JUSTIN BELL
I’m Justin, aka Taco Bell’s dad, and am everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
I’ve been working with trains for around a decade and get to see parts of rural Canada that give me a different appreciation for the remote parts around Alberta.
I’ve been dabbling in welding lately and have been trying to fix up an old Honda CB550 Four.
In my spare time, I bug Rob with Kijiji motorcycle ads.
Please note, I have never stolen anything, done drugs, painted graffiti or trespassed! I am an angel and a godfather.
What motivated you to get tattooed in the first place?
Honestly, its been so long that I can't really remember, but I've always had an interest in them. If I were to narrow it down to who motivated me, I think Robbie got one first and I thought it was the dopest thing.
What was your first tattoo and how did you select the design? Who was the artist? How old were you?
My first one was a compass with an eye ball by Heath Smith (@heathsmith) on my inner arm. I just turned 18. I went to Heath with this terrible Pinterest idea that I found and he basically told me that it wouldn't work and came up with an alternative design.
To this day, it’s one of my personal favourites and I'm forever grateful about how real he was about the whole thing.
How many tattoos do you currently have?
I tried counting, but kept getting lost… 30+.
How do you decide on what type of tattoo design(s) to get prior to booking an appointment?
Each one is different. Sometimes I’ll have a completely new, random ass idea, other times I’ll just see a design I like somewhere. Then I’ll take it to an artist whose style I prefer, so that they can put their own spin on it.
Other times I’ll just see some flash and I’ll get it without putting much thought into it.
What were some of the most painful spots to get tattooed for you?
Stomach and chest by far.
Do you have any favourite tattoos?
That’s a tough question. It’s hard to pick a favourite when you like them all. I guess some honourable mentions would be my compass, my thigh piece of Taco (@nappintaco), my cry baby chili, and the frog sitting on a mushroom smoking a dart.
Who are some of the artists that you've gotten tattooed by?
Heath Smith, Tyler Baillie, Shamus Mahannah (@shamusmahannah), Shawn O'Connor (@timbertattooco), Kirk Shandro (@kirkshandrotattoo), Aaron Garand (@aarongarand), Tim Pausinger (@timpausinger), Casper Mugridge (@caspermugridge), Spencer Evans (@spencerevanstattoos), Ryan Buttars, and Mike Mendes (@mikemendes).
What do you like about the particular style(s) of tattoos that you've chosen to get done?
I like traditional because its simple and bold. It’s a classic style that’s been around for a long time and only gets better.
What artist(s) would you like to get tattooed by in the future?
Matt Houston (@matthewhouston) is someone I’d really like to get something by. Scum Boy (@scumboy666), James McKenna (@jmckenna), Ignacio Serichol (@sericholtatts), and @andresinkman, who does these cool collabs with Rafa Decraneo (@rafadecreneo), are also on my list.
Canon AE-1 / Portra 400