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A Visit With Bubba Baker At "TATTOO THIS!" In Sanford Florida (Professional Photos Updated 3/19)

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Services for Real Estate Pros

 

Bubba Baker is an artist in many ways...

He did his first tattoo in 1976 but he didn't really get into that art until 1982. He bought himself a motor home and started hitting bike events and such around the country tattooing on the road. That quickly grew old for him though and he came back home to Florida.

 

 

Bubba once told me if he had to do one more Harley Davidson shield he was going to go nuts. It got to the point where he could do a shield without a stencil he had done so many.

 

Bubba had an urge to work in film behind the camera and went to film school, graduating in 1989. Instead of being behind the lens though, Bubba ended up in front of it working with people such as Charlize Theron in the Academy Award winning film Monster, Jim Carrey in Ace Ventura, Pet Detective and Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys 2. Of course there is Running Cool about two bikers riding across country. He also made  small screen appearances in shows like Walker Texas Ranger, In The Heat of The Night and Renegade.

 

Bubba is now doing a local T.V. show opposite Gonzo, Crazy Dave & Wide Open Brain called Real American Biker TV which can been seen on Bright House channel 21 in the Orlando area. (Hopefully we will be able to see in Volusia County real soon) Photo Courtesy of REAL AMERICAN BIKER TV

 

 

 

In 1994 he opened Bubba Baker's TATTOO THIS! at Flea World in Sanford, FL. His studio is the longest standing studio at Flea World, and the first studio to ever have a live web cam, although some would like to argue that with him.

 

 

One day this huge man walked by, about 6ft 7in and 460lbs, sporting a tattoo on his arm. Bubba yelled at him, "Hey man, I can fix that tatoo for you!" The big man very slowly turned around, (Bubba said he got a tad nervous about that point) looked at Bubba and just said "Really, how much?" Turns out the big guy was WWF Wrestler Big John Tenta, AKA Earthquake/The Shark/Avalanche and Golga.

Bubba and Big John became fast friends until Big John lost his fight to bladder cancer in June of 2006. Bubba has remained good friends with Big John's son who still lives in the area.

 

While visiting with Bubba on Saturday, Big John's son showed up with his father-in-law Bill to get a new tattoo. Bill gave me permission to photograph the process of getting inked by Bubba.

  

Bill had decided on a Patriotic Bald Eagle tattoo on his forearm.

 

 

The outline..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adding the blue to the flag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now the red in the flag, the yellow and orange to the eagles beak & talons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The finished product!

 

 

 

 

If you want to get a portrait done, Bubba asks that you bring the photo of the portrait in to him a week in advance so he can get the portrait ready for the tattoo process. He also asks for a $50.00 deposit from you at that time.

 

Portraits begin at $250.00 a head depending on the size of the tattoo and where you will be putting it.

 

All other tattoos vary in price but Bubba will be more then happy to quote you one if you stop by and see him.

 

I met Bubba thru Bikes and Blues with Mickey Jones for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital last April. He has been a part of Bikes and Blues since its inception and donates gift certificates for our auction at our bike event with the proceeds going to St. Jude.

 

Come on out on April 5th for our Bikes & Blues event, meet Bubba at the Iron Horse, and now that you've seen his work, bid on his gift certificates and help the kids of St. Jude! (We will have a gal there wearing some of his work too)

 

Bubba's images and logos ©  2008 Bubba Productions/TATTOO THIS! and used with his permission.

Comments (24)

Anonymous
Norton Chris
He looks just like Micky Jones!
Mar 18, 2008 03:50 PM
#5
Anonymous
Norton Chris's Mother
Norton Chris looks just like Olive Oil
Mar 18, 2008 03:54 PM
#6
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Hey Stranger, 

I've seen that guy on TV ....also I know Tenta passed away a few years ago...I used to keep up with the wrestling but haven't in along time...I remember when he came on the scene....I can't remember the tattoos though.

BIG BUBBA!

Mar 18, 2008 11:40 PM
Boomer Jack Boardman & Carl McIntyre, the Codgers
Noted Curmudgeons - Saint Paul, MN

HERE YOU ARE! I've been looking for you in the wrong place! ;-)

Boomer

Mar 19, 2008 01:15 AM
Lysa Napolitano
Daytona Beach, FL

Monica, Bill never flinched! If Jay will, come on back! I'll make the introductions!

Rock! What a nice suprise! Thank you!

Mar 19, 2008 01:52 AM
Lysa Napolitano
Daytona Beach, FL

Lisa, Bubba has a lot of great stories to tell. You? A tattoo? Back for color? Details girl!!! Who did it?

Joan, I sure do! Bubba has yet to hold a needle to my skin... the man was slammed that day I was there!

Mar 19, 2008 01:54 AM
Lysa Napolitano
Daytona Beach, FL
Norton Chris! Thanks for the laugh!

Norton Chris's Mother, Thanks for the bigger laugh!
Mar 19, 2008 01:55 AM
Lysa Napolitano
Daytona Beach, FL

Neal, Yes Big Jim sadly passed on not too long ago. He began wrestling just about the time I lost interest. Bubba did a coverup for him that took I think 4 days to complete. The story Bubba tells about that is a post in itself. I believe it was a shark..

Boomer, HI! I will be hitting my other post today maybe.. I have some unfinished work there!

Mar 19, 2008 01:59 AM
Midori Miller
Talk 2 Midori, LLC - Daytona Beach, FL
Online Marketing For Real Estate Professionals
Lysa-you meet some of the most amazing people! :) 
Mar 22, 2008 05:30 PM
Natalie Langford
Realty Negotiations - Winchester, VA
Winchester, VA Real Estate
Lysa, this is an awesome post.  This is the kind of life I love to see in a blog.  Real Life, real local people & industries showing you just how good life can get in your hometown.  I want to hear all about your tattoos, too!  :')
Mar 29, 2008 04:25 PM
Lysa Napolitano
Daytona Beach, FL

Midori, I know you don't I? :)

Nat! Thank you! I like to focus on my friends and people that do good in our area. I like to try to give back when I can. :)

Mar 31, 2008 02:30 AM
Anonymous
knowlesrichards

Hello bubba knowles here Ive been liveing in georgia, oh I guess sence 1998 its not to bad up here. I had a job up here , the a guy went into business byying harleys detaling them ang reselling them. Hell Ive owned 16 of my owne I am going to get a fat boy Lo next. hey remember the black dresser seat I sold you did you ever use it ? Hows all the boys down there? sherry and I had a little girl shes going to be 18 in july and I am going to be 64 and sherry 51 brandon got married and is a nurce makes good money. you still riding I hope so if, you see crazy dave tell i said hello well you did a tattoo on me and, it still has'ent faded yet. Good ink and good tattoo artest well watch my spelling I have been out school longer than you .I heard about bsa dave too bad He was areal good friend well Bubba take care of your self  see ya KNOWLES.

Jun 09, 2011 09:16 AM
#16
Anonymous
knowlesrichards

bubba I left a comment up in the other boxdamn Bubba I have liveing in georgia bee here sence 1999 sherry had a little girl her name is leah rena shes 18 years old this july 19th  a frend had a business buying and selling harleys Ive owned 16 of my owne I am in the prosess of buying a fat boy low. that tatoo  you did on me has never faded well tell everybody I said hello.

Jun 09, 2011 09:30 AM
#17
Anonymous
Gypsy

Hey Knowles, I've let Bubba know you stopped by to say hi! Am sure you made his day :D thanks!

Jun 09, 2011 12:54 PM
#18
Anonymous
knowles richards

hey bubba knowles here Ive seen all your movies, a couple friends where over and I told them I knew you they said bullshit. sherry came out of there other room and said she knew you too. I told them about them gators were you used to live. them suckers where unreal I gotta go take care of your self . send me your address I will send yoy a picture of my famliy. remember my son brandon hes married catch You later.

Jun 26, 2011 02:56 AM
#19
Anonymous
Bubba

Hiya Knowles ! Its sure great to hear from you after all these years ! Please Find me on Facebook for some "One On One" ! Thanks and love to Gypsy for the connection to my old pal !

Jun 26, 2011 11:31 AM
#20
Anonymous
Bubba Baker

Hiya Knowles ! Its sure great to hear from you after all these years ! Please find me on Facebook for some "One On One" ! Thanks and love to Gypsy for the connection to my old pal !

Jun 26, 2011 11:35 AM
#21
Anonymous
Lysa

Knowles..  thanks for stopping back by!
Bubz! Hope to see you soon!

Jun 26, 2011 12:58 PM
#22
Anonymous
knowlesrichards

hey bubba I am gonna turn 65 in june If I make it. that tatto still looks great I got it from you 33 years ago. how you doing I hope your better off then me, I think my heart going to give out don't tell anybody. sherry and the children are fine. children helk their all grow up and out brandons married leahs ready to. let me hear from you.

Jan 16, 2012 06:05 PM
#23
Anonymous
HUGGINS AND MICKEY AND BOB NIPLES

WHERE ARE YOU AT NOW?

Nov 13, 2012 08:59 AM
#24