Osh O’loughlin, (A little Irish blood I would say) married guy, father of two awesome kids and member of the Crew for 9 years. Outstanding artist and tattooist, gentleman and a really good friend, would love to have him here another 9 years. His work is very clean and very well-done; his tribal sleeves are second to no one in the business. Completely custom drawn and designed for the client on his/her hide, and refined to perfection then inked flawlessly into the skin of the willing victim. He loves color bomb work of the traditional nature, packed solid with brilliant color and fantastic bold lines to complete the presentation. He is a must see for collectors of fine tattoos, come in if you are in the neighborhood or call for appointment. 619-424-8983.

Osh’s tattoo career started is such a strange way it is even hard for me to believe, and as I think about the stories I have heard in the past and from many different sources, I just scratch my head and wonder who this wonderful man really is. Easy going and the guy I turn to when I need a cool intelligent head to handle a difficult situation, for instance the Phone Company or things along that line. He has a shady side and the phrases “cabin boy”, go-fer, carnival, sideshow freak are often mentioned in the same sentence with his name. On the run from an “incident” in Susanville back in the 80s he joined the carnival and hit the road.

There was a time during his stay with the carnival that he tried to impersonate the bearded lady, it didn’t work because he was cute but was too young to grow a beard. They saw right through his ploy and forced him to work as a cabin boy for the true bearded lady, who was really Frank the Fat Ass truck driver who was fired from his truck driving job for running over a cow on a country road in Indiana. Frank was really a very ugly cross dresser, with a great beard so he got the job. Frank was also on the run as were all of the other carnies. Late one night Frank got totally drunk and became very abusive to his cabin boy (Osh) and started trying to fondle his butt.

Frank was super drunk and passed out cold, Osh the mild mannered cabin boy quietly packed his meager belongings and proceeded to shave Franks’ beard, eyebrows and head. Osh hit the road to Long Beach and a tattooist noticed his talents and gave him a shot. Several years later he wound up at my shop and has been here ever since. He still gets a little strange when guys name Frank call for him. I wonder if Frank the Fat Ass got fired from the Bearded Lady job and if he is still mad at Osh??????