On May 13th, Chestermere welcomed its newest business located in the plaza of Rainbow Falls. The first tattoo shop to open in Chestermere, called Obsidian Rose Ink, is not only making its debut to the town but also aims to decrease the negative stereotype associated with tattooing.
Husband and wife, Tim and Emma Ashman, own the store. Tim has been a tattoo artist for the past seven years, starting first at home and then quickly being accepted in to a shop.
For the past two years, Tim was a tattoo artist at a tattoo shop in Banff called Perfect Image. However, both him and Emma had always wanted to open up their own shop, and this is what fuelled their move to Chestermere. ”We wanted to move away from the mold of traditional tattoo shops,” says Emma, “and reinforce that it’s not just sailors and pirates who get tattoos. There is a very negative stereotype attached to the tattoo industry and we wanted to change that.”
The interior of the shop itself is different from a typical tattoo shop. From noon on the shop’s entrance area is lit up with natural light and offers a comfortable and inviting waiting space. A reception desk sits across from two comfy white couches and a glass table, with a window where you can see Tim and the other tattoo artist, Chris Campbell, tattooing away.
The shop’s open and spacious layout shows that neither tattoo artist is looking to hide their clients or their work, reinforcing that feeling of comfort and trust within the shop. Emma and Tim’s son, William, was busy printing out price stickers for tattoo care products in the reception area the day after opening. Each tattooing station has a television and wireless headsets so that clients can be distracted throughout the tattooing session if they wish. “We are big on family, and the image we have for our shop is one that is classy and family run.”
For the past few months, Tim has been working out of a room at Lakeshore Esthetics and Tanning, owned by Jody Nakoneshney. Emma says that many thanks go out to her support in helping them take on a new business on their own.
Both Chris and Tim are extremely versatile when it comes to their level of expertise with different styles of tattoo art. However, Campbell commented that although he has no specific specialty he enjoys new school, and although Tim does not have a specific specialty he enjoys neo-traditional and realism.
The hourly rate of each tattoo artist is $150. If you are interested in discussing ideas for a future tattoo with either artist, you are asked to book an appointment for a consultation. Obsidian Rose is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11-7, so stop by and check out a tattoo shop that aims to be a little bit different from all the rest.
