Alternative Ink have just opened up in Holywood and have decided to open with a bit of a bang! Their name is everywhere and they seem to have what it takes to be the best in the business! Their tattoo parlour is very comfortable, beautiful and when entering you are greeted with big smiles and sometimes hugs, and to be very honest, when i visited i got greeted by a half naked body, however i’m told that’s very rare. The parlour is capitalising on its long shape and using the front of the premises for art/craft exhibitions and have already exhibitions (see posters at bottom of piece) taking place and many lined up for the future, including one from a Panic Dots fav photographer, Carrie Davenport.
When i called down the the parlour i got chatting to head artist and owner Shane Sunday, here’s what happened.
Becoming a tattoo artist is not something that they teach you in school, where did you pick up your skill?
I kind of fell into tattoo’s. My friends wanted tattoos and I could draw so they put 2 and 2 together and came up with a needle and thread. It was weird ’cause I was pretty young and hadn’t even thought about tattooing as a career. After a short while I got into the real thing and got my gear. Back then the only people tattooing were bikers and they didn’t want to teach me anything, as a mater of fact the only information they did give me was miss information. So it was an up hill battle all the way. Now, almost 17 years later I’m still hard on myself and strive to do better.
Are there any artworks that you’d prefer to tattoo than others?
I truely enjoy a more pop culture mixture with comic book lines and colour. I’ve been working with light direction and shadows using colour to get more interesting tattoos. I feel that a tattoo doesn’t need to look like a tattoo but more like a piece of atwork. Having said all of that I love tattooing Japanese themed pieces as well.
You have many tattoos yourself, have you done any on yourself? Do you have a favourite?
There is a saying in the business that goes ” He who tattoo’s himself has a fool for a client.” Most artists out there who are tattooing today have tattooed themselves at one point in their career. I’ve done it a couple of times but I’m most proud of my skull on my calf that I did one winter in Toronto. It’s a pirate skull with the letters TKF on the hat.
How are you liking the new parlour?
I love the new parlour/studio. It’s taken me a while to get used to working without some real good friends around me but it’s another thing all together just going in and using your own space. I’m getting rave reveiws about it as well. People come in and tell me they’ve never seen anything like it and that it’s very comfortable and welcoming. Just a good feeling I guess what with the art gallery at the front of the shop and an open concept moving through the shop. It’s something I’ve built for myself ya know?
This must be a major milestone in your career, do you have anymore big goals?
…where to begin? I just try to do good tattoos and maybe one day someone will say that that kid is good. Ya know? I have my family a wife Lara who is fantastic at looking after me and two boys who I love to bits so I think my goal right now is to bring up the next top artists at Alternative Ink. Then maybe one day get a proper vacation.
Other than tattooing is there any other arts that appeal to you?
Art is so wonderful really isn’t it? I love art. I use to look at stuff and try to get it but it just never got through to me. Now I look at everything including the nut that holds the tire on your car and think wow! I mean that’s some peice of art isn’t it? As to styles I don’t know I love everything from Michealangelo to Andy Hamilton. ( that kids got some class) At the moment I’m stuck on low brow art, real street level art. The kind of stuff that just makes me appreciate creativity.
Are there any tattoo artists or anyone that have been an inspiration to your work and life?
There are so many people throughout my career that have affected me in one form or another. The artists I look to for inspiration such as Shige, Steve Moore, Gerry Carnelly. Not to mention the people who have helped me along the way Like Six, Tommy Higgins, Gerry Carnelly and a real big one Scott Mckewan Of TCB in Toronto who said to my brother that ” If Shane put his head to it and quit screwing around, He’d be a good tattooist.” That sorted me out right away, and I’ve been at it ever since.
Upcoming Exhibitions!
