Hardy was born in 1945 in Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, California. He attended the San Francisco Art Institute and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking. Through his association with Sailor Jerry, Hardy was able to study tattooing in Japan in 1973 with the Japanese classical tattoo master, Horihide. He became recognized for incorporating Japanese tattoo aesthetic and technique into his American style work. I would give just about anything to get one his awesome tattoos!
