ARTISTS
B I L LY
DECOLA
How did you begin tattooing?
I started out hanging around the Miami Ink
tattoo shop which is where all of my friends
worked. I was friends with those guys long
before the TV show was developed and I
always enjoyed the tattoo environment. I was
going through some financial hardship when
I was offered an opportunity to work the
floor - you know, selling tattoos, setting up &
breaking down the artists, cleaning the shop.
It was hard work but it was a crash course
in the tattoo business. After what seemed
like forever, I received the opportunity of a
lifetime, Ami James encouraged me to tattoo
his friend. It was a small, simple tattoo but it
was an eye opener. From that time on I knew I
wanted to be a tattooer.
How has TV publicity impacted your tattoo
career? How is it received by other tattooists
and shops that you have worked in?
TV has boosted my career right from the
beginning and I’m grateful for that. If it weren’t for
the TV show I wouldn’t have had the opportunity
to travel the world and attend the industry’s best
conventions so early in my career. Some tattooers
in other shops are haters, but most guys accept
the fact that I had an opportunity of a lifetime. It
really comes down to my attitude towards them
and the industry. As long as I respect the game,
which I think I’m doing, and keep my side of the
road clean, I expect to be treated as a regular
tattooer working hard to become a better artist.
What direction will you take with your tattoo
career?
10-15 years from now I probably won’t be
recognized as the apprentice on NY Ink but I
do hope to be recognized as a great tattooer.
Once again it’s up to me and the way I use the
popularity that I’ve been blessed with.
What is your favorite style?
I really love traditional Japanese tattooing.
Flat, simple, easily readable and bold. I
spent a long time in Japan, 10 years to be
exact, and while I was there I got to know the
Horitoshi family very well. I had the honour of
getting tattooed by them and during my time
spent there we became friends. Their style is
my favorite and I constantly study Horitoshi’s
work. He’s taught me some invaluable lessons
about composition and I’m truly grateful to
have had the opportunity to speak about
tattoos with such a legend.
How did NY Ink affect your career?
I appeared on the TLC reality show, “NY Ink,”
which was shot at Wooster Street Social
Club in NYC. Not every tattooer goes through
their apprenticeship in front of a worldwide
audience. It was a difficult experience but I
consider myself lucky to have been brought
into the public eye so early in my career.
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What is your take on all of these reality TV
shows around the tattoo industry?
Tattoo Reality TV Shows have gone from being
popular to simply played out. I think it would be
an insult to the intelligence of the viewer to tell you
that ALL tv shows aren’t spiced up for your viewing
pleasure. But real things do happen and that’s
what makes these unscripted shows interesting.
Where have you travelled to in your career?
I’ve had the opportunity to travel all over Canada
and the United States tattooing at conventions
and doing guest spots - NYC, Philly, Miami, Saint
Petersburg, Houston, Chicago, LA, San Fran,
Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver - to
name a few, I’ve also been to Australia 5 times
in the past year! I’ve tattooed in Japan and I’m
finally heading to the UK in Feb for the Brighton
show which is going to be amazing!
Lastly, where are you tattooing now?
I’m currently tattooing in Vancouver, BC in a
private studio. I only take appointments - no walk
ins. While I do miss working in a busy shop, I
feel working by appointment only allows me to
be prepared for the job. That’s important when
doing large scale Japanese work.