Down the rabbit hole...

Its been too long since Ive posted anything in here. I havent felt pushed to write in quite a while, so now Im gettin off my ass and putting that to rest.
Things in my life never seem to stay the same for long, and my job is one of those things. I had a good run at my last shop, but now Ive been given the opportunity to start something new, and until now, unheard of in the greater Ottawa region. Everyone knows that Ottawa has more tattoo shops than normal in a city this size, so to start a new shop from the ground up is to some, crazy. To me and the artists I work with it just makes sense. You go downtown and throw a stick, youre going to hit about 10 shops on Rideau st. alone. Tattooing downtown is a game, plain and simple. You throw your dice and see what you get. Its petty, sometimes dirty, and most of the time fast and overpriced. Not to talk shit about the guys working downtown, theres alot of great talent working downtown...that wished they didnt. So it just makes sense to change the rules of the game, move it out of downtown, and show clients, and artists alike, what a tattoo experience can, and SHOULD be like.
Enter The Gallery Custom Tattoo Studio.
Theres just four of us working there, and thats all there will be. Owned by Richard Morrissette and Mitch Mccallum, I and the insanely talented Calah Write have plans to change how tattooing is viewed here in the Ottawa  area. When you walk in, you WILL be greeted by the amazing Nikki Nelsen, who keeps everything running, and everyone happy. The shop is comfortable, not too big, and not too loud. Everything is very modern, high end, and clean.
The shop name pretty much says it all. Its a place for art. Both tattooed and fine art alike. There is no flash. There is no crowds of teenagers gawking while you get your work done. There is only private rooms, top of the line beds for the clients, and an atmosphere of creativity. You will get what you pay for...period.

The fact is, most people new to the scene are intimidated by the traditional tattoo shop. They cant help it, its usually full of intimidating people. To be part of something different, something new and so far unseen in Ottawa is very exciting. Its not everyday something like this comes along, let alone at a ground floor level.

It was a bit scary at first. To move from a secure job, a known entity that could support my family. As i said at the beginning, I had a great run at my last shop...great place to be and great people to work for. So, as exciting as it IS to be part of something new like this...its taken alot of faith from me and my wife. Faith that we will be ok during this start up period.  Its not going to happen overnight. But I have faith.

I cant wait to share this place with you all. I really cant! Photos will be coming shortly and I will be updating this blog weekly from now on.
So, come down and check it out! You wont be sorry!
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