Bill Loika

In 1975, in Amsterdam, I obtained (after much effort) my first machines and equipment. It was not easy to do in those pre-internet days. I first saw Tattoo Peter in 1969, and was captivated by the look of the shop, and would later model my own shop to look that way. Tattoo Peter was an inspiration to me and Peter himself became my friend and helped me a great deal in those days. In 1977 I went to work for Jack Armstrong in Columbus, Georgia, USA, and then on to Papillon in both New Haven and Hartford Connecticut. I then opened my own shop in Deep River, Connecticut and was there for about 25 years, followed by 2 years in California at Sacred Art and Gearhead in Chico. I then came full circle, back to Amsterdam to work at Tattoo Peter, where I have been since 2007. I could never have imagined on that rainy day in 1969, 20 years old standing in awe outside of the original Tattoo Peter on the Sint Olafsteeg, that some 40 years in the future I would be a tattooist at that shop! My style is traditional western (old school), it is what I prefer and am best at.