Carpe Diem! - Setting Up A Tattoo Shop!

Bertie Keeping A Watchful Eye On My Progress

Becoming a Tattoo artist has been as much about starting a new part (full?) time career as it has been about challenging myself to re-define my understanding of happiness - particularly where work is concerned. Academia has and continues to wane in favour as the issues around the profession has been nothing if not frustrating even at the best of times as academic mobbing seems to be suffocating the energy and optimism out of so many good teachers. Adding to the latter the recent disappointments I experienced when trying to invest in other people's businesses and its become clear to me that I am holding myself back compared to so many younglings starting out in the tattoo profession. Hence my recent purchases ranging from a 1972 VW Bus (aptly named Bertie) to my most recent expenditure at World Wide Tattoo Supply Canada.

Interview With a Biker - Chad Gibbs By Ryan Costello

The Birth of Chad's BMW R1200C
- Pic © Chad Gibbs

Chad Gibbs was a catalyst for shattering the image of the stereotypical biker for me. What was initially intimidating with the shaved head, the biker jacket, and the beard, changed when you see how fun being in the same room as he is. Chad is an interesting biker as he also doubles as a teacher. Getting to sit down to talk with him about his life was extremely informative and it showed how misinformed I truly was. At first I could not picture a teacher as a biker, but as it turns out it might just be the perfect combination. On this topic Chad said “You know, the good news is it gives you a varied schedule and also summers off which is the perfect riding season, during the winter there is no riding right now so there is no conflict, In the summer there is no conflict because there’s class, only in the fall but even by then it's never a real difficulty finding time to ride.” I had made the mistake of buying into many of the typical stereotypes about the “big tattooed bearded bully bikers.” He acknowledges that the stereotypes are still there, but the ways it affects him have not been negative. “In a good way, stereotypes are you know, uneducated, criminals, out of shape, you know, some of those to varying degrees apply, not so much the criminal one. I ride a different kind of bike I ride a BMW, so i'm not the real sort of classic V twin kind of biker.” Being a solo biker means that Chad avoids some of the stereotypes that come with biker gangs for example.

Meet Bertie - My 1972 Volkswagen Panel Bus & Soon To Be Mobile Tattoo Studio!

Go On, Create Your Own Mobile Business!
Pic © Daniel Donahue

There comes a time when you have to decide whether your are just going to sit back and dream of changing your life for the better or are you going to make those dreams a reality. I have been debating what to do with my own aspirations for a while now and have been inspired by an array of entrepreneurs who have come up with unique and creative ways of making a business that works for them. Whilst I don't have a place to work out of just yet, Todd Beck's one man studio continues to draw in clients, new and old alike. I can see why, his place is a reflection of him. It even has that tattoo parlour smell that is akin to feeling warm and homely. I have never left Todd's parlour feeling anything other than zen. After all, who doesn't want to feel safe and comfortable during a tattoo visit?

Inked By Todd Beck - No. 15!

Paisley Pattern Applied to Gaps Throughout The Arm

My last appointment with Todd Beck saw the finishing touches on my right arm. Specifically, Todd spent two or three sessions adding a lovely paisley pattern throughout the gaps. Thus, I officially have two complete sleeves now. Whilst I still want to have more work done (it's an addiction, I know...), as his apprentice, my focus will be mostly on getting the remainder of the equipment necessary this spring as I hope to start tattooing on a regular part time basis starting in June or July 2018 (more on that later). Just having the opportunity to be tattooed by Todd, let alone be his apprentice, has been such a terrific experience. There isn't a fella more zen than Todd so give him a shout today if you're looking for a great tattoo! 😜

Contact Information

Todd Beck Tattoo - Facebook

 30 Rue Academy,
Lennoxville, QC J1M 1P8
Tel: (819) 791-8686

Motorcycle Studies 101 - Student Perspectives On Past & Present Motorcyclists

Elena Myers 

March 17th 2012, eighteen year old Elena Myers stood poised and ready to compete amid men as an equal. Hand on the throttle with the heat of the sun bearing down on her, Elena Myers made history as the first women to win a Daytona race of any kind. Elena Myers was born November 21st, 1993 in Mountain View, California. Myers began her racing career at the age of eight, encouraged by her parents, she started off with pocket bike racing, then mini bikes, and now Supermoto. Now a professional racer, Myers still experiences odd looks from strangers when they first discover that she is a professional motorcycle racer (Wray, 2013). Many ask her “ Do you compete in the girls only races?” (Wray). While not offended by the question, Myers choose to defy female stereotypes. Myers won her first professional race during the Race 1, Round 4 of the 2010 AMA Supersport Championship at Infieon Raceway in Sohoma, California. Even with all of her success Myers no longer competes in professional motorcycle racing due to insufficient sponsorship (Llovet, 2017). What I would like to know is why would an accomplished rider like her lack sponsorship? Is it because she is overrated, or because she is a women? The world of motorcyclist is still largely male dominated, and women like Myers are an inspiration to those of us who wish to break into the culture. Hopefully in the years to come more and more women will follow in Myers fearlessness and climb on their first bike, I know I will. 

- Meaghan Rivett

See Who Else Made My Students List!

Robbie “Maddo” Maddison Redefining the Limits of Possible By Loïc A. Mercier

Extreme sports are constantly redefined by people who go out of their way to stretch the limits of what is considered possible. When it comes to the discipline of FMX (freestyle motocross) Robbie “Maddo” Maddison is a great example of cold-blooded fearlessness.  On his bike, the Australian has jumped on and off a 50 story building, has ridden on water, was the first to jump over the Corinth Canal in Greece, has backflipped off the famous Tower bridge in London, has set world distance records jumping over a football field on ESPN and has been a stunt double for Vin Diesel and Daniel Craig (as James Bond in the movie Skyfall.)

Meet Rosie (Diamond Heart) Corbin - Our Sable German Shepherd Puppy!

Meet Ms. Rosie (Diamond Heart) Corbin

As we drove down to Saint-Casimir, Quebec to Élevage De Juco I couldn't help but feel as though my wife and I were somehow completing a rite of passage that many families have gone through over the course of the last century. I had been promising my family a puppy for as long as they could remember and with our recent house purchase, I ran out of excuses as to why it wasn't a good time. I never doubted my family's ability to be amazing puppy/dog owners. I just lacked the confidence that I  had anything of value to contribute. In any case, we knew that above all else the most important thing would be temperament. We decided on a German Shepherd for a variety of reasons, notwithstanding their long lasting reputation for being amazing family pets with an IQ slightly higher than my eight year old. 😏

3rd Annual Bikers Against Child Abuse 100 Mile Ride!

A Brief Review of The Phantom Tollbooth By Joel Corbin

A Classic Book Issued To My Son's Grade 6 Class!

The book The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster, was first published in 1961 and republished again in 2005, by Random House. The book received very good reviews and over 3000 copies were sold since 1961. Norton’s roommate, Feiffer was a cartoonist and he inspired Norton to write his famous book. In the book, a young boy called Milo gets a package that contains a toy car, a tollbooth and a map. He builds the toy car, sets up the tollbooth and chooses a place on the map to go. The place he chooses is Dictionopolis. Even though Milo was gone for only one hour in real time, he was gone for days in the other land. The reason Milo gets the package, is so he can take time to do things and that nothing is meaningless. This text will examine the following subjects, friendship, the importance of time and the tollbooth along with the watchdog.

Inked by Crystal-Marie - Part 5

Left Peck In Progress!

I wish Todd Beck could have seen how well I handled today's tattoo by Crystal-Marie! After having a BSA Motorcycle tattooed on my right pec by Todd last week and making quite an ass of myself, I had followed several cardinal rules to undertaking a tattoo for today. The regiment included getting a good night's sleep, taking some Advil (ibuprofen) and eating a healthy portion of porridge with brown sugar for good measure before heading to my appointment. The most important thing was probably my mindset. Unlike last week, I was mentally prepared for today's chest tattoo. Despite being nervous, I feel as though I redeemed myself. Whilst there were definite ticklish moments the closer we came to my left nipple, inevitably I stood my ground and Crystal-Marie was able to complete the above tattoo. This one has my children's names on it as well, making it all the more satisfying. The daisy in the middle is a small version of a larger one that I will be having added in the next few weeks. It was designed by Ms. Amirun Shah of Inktion. My chest is far from finished, however, as I plan on having both pecs completed in the next month with a background. I have nothing but mad respect for anyone who gets a chest tattoo of any size. It is arguably one of the more painful areas that I have had to bear, so much so that I think I'd actually have preferred getting my elbow tattooed again. Ah well, no pain, no gain. Wish me luck, I'm going to need it! If you are looking for a great tattoo artist, contact Crystal-Marie today.

Contact Information

Crystal-Marie- Facebook

Forever Ink - Facebook

1576 Rue King Ouest #110, 

Sherbrooke, QC J1J 2C3

Tel: (819) 791 7766