10 Questions with tattoo artist Matthew Ellis AKA: The Rev. from Toronto, Canada

Our series of 10 questions with tattoo artists where we like to pay tribute to beloved tattoo veterans of our trade. Many old friends and some new ones! Thank you Mr. Matt Ellis for letting TattooNews catch up with you!

Your Name and / or artist name if applicable:  Matthew Ellis

Years tattooing: XX years

Years working in tattooing:

I got my first machines and started to learn in 1993, but put it down to finish university. I then got back into it and have been working professionally since 1997, I now have been a Pro for 28 years.

Place of business:

I am now with the amazing crew at Ginkgo Tattoo in Toronto.

Instagram: @ginkgotattoocorp

                    @alterednationparlour

Website: www.ginkgotattoo.com

1- How old were you when you got your first tattoo? Where did you get tattooed and who did it?

I was a late bloomer as far as tattooing went, I was around 19.  It was done by Jarkko Holopainen in Toronto, at the time I think he was at Daemonology, or whatever Damian Rowenchilde's place was called back then.

2- Did you have an apprenticeship? If yes, by whom and where? How long was it?

My apprenticeship was very casual, done with Jarkko if anyone. He was super easy going and I didn't think I was ready when he thought I was. I was also in University at York at the time, and wanted to finish my studies in Fine Art and Anthropology there.

When I got out I was in the thick of a flowering young tattoo community in Toronto. I would have to say that the finishing touches of any "apprenticeship" I had were handled on the job or by those I was getting tattooed by. 

Mike Ledrew helped me refine my needle making chops; he had come from the Tat-a-Rama Bill Baker crew. Ronnie "Dabz" Beadrea, refined my ability to illustrate what could not only be tattooable, but what would have longevity as a tattoo - he came from Crazy Ace Daniel's and the Way Cool gang. 

The first shop I was at was Stainless Studios on Queen West. It was run by Tom Brazda, a piercer, so the already good job of being taught sterile practice by Jarkko was hammered home by Tom.  Finally, a huge influence on my formative years was Jen Black who helped me with everything from tattoo tech tips to surviving the politics of a busy shop. She was shortly out of her apprenticeship with the Legendary Shane Faulkner. I owe them all my eternal gratitude.

3- Your tattoos are rad! What are the top 3 things you like to tattoo?

I love the challenge of larger scale colour work and cover ups. If you are talking subject matter.... I'd say Japanese/American, Sci-fi and the occasional big geometric work.

4- Do you like travelling and tattooing? Which conventions, guest spots were your favorites?

In my younger years in the early 2000s I did a lot more travelling.  I had the pleasure of splitting space with Corey Ferguson in Berlin and New Jersey, and did quite a few Canadian shows with Prof. Chris Hall and George Brown. I also used to do the Pittsburgh and New York shows as well.

Once I opened Seven Crowns Tattoo in 2008 with George Brown, we put most of the money back into the shop and funding the gallery, but we we're sure to do the Toronto NIX and Calgary shows, and once even took the whole crew to St. John's, Newfoundland.

As for guest spots, yeah, all over but mainly Calgary at Bushido and Deadly as well as Winnipeg at Soul Survivors.  I miss those days, I got to work with so many fantastic and influential people.

5- Tattoo pilgrimages, have you ever travelled to get tattooed or have been tattooed at a convention? How far have you gone to get tattooed? Who are some of the people you have collected from? 

As far as this goes, I've never had the good fortune to go too far and get tattooed. I mainly stick to people I know well. Probably the most outside my circle would have been by Phil Holt at the Vancouver show or Tim Lehi in 2000 at the NYC Roseland show.

I did however get tattooed Irezumi style by Hori Ren, at the time the only female Hori, at the ROM tattoo exhibit one year.

Actually I completely forgot! I got to meet and get tattooed by one of my heroes... Tin-Tin, a couple of years ago in Paris. Went by to meet him, his shop is incredible and he was nice to me and my family as well. I figured he didn't have the time to tattoo me, pretty full schedule, but the next day he called me with a notice that he had a cancellation so I jumped on it!!! They say never meet your heroes, but this time I couldn't have been more pleased. What a great man, shop, and group of artists there.

6- One of your favorite machines, current or past? 

My daily driver right now.... and yes I still use coils....

SOBA Pilot liner

Micky Sharpz 1991 Microdial

Jason Schroeder (Mr. Incognito) shader

An absolute plow of a shader by TCB's Andreas Merril

7- What was your last tattoo? Do you get still get tattooed?

It has all become a little bit of a blur. I got my wife to do a '7C' on me as the last tattoo at the Seven Crowns Orangeville location. I was tattooed by my apprentice at the time Serena Medieros, I got a tiki mask showing my love for the Shameful Tiki in Toronto. I wound love to get tattooed more. Plans are in the works with Dustin Logan and Glen Paradis, and I'd love to get something from James Tex.

8- Where can we see and get tattooed by you this year? (Shop, guest spot, convention, etc.)

This coming year I am at Ginkgo tattoo in Toronto, and occasionally at Altered Nation in Orangeville. 

I've been trying to plan a guest spot at Barnstormer with Glen Paradis in Ottawa forever. As for conventions, I plan on representing in Toronto at NIX again and am trying to convince the gang at Ginkgo to do the St. Johns Newfoundland in 2026. I went to that show this year after being absent for 9 years and it was great. Good to see former Torontonians;  Dave Munro and Mike Ledrew out there.

9- Other than tattooing is there any other type of art you like to do? Do you have merchandise for sale and where can we purchase it?

I do all sort of art... but have kind of trailed off. Painting mainly. I am looking into doing more 3-D work this year.

10- What are your interests outside of tattooing?

In recent years, I have fallen in love with tiki culture. Like tattoo culture, it has a thick history. I even got to do a tiki convention somewhere hot for my 50th b-day!

Follow @revmat73

website: www.sevencrownstattoo.com

                www.ginkgotattoo.com