The New York Grapevine, Darren Brass is kickin ass and taking names in 2010 Darren Brass, Ruthless & Toothless, Don Dante Clothing, Miami Ink, Love Hate

Darren Brass is kickin ass and taking names in 2010
by Justin August
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
New York, NY
Views: 11,872

	Share

Living in Miami for 7 years introduced me to a wide array of people. My tattoo artist, who turned into my friend, James Hamilton, was able to introduce me to a few of his friends and co-workers before I left the M.I.A, and one of those was Darren Brass, many of you may remember him as one of the artists on the reality show "Miami Ink".

Well, about a year ago, I interviewed Darren over the phone for another publication, I have been looking to do a follow up with him, and today seemed like a great day for the task, so after a few text messages back and forth, we arranged a time for a phone call, and this is what came of it;

JA: So it's been almost a year to the day since we last talked, are you still at Miami Ink?

DB: Well the shop has actually moved a few doors down from the original space now sitting at 1360 Washington and we are running under the original name Love Hate. We have also added a few new guys to the crew, one is our boy Federico, he has been tattooing on the beach for 13 years going back and forth between spots like South Beach Tattoo and Lou's (2 local tattoo shops in South Beach), also a friend Jose Santiago has joined the team.

JA: That's great, so obviously the shop still has a ton of momentum behind it, have you been tattooing any celeb's or debutantes down there?

DB: Well I have really been so busy that I have only been in the shop a day or 2 a week. There are always a few sports players rolling in and getting some work done, but really most of the clientele has been international. Steady clients from the U.K. are streaming in every month. It seems like one month it's all heads from Italy, and the next month it's people from Denmark.

JA: Word about your art definitely has traveled the world. But you say your not in the shop that much, the last time we were talking you had just launched your baby clothing line Ruthless & Toothless, is that what's keeping you away?

DB: Yeah, the response to R&T has been unbelievable. And the company has been expanding, we just launched InkSkins, which is a brand that is pushing skins for laptops, iphones etc, we are also working with making car decals, and a few of the guys and I have just started a clothing line called "Upset Gentleman". I am also working on a line with some friends from L.A., this is called Don Dante, and you can find this work at dondante.com.

JA: Wow! That is a very full plate, so with all of this going on what do you see happening in the future?

DB: Lot's of work! I also have been getting work thru an art agency, Bernstein & Andriulli of New York(you can find his profile for their site here www.ba-reps.com/artists/darren-brass), and thru that I was just contracted to do artwork for Kiehl's, so there is a lot to be done.

JA: And with all of this you still are balancing the tasks of a relationship and a child?

DB: Well, I am a single dad now, but still my first focus is my son and balancing my work while still being the best father for him.

JA: Good for you, and it seems as though you are doing a good job of it. Now, with all of these new projects, what has been the most significant thing to happen over the past year?

DB: It is still the growth of Ruthless & Toothless, it has been growing tremendously every month.

Darren and I talked for a few more minutes, this guy really has a full plate going on, and to top it all off, he mentioned that the crew has been working on a teaser for a new show.

So check out the site www.ruthless-toothless.com, or www.dondanteclothing.com and the next time your in Miami, stop by the shop at 1360 Washington, say hello to a bevy of rad artists. Maybe it will be the one-day a week Darren is in the shop and you will be able to stop him and say HI!