Paul Johnsen

I was born in the suburbs of Chicago, April 7, 1987. I spent most of my childhood in Glendale Heights where I graduated from Glenbard West in 2005. In the summer of 2007, I started as a tattoo apprentice at Don's Downtown Ink in Aurora. In 2008, I met Dan Plumley and studied under him learning oil painting techniques and relearning tattoo techniques. I left Don's in 2009 to work at Skin of a Different Color in Aurora. I worked there until early 2012. I now work in my own private studio in North Elgin.

Aside from tattooing, I have been pursuing realism and surrealism oil painting for the past 6 years. I am co-codirector for the annual Vivid Dreams Art Show, featuring myself and other artists. I also participate in local art shows and gallery showings.

I currently reside in Elgin with my wife, Faith and our daughter, Sable, and our two kitties, Hitchens and Eleanor.