started my apprenticeship. She’s been with me through my apprentice times. She’s seen me grow in the industry. I later got an offer for a one year contract in Portland, Oregon.

We got to Portland, Amber was interested in doing eyebrow tattoos, so she went to tattoo school. Shortly after my contract was ending, she wanted to combine our powers. We wanted a chill, inclusive, chill tattoo experience, we created Plush Tattoo. Have been zapping & tattooing ever since.”

Your shop, Plush Tattoo & Intuitive Arts, is known for being an inclusive space for all as well as anti fascist/ICE etc. What does being an inclusive shop and acknowledging the darkly political times we live in mean to you as a tattooer?

“Great question! Thanks for the acknowledgment & recognizing that about our shop. We’re both Filipino, I’m Puerto Rican. I’m a brown tattooer, so I definitely feel the shift out there. There’s attitude towards the marginalized, which most times coincidentally are melanated people. I totally feel & understand what it’s like to be treated horribly b/c of how you look. We wanted to make an inclusive space that was the opposite of what’s happening out there. Plush wants to celebrate you, inclusive to all, except for racists. They don’t really want to be around the theys, the gays, and brown folks, anyway. We believe in the right clients coming at the right time for us. We witness it daily. We’re happy to be a happy & chill space in these dark times.”

Do you have any advice for people either looking to get their first tattoo or for those wanting to get into tattooing?

“Disclaimer: Don’t get tattooed if you’re knit picky & in need of perfection. Your tattoos will never be picture perfect, love them for the art they are. If you can’t do that, don’t get tattooed.
If that’s not you, Yessss! Get a tattoo! Find an artist you vibe with, reach out if they’re vibing with you, jam on. If there’s any static, don’t force an art piece to happen. Speaking of not forcing an art piece, try not to control your tattoo experience. I find that the less control & trust in the artist. The more the artist is emboldened to make a great tattoo, even give good service. I know it’s hard to give up control, but you gotta trust people sometimes.
If you want to tattoo, get tattooed! At least 2-10 times before you tattoo yourself. It’ll help you understand tattooing, how to heal a tattoo and see the whole tattoo process. Then pursue tattooing.”

Anything else you would like to add?

“I’m trying to learn to enjoy the art & let go perfection. I think we all need to produce, put ourselves out there, and just make art. Who cares it’s good, whatever that may look like. We’re located in Portland, Oregon, if you’d like to get tattooed, our books are always open! Any bodies & everybody’s welcome!

I hope anyone picking up a machine today knows the full responsibility they have to the safety of their clients, the environment they’re in & the tattoos they’re giving their clients. Love yourselves & each other. Tattoo your clients with care, they are paying your bills after all.

thanks, Jon for allowing me to do this interview. Honored to do it. Thank my ancestors. Thank you for believing in me & my artwork , Aaron. Thanks to all my past colleagues that helped my get to where I’m at today. Thanks to Amber for always helping me & believing in me. I love you. Thanks to everyone who let me tattoo them, Hope you’re loving your tattoo(s)”