Tattoo Peter Amsterdam

Tattoo Flash.

Color sheet. In the past Peter drew his own flash to hang on the wall.

In the early years of Peter's career he tattooed many sailors.

Here is a super cool sheet from Peter. Everything was drawn and colored by hand. No copy and no digital bullshit. "THE REAL DEAL".

The old school tattoo artists drew and made their own flash. This was way before anything like today.

One of Tattoo Peter's first tattoo sheets.

Peter was always up for an interview for a newspaper or magazine.

Les Skuse

Les Skuse was a tattoo artist from Bristol. Les founded the Bristol Tattoo Club in 1953. Peter joined in the mid-1960s. Peter and Les became good friends and Peter was often tattooed by Les.

Newspaper clipping from 1962. This newspaper clipping is signed by Jacobus van Duyn.

Tattoo Peter is quietly recovering in front of his shop.

This is one of Tattoo Peter's first business cards... must be around the mid 60's.

Rusty tattoos Peter in her shop...

Peter and Schele Arie. Schele Arie was a sailor who, when he was on shore, always stopped by the shop. Arie had a beautiful ship put on his chest by Peter. Arie had several tattoos of Peter.

Peter and Arie in the picture. (Popeye)

Arie is just quietly recovering. Probably from a long night the night before.

Peter is photographed with two tattoo collages. One of them is Theo Vetter, a German tattoo artist who started tattooing just after the war. Theo was once inspired by Christian Warlich's tattooing.

In the past there were clubs, especially in England and Japan, where you could become a member as a tattoo artist (they were very strict about whether you were eligible). This is a membership certificate from England...

The first years of Peter's career Peter tattooed with machines, most likely from Les Skuse, Tattoo Willy or maybe Albert Cornelissen. (Difficult to find out). After a while Peter often wrote letters to foreign artists at that time, mainly to get more information and ideas for his work. Also to get materials to be able to tattoo, since there was little available in the Netherlands. In the 60s and 70s Peter came into contact with some Danish artists. One of them was Tato Peter Petersen from Aarhus. This is a frame of the machine that Tato Peter had made. This would also be the basis for Tattoo Peter's new machines in the future, with which he would work for the rest of his career.

Basis of a tattoo machine from Tato Peter from Aarhus. With thanks to Frank Rosenkilde.

Peter poses for the camera to show off his back tattoos.

Peter takes some time for a cigarette in between tattooing.

Paul was a German customer. Peter did both his arms and back piece. Peter and Paul had become good friends.

Peter tattooed a tattoo artist from Denmark, Tato John. John traveled with a van at that time, from which he also tattooed from time to time.

Peter was always up for having his picture taken.

Peter's customer in the picture... the customer had super cool tattoos done by Peter.

Peter at work. Here he is tattooing Tato John from Denmark. Peter and John were good friends. At some point Peter came into contact with Danish tattooists. John was one of them...

The shop Tattoo Peter is mainly specialized in the "old school" style of tattooing. Here is such a super cool tattoo that Peter has done.

Tattoo Peter's client has his picture taken.

Peter and customer in the picture. (Customer had a cool eagle put on his chest by Peter.)

Peter gets tattooed by Rusty in her shop in England.

Rarely that a woman got a tattoo in that time. But here is a beautiful example that this style of tattoos looks great on a woman.