Tasha Tonks Talks Point to Point with Eikon

Each week our intrepid artist liaison and generally jovial Eikon staffer Patrick Coste, sits down with a tattoo artist to get to know them a little better. This week, he's catching up with Halifax artist Tasha Tonks.

Tasha got a true grasp on traditional tattooing and lives by it. She is driving, she got taste and above all she is devoted like none! - Patrick Coste

Rapid-Fire Round...

Name: Tasha Tonks
Year tattooing: 4.5 years
Years actually good at it? hah: Ooof, that’s a hard one to answer! I was pretty lucky that I had an early introduction to the industry and worked in shops before starting to tattoo. A lot of those years were spent learning about tattooing and painting. I have a hard time looking at my work and thinking it’s good to this day, but I definitely feel a lot more confident in my abilities in the past 2 years. 😅
Place of business: I own Three of Swords, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Instagram: @tashaterror

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PC: Good day Tasha! Been a while since I came up and visited you last fall. Seems like a lot happened even though we’re confined, you are quite active!!! How have you been?Let's start over from the beginning of 2020...

TT: Hey Pat! So nice to catch up, I wish we could do this in person! 2020 has been a pretty exciting year for me so far. I had spent the first few months this year opening my new shop, Three of Swords Tattoo Parlour.

Finding the shop location was like the stars aligned and I met a wonderful businesswoman who had a location just a block away from my home. I signed a lease with her and got to the renos - we had a ton of work to do! The space had been a music store for the past 25 years so there were a lot of things to take out, and we basically gutted the shop before we got to work on the new build. Everything was going great, and I was set to open for April - but obviously with the pandemic the shop opening has been put on hold until it’s safe to resume operations.

There were a few convention plans I had as well and some really amazing guest artists that were lined up to come through, but we’ll just have to reassess the situation and reschedule. It’s a bit of a bummer, but it makes for the day we can actually open the doors to clients all that much sweeter.

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PC: Yess, I heard that! Congratulations, you did a nice virtual opening too!!! :) How was it for you?

TT: Thanks! It was really fun! I’d toyed with the idea of an Instagram live video, but settled on a photo journey to show the work that went into designing the space. It really gives a better idea of how much love went into making Three of Swords when you can see the whole process. I had an overwhelming amount of positive feedback and messages, so I’d say it was a great success!

PC: Tell me, you clearly love traditional tattooing, and you rock at it, what made you come to love the traditional tattoos that much?

TT: I think being interested in tattoo history drew me to traditional tattooing initially. There’s just something about that bold classic design that really strikes a chord with me.

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PC: You've been doing some crazy banners lately!! Sort of a job these days eh? But really, you've been doing those for a while right?

TT: I’ve made a few banners for myself in the past, and always wanted to make something that would be a little smaller scale and work better for home decor. Luckily all this time off has allowed me to play around with those ideas, and the response has been unreal! The first batch sold out in 10 mins, and the second went just as well. I’ve been keeping busy with my online shop, and I have some really fancy new stuff coming out soon...and more banners too, of course!

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PC: You model a bit, and you’re stunning!! What’s your favorite brand lately?

TT: Thank you Pat! I may be a bit biased because I live with the cofounder, but I’ve been loving all the new stuff TAKE TO THE GRAVE has been putting out lately! They really put a lot of work into finding the best quality garments, so everything they print on is really nice and super comfortable to be in during all this down time.

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PC: Tasha, we're gonna get there soon, and I hope you can get to work as well. I want to see all those crazy trad tattoos... Good luck to your shop! Make sure you say “hi!” to Alex for me, and I hope to see you next September for another great vacation!!

TT: Thanks Pat! Come sleepover in our van again soon! Until then, stay safe! Xo

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Follow Tasha: https://www.instagram.com/tashaterror