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DS: Ok, first thing's first...how are you doing today?

Tegan: *Laughs* Honestly, I was a little manic and very expressive at work today. I bought a new pocket pc so that's exciting, you?

DS: I'm doing alright...things are kind of uneventful here in Iowa at the moment.

Tegan: Oh geez you're in Iowa?! *Laughs*

DS: for school, yeah. Haha.

DS: I obviously know who you are, but for those that don't, tell me a little bit about yourself.

Tegan: Well I live in a small city called Salem, Mass. where they had the Salem witch trials. It's a killer place on the ocean. I have two Bengal cats and a Pug dog, Precious. She's the love of my life.

Tegan: I'm a tattoo artist by trade, and I began studying the art in 1996 when I lived in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. My mentor was Gale Mosman, owner of White Mountain Tattoo in Conway.

DS: How did you become interested in tattooing? Had you had any prior illustration experience before then?

Tegan: I've always loved art, and I've worked in several mediums. I took as many art classes I could throughout school, and also studied figure drawing with a group for many years, Pottery, and Oil Painting and Alternative Drawing at Maine College of Art.

Tegan: I became interested in tattooing at age nine when I accidentally poked myself with a pencil and it left an indelible mark. My friends and I used to draw temporary tattoos on our hands, and I obtained my first professional tattoo at the age of seventeen. Soon after, I began hounding a local tattoo studio for a job. However, I saw an ad for Help Wanted at the desk of the other tattoo shop in town and was hired because of my art background.

DS: Seems like you lucked out then! From what I hear it's not really a field you can just dive into.

Tegan: Yes I do feel very fortunate about my ease into an apprenticeship. However, take note that I persistently showed my mentor endless drawings to prove that I'd be an asset to the tattoo industry. It took some convincing since she'd had some bad luck with another apprentice in the past. A year went by before I picked up a machine. I also mopped a lot of floors, cleaned a lot of toilets, and took a lot of lip from all of the artists.

DS: Definitely, I wasn't doubting that by any means, I was just commenting on how much work it takes to even be given the opportunity to do something like that. I know a lot of people that have failed. Haha.

Tegan: People come into the shop asking to get an apprenticeship often, but they come in empty handed. If someone came in with a portfolio of mind-blowing designs, they'd have a way better chance of being considered. Somehow they just don't get it.

Examples of Tegan's work (more at teganink.com):

(click to enlarge)

DS: Yeah, I can see that happening. What did you decide to get your first tattoo of? And since you were 17 at the time, how do you feel looking back on it, or has it been modified since then?

Tegan: I'd brought in a drawing of my own, but they didn't do custom work as a walk in. I was underage and it was illegal. So I decided to get a random Celtic flash design anyway. It came out pretty badly. It was too deep, and I had a haze around it. So it's been covered up since.

DS: How many tattoos do you have to date?

Tegan: It's tough to say how many tattoos I have since several of them touch other ones. Do I consider that one tattoo then? If so, hopefully one day I can say that I have one or two because I'll have a body suit where they all touch. Presently, I have over one hundred hours invested in my skin.

DS: Whoa, I've got some catching up to do then. I don't know if the "Call Katie Tomorrow" I have written on the palm of my hand counts. How many of those were done by you if any?

Tegan: Well I recolored a symbol on my foot, which is now covered up because I learned that it was disrespectful to the culture, and I did some coloring on my ankle a long time ago. I prefer to give back to the community by getting tattooed by other artists. Besides, I can learn some new things from them during the process.

DS: I think that's a good way to look at it. For what it's worth I'm an artist myself and having a good supportive community is essential, everyone benefits from it.

DS: From talking to you and looking at your work I think it's pretty safe to say that you love what you do. What would you say is the most rewarding thing you get out of your profession?

Tegan: Well there are many benefits, but the biggest honor is knowing that people are proudly boasting their tattoos that you created. That makes me fell all warm and fuzzy inside.

DS: Well, its good to know that you get that kind of love back from your work. Based on some of the people I've seen stumble into tattoo shops I'm sure every experience isn't always as enjoyable. How often do you get people that are disrespectful or just don't know how to handle themselves?

Tegan: Well it does happen now and then. We had this guy come in last week. He was an older gentleman and didn't seem to know how things ran at our shop. He seemed to be putting on a tough guy persona demanding that he wanted a tattoo right then and there. We told him we could service him two hours later. However, when we told him the price, he complained about it and walked out.

Tegan: Things like that happen every now and them, but thankfully I'm working in my room most of the time. The receptionist has to deal with those folks most of the time.

DS: That’s good. I've always been curious about how things like that work. Have you had a chance to catch any of the "tattoo shop" shows that are on TV these days?

Tegan: I saw a couple of episodes, but I don't really watch too much TV. It's similar to what I see everyday while I'm at work so they don't really interest me too much. They show a glamorized version of what happens day to day in a shop setting. This type of editing can be misleading because people can't imagine how much time is put into the whole tattoo experience when they can see a sleeve or back piece executed from start to finish in a half hour. Unless they have back pieces or sleeves already.

DS: Understandable. I think I have a pretty good idea now of who you are as an artist, but lets talk a little about Tegan the person. What kind of music are you into?

Tegan: I guess it'd be easier to say what I'm not into. My present playlist includes Jane’s Addiction, QOTSA, Ladytron, Damien "Jr. Gong" Marley, Wolfmother, The Backyard Babies, and lots of classical music. Oh yeah and Tool, and Massive Attack.

Tegan: I've been listening to a lot of meditative music also like Japanese flute and fingerstyle guitar.

DS: That sounds like a pretty good mix right there. Are you into punk music at all?

Tegan: Not that much I guess. I'll listen to almost anything, but I've never really been into punk. I do enjoy some Rockabilly and Psychobilly, though.

DS: Aah, there goes my excuse to plug my friend's band.

Tegan: Maybe I'll go through punk listening phase someday.

DS: Ha, yeah.

Tegan: I think a lot of music today can fit into many genres. I guess the Backyard Babies are punk influenced, and I love them. I love Social Distortion too, but I consider them rock with a punk influence.

DS: Yeah. I've taken a stab at learning some Social Distortion songs on my guitar recently.

Tegan: When I think punk the Sex Pistols, Crass, and The Casualties come to mind.

Tegan: I'm also a huge fan of jazz like Medeski Martin, and Wood, John John Scofield, Charlie Hunter, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, and on and on. I love live Jazz too. I used to play the drums and percussion, and that's the type of music I used to jam.

DS: Yeah. What about your life at home? Earlier you mentioned you had a pair of Bengal cats and a pug.

Tegan: I'm pretty domesticated. My animals are my "children", and the dog especially requires a lot of attention. I love to cook and I prefer natural and organic foods. I've studied all different styles and ethnic foods to diversify my repertoire. Right now I'm experimenting with Raw Vegan foodism.

DS: Wow. Do you have trouble finding time for all of that?

Tegan: Not really. I'm an extremely motivated and energetic person. I loathe laziness, I don't watch a lot of television, I don't oversleep, and I only have a small handful of friends. So I have plenty of time to do these things that I enjoy. I also have a container garden on my back porch that features herbs and some flowers.

DS: That sounds like a detailed list of what I need to do to get my ass in gear. :-) Its good that you have so much drive and determination, but I'm sure that if you didn't you wouldn't be where you are today. Before I let you go is there anything else you'd like to tell those people that may not know much about you?

Tegan: Let's keep them guessing. That just covers the tip of the iceberg. If they want to get to know me more, than they should come and get tattooed by me. I end up learning a lot about my clients and vice versa especially if we do extensive work. Several of my regular clients become lifelong friends of mine.

Tegan: They can also read my blogs on MySpace. I post often, and sometimes share personal things about myself in them in addition to new pieces I've done, travel updates, and recipes.

DS: Awesome. That sounds like a good note to end it on, but it was a pleasure talking to you and I wish you the best of luck on all your future endeavors!

Tegan: Likewise!! Much love and appreciation to you!