PJ was born and raised in Southern New Jersey right outside of Philadelphia, PA. PJ attended Rutgers University and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Psychology. In 1996, during his college years, he was introduced to tattooing and met up with some friends who owned a local tattoo shop. After receiving another tattoo he was hooked and began hanging out and apprenticing.
He apprenticed under these award-winning artists in NJ for about three years.
While he was learning the tattoo and body piercing trade, he worked in a separate full time position that used his psychology degree. He was assisting people who had been injured and were now living with brain trauma. PJ's love for people and helping others motivated him to spend the next several years working fulltime to help those injured move forward with their lives and regain some of their skills. Even though PJ's time is currently limited, these amazing people are still a big part of PJ's life.
In 1999 PJ headed west and landed in Santa Barbara, California. Upon his arrival he searched for employment in the local Tattoo Shops and found nothing that fit his needs. A few weeks later he met another local artist looking for a new place to thrive and they decided to open a new shop in Santa Barbara. Energy Tattoo opened its doors on April 15, 2000. Energy is now owned and operated as a "Mom & Pop" shop by PJ and his wife Nic.