Tattoo Artist Bookie Thompson Stars In Vh1's Hit Series "Black Ink Crew LA"

LOS ANGELES - July 6, 2023 - PRLog -- Upholding the legacy & forging new paths. VH1's can't-miss-hit series "Black Ink Crew: LA" – formerly "Black Ink Crew: Compton" – returned with some fresh new faces.

Chris "Bookie" Booker, is a premiere tattoo artist and resident at Enigma Tattoo Studios in Beverly, Hills, CA. Operating under his own moral code, to always be and remain authentic, it is no surprise that his expertise is realism and hyper-realism when it comes to color work with his tattoos. Born and raised in Los Angeles California, art was Bookie's escape from the gang activity and other elements of his Pacoima neighborhood."Art is not something that I sought after as a kid," he admits, "I just had a natural gift of drawing."

Driven by chance, his wife's support and sheer talent, Bookie became a self-taught tattoo artist, revealing that "tattooing chose him," and not the other way around. Relentlessly studying the work and technique of his idols, Josh Duffy, Carlos Torres and Aaron Delladova, Bookie learned the importance of layout and composition. "Theirs are always perfect" he adds about the luminaries. A self- taught tattoo artist, Bookie honed his craft as a tattoo apprentice, and among other things, he learned that he needed to become an even better artist. He did just that, believing that the better artist you are, the more creative you can be, and the more you push the culture forward artistically. Now known for his remarkable portrait, realism and hyper-realism color tattoos, Bookie believes that his tattoos should always tell the story with impeccable realness.

Since working for Enigma for the last two years, Bookie is receiving the recognition and accolades that are commensurate of his work, but he advises, "always be an artist first." "As long as you're creating dope art and giving people dope experiences while they're in your tattoo chair, the money and everything else will come." Still motivated and inspired by his wife and now 4 children, Bookie says that he still strives to get better and honor the grassroot efforts that made tattooing the billion-dollar industry that it is today. "But, at the end of the day," he finishes, "I just want to do what I love, make my clients happy and make my family proud."--

The franchise continues expanding its West Coast footprint with two of the hottest tattoo shops in Los Angeles, inspiring the series to rebrand from "Black Ink Crew: Compton" to "Black Ink Crew: LA"for the second midseason premiere. Join the conversation using #BlackInkCrew and #BlCLA and follow the official Black Ink Crew accounts.

Catch-up on the previous seasons of Black Ink Crew: LA on their respective show pages along with VH1.