Inking a new career

When you step inside P.A. Ink, you'd almost think you've stepped into a lawyer's office. And that's exactly what owner Brad Tinker wants you to think.

"I don't have tattoos, I don't like to look like a tattoo artist, and that makes me different," said Tinker, who opened his shop on May 1.

It's a small tattoo shop with only two tables inside and the walls are painted maroon and cream, with accent pieces to give a more professional and clean feel to the space.

"I deliberately wanted a small shop, so it wouldn't be a (tattoo) factory."

Tinker first started doing tattoo work several years ago and quickly realized that he had not only a knack for it, but that he enjoyed it and wanted to make it his life.

He moved to Prince Albert with his young family three years ago to pursue his dream of opening his own shop. He's since decided to leave his job at the Cameco mine in Rabbit Lake to pursue his dream full-time.

"I knew I wouldn't have been able to do this in a small town," he said. "I'm just grateful I'm doing it in a community where it is appreciated."

Tinker's specialization is portrait work, where he said he enjoys trying to capture the realism of the face he is inking on someone's body.

"It really takes talent, and there's two parts to the talent," he said. "One is the drawing and the other is operating the equipment.

"If you can do that, you can be a tattoo artist."

Tinker said that he, his other artist and their apprentice are all Cree, something he noticed one day as the three of them were sitting around the shop chatting.

"It's a sense of accomplishment to see a group of Cree people doing what we want to," he said. "There are a lot of talented native people."

Since opening his shop, Tinker has found himself busy with requests for tattoos, cleanups and other such services at his shop.

And for Tinker, it's a dream come to life.

"To be able to utilize that talent and make a living off it is great," he said. "I feel very comfortable here, and I've had a lot of support."

P.A. Ink 160-B 17th Street West (306) 764-3994 Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon-Sat Closed Sundays