Artists Series #1
Resident Artist
Shanghai Tattoo, Folsom
ANDY DICKER
Artist Series: Andy Dicker
For Andy Dicker, skateboarding has been more than a hobby. It’s taken him around the world, introduced him to different cultures, opened doors to unexpected careers, and eventually led him into tattooing.
Born in Connecticut, Andy spent his childhood moving around the country, living in San Jose, California, and Vancouver, Washington, before settling in Sacramento at 16. His parents encouraged him and his siblings to follow their passions, even if they weren’t always thrilled about his interests in skateboarding and tattooing.
What started as a love for skateboarding eventually became a way of life. Andy attended Sacramento State, earning a degree in Interpersonal Communications with a minor in Spanish, and spent a year studying abroad at the University of Alicante in Spain. Along the way, he lived in Chico, Long Beach, Costa Mesa, San Francisco, and even Santiago, Chile, where he spent six months teaching skateboarding.
A cabin called the “Pro-tel”
In 2008, Andy began working at a skateboard camp in the Sequoia National Forest. What started as a summer job turned into an eight-year adventure, including four summers as camp director. It was also where his tattoo journey began.
One day, a group of Canadian skateboarders asked Andy if he could give them tattoos. Despite having absolutely no experience, he confidently said yes. After getting some questionable advice involving a sewing needle, India ink, and a lighter, he started giving his friends stick-and-poke tattoos in a cabin known as the “Pro-tel.”
That was the beginning.
From announcer’s booth to tattoo chair
Over the following years, Andy continued tattooing friends while building a career in the skateboard industry. He worked for Element Skateboards, traveled across the United States announcing skateboard competitions, and eventually began hosting events internationally. He’s now announced competitions in nearly every major American city and across three continents, with annual trips to South America still part of his life.
He’s also had a few unexpected jobs along the way, including selling tactical robots to SWAT teams across the country. As Andy will happily tell you, cold-calling people to sell robots wasn’t exactly his calling.
By 2018, Andy decided to pursue tattooing full-time. What drew him in wasn’t just the artwork, but the personal connections. He loved taking someone’s idea, turning it into something meaningful, sharing a few laughs, and creating a memory that would last a lifetime.
Manga, comics and cartoons
Growing up, Andy was heavily influenced by cartoons, comics, and anime, especially Dragon Ball Z and The Simpsons. Those interests never went away. Today, he’s a huge fan of manga and anime, including Berserk, One Piece, Akira, Hunter x Hunter, and Perfect Blue. He especially enjoys creating custom manga-inspired tattoos, comic and cartoon designs, and animal portraits.
Outside tattooing, Andy is constantly finding new ways to stay creative. He paints watercolor pet portraits, turns recycled skateboards into picture frames, designs skateboard graphics, experiments with wood burning, and even sews and modifies his own clothes.
Off the clock
When he’s not making art, he’s probably skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, traveling, learning languages, or enjoying a good story. He’s a big fan of movies, books, manga, and just about anything with great storytelling. He speaks English, Spanish, and some Japanese, and his music tastes range from ’90s hip-hop and R&B to surf indie rock, yacht rock, and classic rock.
Andy also has a talent for moonwalking, rhyming, and dropping movie references into just about any conversation. Excel spreadsheets, on the other hand, aren’t exactly his strong suit.
Nearly ten years ago, Andy experienced a traumatic brain injury that changed his perspective on life. The experience left him with an even greater appreciation for his family, friends, and the opportunity to enjoy each day.
Today, Andy lives in Fair Oaks with his fiancée Lauren and their pocket bully, Missy, who he describes as having a big booty and an even bigger heart.
His outlook on life is pretty simple:
Do what you love with the people you love.
That philosophy is part of what brought him to Shanghai Tattoo. He wanted to be surrounded by good people, positive energy, and an environment where artists and clients could enjoy themselves.
Looking ahead, Andy hopes to continue traveling, tattooing internationally, expanding his artistic skills, and building a life filled with family, friends, creativity, and new experiences.
For someone whose journey began with a skateboard and a homemade tattoo kit in a cabin in the woods, it’s been quite a ride.
