SEAN ROBERTS
I am a 37 year old father of four from Edmonton and I currently own and manage a commercial tire shop in North Edmonton.
I love all things art, culture, history, music, sneakers and fashion. I’m currently fascinated by anthropology and archaeology.
I also love spin, and the circle of friends I've made from it!
My Instagram is @seanofthedead15.
What motivated you to get tattooed in the first place?
I wanted to see what it was like, and had always been drawn to it.
Was there anything specific about tattoos that drew you to them? Did you see a lot growing up or know a lot of people with tattoos?
I actually didn’t. My parents didn’t have any. It was the art, and the fact I could admire it constantly and carry it with me everywhere.
Do you remember what you first tattoo was?
My first tattoo was a solid black moose silhouette on my left calve. It was done by a guy at Dragon FX WEM (can't recall his name) and I was 18.
Do you know how many tattoos you have at this point?
Everything but my stomach, face and neck are covered.
How do you decide on what type of tattoo design(s) to get prior to booking an appointment?
Normally they are pre-planned, but at the moment I've been focused on completing my back.
How did you come up with the ideas for some of your existing tattoos?
I’d say social media was a big influence. Seeing artists portfolios and also following some of the best in the business!
What is it about Japanese tattoos that you love? Have you been to Japan before?
I love Japanese tattoos, but I’ve never been! I would so love to go there one day. It’s the imagery, the stories, the folklore, and the thousands of years of history that accompanies them.
Do any of your tattoos hold any personal meaning to you that you’d like to share?
I have both my kids’ names on me, and some pieces for family members that have passed away.
What were some of the most painful spots to get tattooed for you?
Inner thigh, and top of my foot.
Do you have any favourite tattoos?
Yes, my kitsune thigh piece as well as my chrysanthemum on my hand. Scott Rusnak did my kitsune. He had done a traditional one on someone else and I fell in love with it.
Ryan Buttar did my chrysanthemum. It was a last minute booking, but I had seen Justin from Foosh’s hands and loved his work!
You're pretty covered up in tattoos at this point, do you plan to keep on going or would you stop at a certain point?
I’ll stop when I’m out of space!
How many sessions and hours have you sat through for your back piece so far? It's quite impressive! Do you know how many more sessions it'll take to finish off?
I’ve done about 50 hours so far. We have about another 10 or so until it’s done, so 2-3 more sittings I figure.
Who are some of the artists that you've gotten tattooed by?
Scott Rusnak, Ryan Buttar, Heath Smith, Kirk Shandro, Jamie Law, Richard Harding, James Greenaway, Julie Bauschardt, Andi Jane, and Jime Litwalk.
What artist(s) would you like to get tattooed by in the future?
Heath, Scott, and Katrina Rowsell.
Canon AE-1 / Portra 400