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Sailor Jerry
Norman Keith Collins (January 14, 1911 – June 12, 1973), known popularly as Sailor Jerry, was a prominent American tattoo artist in Hawaii who was well known for his tattoo designs and is known as one of the people that started the American Traditional tattoo style.
Norman Keith Collins was born on January 14, 1911, in Reno but grew up in Northern California. As a teenager he hopped freight trains across the country and learned tattooing from a man named "Big Mike" from Palmer, Alaska, originally using the hand-poke method. In the late 1920s he met Gib "Tatts" Thomas from Chicago who taught him how to use a tattoo machine. He practiced on drunks brought in from Skid Row.
At age 19, Collins enlisted in the United States Navy. During his subsequent travels at sea, he was exposed to the art and imagery of Southeast Asia.
He moved to Hawaii in the 1930s.
Sailor Jerry made significant contributions to the art of tattooing. He expanded the array of tattoo ink colors available by developing his own pigments. He created custom needle formations that embedded pigment with much less trauma to the skin. He became one of the first artists to utilize single-use needles. His tattoo studio was one of the first to use an autoclave to sterilize equipment.
Collins's last studio was at 1033 Smith Street in Honolulu's Chinatown. At the time, it was the only place on the island where tattoo studios were located. His studio became China Sea Tattoo after his death. His earlier studios were at 434 South State Street, 150 North Hotel Street and 13 South Hotel Street.
Collins developed tattoo designs with inspiration from sailor tattoos and Japanese tattoos. He reworked 1920s–1930s designs with influences from Japanese artists, creating American traditional designs that appealed to a wider audience. Among Sailor Jerry's well-known designs were sailing ships, pin-up girls, and dragons. He frequently incorporated snakes, skulls, knives, and roses. His designs also included:
In the 1950s he worked as a licensed skipper of a tour ship.
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Sailor Jerry
Norman Keith Collins (January 14, 1911 – June 12, 1973), known popularly as Sailor Jerry, was a prominent American tattoo artist in Hawaii who was well known for his tattoo designs and is known as one of the people that started the American Traditional tattoo style.
Norman Keith Collins was born on January 14, 1911, in Reno but grew up in Northern California. As a teenager he hopped freight trains across the country and learned tattooing from a man named "Big Mike" from Palmer, Alaska, originally using the hand-poke method. In the late 1920s he met Gib "Tatts" Thomas from Chicago who taught him how to use a tattoo machine. He practiced on drunks brought in from Skid Row.
At age 19, Collins enlisted in the United States Navy. During his subsequent travels at sea, he was exposed to the art and imagery of Southeast Asia.
He moved to Hawaii in the 1930s.
Sailor Jerry made significant contributions to the art of tattooing. He expanded the array of tattoo ink colors available by developing his own pigments. He created custom needle formations that embedded pigment with much less trauma to the skin. He became one of the first artists to utilize single-use needles. His tattoo studio was one of the first to use an autoclave to sterilize equipment.
Collins's last studio was at 1033 Smith Street in Honolulu's Chinatown. At the time, it was the only place on the island where tattoo studios were located. His studio became China Sea Tattoo after his death. His earlier studios were at 434 South State Street, 150 North Hotel Street and 13 South Hotel Street.
Collins developed tattoo designs with inspiration from sailor tattoos and Japanese tattoos. He reworked 1920s–1930s designs with influences from Japanese artists, creating American traditional designs that appealed to a wider audience. Among Sailor Jerry's well-known designs were sailing ships, pin-up girls, and dragons. He frequently incorporated snakes, skulls, knives, and roses. His designs also included:
In the 1950s he worked as a licensed skipper of a tour ship.