ARTISTS
SEAN
ANDERSON
INK BY
SAGA
“Lots of people ask me where SAGA comes from. It is the initials to
my full given name. Sean Alexander Garfield Anderson... SAGA”
M
y tattoos have a unique
blend of realistic and abstract
elements in them, and I enjoy
creating works of art on skin that are
unique and original. My work is known
for vivid color use and photorealism.
Much of my work is created right on my
clients the day of the tattoo; I find taking
a drawing directly from paper to skin
does not always adequately create the
best harmony between tattoo and body
flow. I use bold slices of color across
large sections of body, adding abstract
geometrical elements in motion to
counter the stillness of a portrait subject.
All my work is based on my theory
of opposition: movement with static
elements; black and grey mixed with
color; real with abstract; muted colors
countered with ultra bright; nature with
mathematics. People can spot my work
when they see it, and it makes me happy
to know that I am leaving them with
a unique piece they aren’t likely to find
anywhere else.
I was born in Verdun, a little part of
Montreal, Quebec. After a few years my
family decided to take us to Calgary,
where there were more job opportunities.
I’m told that I started drawing daily
from the time I could hold a pencil. By
elementary school I was making litttle
pulp action comics starring all of my
friends. My mom enrolled me in a few
Alberta College of Art & Design courses
around age ten, which would prove
to be my only formal education in art
throughout my life.
In high school I drew for the school
paper but opted not to take any art
classes, as basketball was my focus
at the time. I fantasized about being a
tattoo artist, something I wanted to be as
far back as I can remember, and would
spend classes drawing flash sheets with
the hope of selling my drawings one
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day. After winning the coveted city
championship in Calgaery in my senior
year, I was offered scholarships to play
ball at several local colleges. I had
opted out of the art career idea for the
time and instead decided to pursue an
education in architecture. Feeling like I
had chosen incorrectly, I dropped out
and floated for a couple years, finally
getting an undergraduate degree in
psychology from the University of
Calgary.
Fast forward five years, and I was
pursuing a master’s degree in psych,
and married to a trained graphic artist
and aspiring tattoo artist. Working
at the office during the day, I hung
out at the shop she worked in on
weekends for a year, and eventually
picked up a machine in our apartment
and began tattooing brave friends
and my own leg. Finally I had found
a way into the career I had always
wanted. I never did get the benefit of
a proper apprenticeship, instead I had
to scratch my way into the industry. In
hindsight, I don’t regret this but feel
I could have shortened a five year
journey down to one or two.
My career was going places, I landed
a highly coveted government job
as a counsellor. But it wasn’t until I
simultaneously went through a divorce
and the death of my father that I
decided to live for myself for once. I
quit my job, and moved to Victoria,
B.C. on a whim. It was the best
choice I ever made. I was hell bent on
working only as a club DJ [my other
passion, something I did successfully
in Calgary] and a tattoo artist. I went to
every single shop in Victoria and asked
for a job, but didn’t land anything.
My drawings were weak at the time;
I didn’t understand then how much
time I should have been putting into
my craft. I had to make it my entire life
if I wanted to succeed.
So I went back to the social work field,
and fell in love with Victoria. Victoria is
the most amazing city I have ever had
the chance to live in, and the Island
is my favourite place on earth. The