Hello I'm Tom von Lucky, I ended up here through a link posted on facebook by my friend Tommy from Classic Ink, Dublin, Ireland.
And I like it here right away...
The link took me straight to the wonderful and colorful interview with Hanky Panky which I enjoyed big time... Brought up very clear memories from some 20 years ago when I entered Hanky Panky's parlor for the first time. I accompanied a friend who I refered to Hanky Panky but who ended up getting tattooed by Hollywood Mark Favela who was working there at the time alongside Henk and Permanent Mark. The couple hours spent in there were like magic, like I entered a whole new world which sparkeled my mind so much and a ball got rolling...
4 years later I did my first tattoo on myself right away when back home from Coventry, UK where I visited Micky Bee. Junkfood Johhny sent me over there to get some decent hardware and ended up watching Micky showing me how to put some needle groupings together, tightening liner groupings in a hole poked in an empty can of Coke and more stuff that led to an unforgettable experience.
I ran Lucky 1 Tattoo in the heart of the historic centre of Antwerp City, Belgium from 2001 'till 2007 when the building got sold and the new owners kicked me out.
Opening that shop was a major move in my life and a place where I got to know many folks who carry their heart in the right place towards the noble craft of tattooing, you all know who you are and I'm very very grateful for all the wit, wisdom, knowledge, love, lessons, passion and more that's been shared.
The homebase from where I travelled many places as well, always on the learning tip and forever.
I made friends for a lifetime from around the globe and learned that, which is my favorite quote as well, "when you're doing good to tattoooing, tattoooing will be good to you".
My son and my job, the two things in my life I treasure the most, without a doubt.
Recently I work steady at John Krijo's Tattoo Shop, one of Belgians pioneers who's around for some 25 years, which makes for good times and stories every other day.
