Blane originally hails from Los Angeles, California. Where he grew up in the late 1960's and 70's. A time of burgeoning musical and artistic expression that exploded like fireworks on the 4th of July and rolled across the so-called civilized world like an out of control freight train bound for God only knows where.

Being a reckless young adolescent Blane found himself in one misadventure after another. He liked running the streets of L.A., hanging around bars, babes, beaches, bikers, gypsies of the era and plenty of tattoo shops. People like Bert Grimm, Charlie Hyle, Rick Walters, Fat George and Skinny Mike were big inspirations for him. He hung out at a lot of tattoo shops, went in and would show them drawing he'd done and then be summarily tossed out the door of most of them. Tattoo Artists were a pretty rough bunch back in those days. You damn near had to be born into the profession to get in. Undaunted by the rejections he pushed on. Blane worked as a sign painter with an old seasoned artist named Walt Smith from the South Bay area. Doing murals on the inside and outside of Topless Bars around the Southland at around age 14. He hooked up with an old tattoo curmudgeon named Tattoo Bob from San

 We're proud to welcome Sailor Joey Hall to the krewe of Barking Dog Tattooz

Joey comes to us from Tri-Cities area via Southern California.

About Shane Gustafson

Shane is a local Spokane tattoo artist, long lost nephew and new member of the Barking Dog Tattooz Krewe.
Also a natural born artist, Shane spent his childhood drawing and building automobiles and dinosaurs. As a teenager Shane's automotive dreams came to life, as he worked in his Uncles custom hotrod and fabrication shop, where he spent his teenage years, building, customizing, painting, airbrushing and pinstriping cars, trucks, boats and bikes.
Shane earned many trophies and plaques for his efforts in the automotive industry as a young teenager, but decided it was time for a change.
After he made it through high school, in the late 90's,  Shane left for the United States Marine Corps, where he spent 4 years all over the world, familiarizing himself with local artists and culture. He was especially fascinated artistically during the year he lived in Japan. He spent all his extra time drawing and designing tattoos for his buddies to go to local shops and get permanently . After 4 years Shane was injured and honorably discharged from the Marine Corps and returned back to Spokane, when he finally took the next step, and was professionally apprenticed as a tattoo artist. Shane gets his influence from foremost American artists such as Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins and has a passion for the “Old Skool” look, but he also appreciates revolutionizing artists such as Guy Aitchison, and gets a lot of insight and inspiration from experienced, seasoned, local artists like Blane Hoffman and Aaron Cady.  Shane has chosen this vocation to make his life's work! A portfolio of his work is forthcoming. Come by soon and make an appointment with him, you won't be sorry!

This is one of Shane's pieces of work below: