Greg James

Gregory James Schulthies (December 18, 1954 – June 4, 2026) was an American tattoo artist. Greg's tattoo designs and original artwork have appeared in magazines, books, documentaries, and at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Background Gregory James Schulthies was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 18, 1954, to George Roland Schulthies and Margaret Hendricks Schulthies. He had one sister and two brothers. James had three children; two daughters and a son. He died in Elizabeth City, North Carolina on June 4, 2026, at the age of 71.

Career At the age of 14, James began drawing flash for his brother, Tennessee Dave, and eventually apprenticed with him in 1976. From single-needle black-and-gray work to classic Americana tattoos and ultimately the large, custom Japanese artwork for which he has become well-known, James tattooed continuously in Los Angeles (on Main Street in downtown L.A. and also the Pike, in Long Beach) for nine years as he continued to hone his craft.

Notable clients Russell Mitchell, CEO of Exile Cycles with tattoos by Greg James: full sleeves and two hikae, or chest panels, featuring a blue dragon and orange koi. Pat Badger, of Extreme Frankie Banali, of Quiet Riot Sarah Michelle Gellar, actress Tracii Guns, of L. A. Guns Denise Richards Joshua Todd, of Buckcherry

Of tattooing, Greg says that "So much of what we do is really a personal thing between two people. It's not about the art so much, or the craft, or being the cool guy." "Tattooing to me is like welding. You have to lay the lines down. You're using tools. It [the tattoo] should look like it's always been there. Like it's part of your body." "You know, the average person today thinks tattoo artists nowadays are rock stars. But we go through a lot. We really put a lot effort, time, and communication into what we do. And it's permanent. You can't tear it up and throw it away when you're done with it. All these tattoos that I've done for thirty years--I carry those around in my head with me."

Documentaries Skin Deep: Sunset Strip Tattoo Tattooed by Brandon Green, an independent film currently in production by Evergreenimages. The Tattoo Encyclopedia: A Guide to Choosing Your Tattoo (with Terisa Green, published by Simon & Schuster, 2003) - Greg illustrated hundreds of tattoo designs for this popular book, sold globally in four languages with 50,000 copies in print. It is perennially an Amazon Top 100 bestseller in Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Art. Skin & Ink Magazine (2003 - 2005) - Featured column "What Tattoos Mean" with Dr. Green. Ink: The Not-Just-Skin-Deep Guide to Getting a Tattoo (published by Penguin, 2005) - Contributing tattoo artist. Tattoo Savage Magazine - Black Veil Brides: Day of the Dead Tattoo Magazine - The Art of Greg James. Tattoo Planet Magazine