ICK
CHAN
N
Photographer : Julia Loglisci
“Being a tattoo artist is kind of like being a rockstar... except you don’t
perform on a stage.”
W
orking as a tattoo artist sounds as if it would be a pretty easy
job (minus the fact you have to be good at art); you get to
sleep in, show up for work sometime in the afternoon, draw
some things, meet tons of people, hangout with your buddies and
listen to loud music! Well although many tattoo artists do in fact get to
enjoy this as a daily routine, they don’t just waltz into this luxury overnight. It takes time, dedication and countless hours of practice. We
sat down with Nick Chan who recently graduated as an apprentice
artist of Jim Carter at Incendiary Tattoos. Nick talks about his grind
to get into the tattoo industry and his struggle in the early months
back in Edmonton, AB, where he got his opportunity and first role in
a tattoo shop.
How did you first get started in the tattoo industry, Nick?
Two years ago I was at a tattoo convention at Pearkes Arena in Victoria. I had a few tattoos at the time and figured I would try and get
another one while I was there. I sat down with Preston Hamilton who
was representing Demons Ink tattoo shop. During my session with
him, I expressed interest in getting into the tattoo industry and asked
him how I might get an opportunity. He explained that it was very hard
these days and that usually the only way in is through an apprenticeship; so I asked him right there for an apprenticeship! Much to my
disappointment he turned me down and that was pretty much the
end of my session with him, so it was time to leave. I left the tattoo
24 | West Coast Ink | Issue 1
convention pretty bummed and discouraged but I wasn’t about to let
that stop me.
About six months later I got a phone call...it was Preston Hamilton.
He asked me if I was still interested in tattooing and said he had an
opening at his shop; I literally dropped everything, packed my life and
moved to Edmonton.
Now I bet you’re thinking, “So that’s it? That’s how he got into tattooing?!” Well no, that’s not it; that’s only the beginning!
In Edmonton I was pretty much the shop bitch . My job was to clean,
scrub toilets, answer the phone, and if there was still time left in the
day after all that, I could practice drawing. After months of this I still
was not allowed to tattoo, and therefore I could only earn a minimal
wage. I was barely making ends meet between working at the shop
and working the kitchen at the local pub in the evenings. Eating Kraft
Dinner at each meal became a routine; I was depressed! I tried to
keep my head up and keep focused but the truth was, I missed home
and I missed my friends and family. My boss could see that I was
down and he knew that I wished I was back home again.
A year had passed since I first met Preston. The tattoo convention
was being held for a second time back home at Pearkes Arena. Little