August “Cap” Coleman

American traditional tattooing as we know it today surfaced in the Victorian period, influenced by the traditions of Japanese and Polynesian tattoo culture witnessed firsthand by American sailors abroad. By the height of World War II, US troops were tattooed as a rite of passage at every major port town and on their way to the European and Pacific theaters.

The legendary artist and tattoo machine innovator August “Cap” Coleman was born in 1884. A child of German immigrants, Colemans parents moved to the United States and settled in Ohio near Cleveland. As the legend goes, Coleman was tattooed by his father at an early age and traveled up and down the Ohio River going from town to town apply his craft as a sign painter and doing hand poked tattoos. He also spent a great deal of time traveling with his family in the circus sideshow performing as “The Human Picture Gallery”.

Later, Coleman apprenticed under professor Barber and eventually opened up shop in the port town of Norfolk VA. The port cities were very important for the leading artist of the day. Not only was business booming but the sailors were bringing each artist’s work around the world. Through this the artist could see each other’s work in person and stay in contact sharing ideas on design and machine advancements. Of course, this knowledge was coveted and shared only with the top tier masterclass of the time such asColeman and a handful of others like Paul Rogers, Sailor Jerry, Tex Peace, RL Conley, Charlie Barrs, and Elmer Getchell.

Coleman was known for many things such as his hardnosed behavior, bathing in the Elizabeth River, and taking extranapkins and toothpicks fromthe diner for shop supplies. However, his main contribution to tattooing is two things. First, he was one of the leading innovators in tattoo machine building of his time. In the early 1900s, tattoo machine technology was new, requiring each artist to manage their own equipment. Not allmechanics are createdequally; Coleman wasamongst the best of the time. He learned machines from the great builder Elmer Getchell. Later he passed his knowledge to Paul Rogers who is still considered one of the best machine builders of all time.

Second is his contribution to the overall look of the American style tattoo. At this time in tattoo history, not every tattooist was an artist. His designs had a specific look known as the “Coleman style”. He had a natural eye for tattoo design. His style is trademarked by bold simplistic lines, heavy black shading, minimal color, and a general openness. The designs were created to have the strongest impact when seen in the skin. Sailor Jerry and Coleman shared many artistic ideas influencing one another’s art and in turn, influencing Ed Hardy, Mike Malone, and Bob Roberts; the three men responsible for shaping the look of modern American tattooing.

Coleman lived a full life travelling with carnivals, running his shop in VA, and marrying Lena Hewlett with whom he grew old with. Coleman lived to the ripe old age of 89 where they say he drowned bathing in the Elizabeth River. His frugality paid off at the time of his demise when he left a small fortune to the Virginia school of the deaf,