Art for Art’s Sake - Tattoo Artist Don Petersen
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People have tattooed their skin for over 5,000 years. It’s the oldest known art form and Don Petersen respects its importance.
Petersen opened his tattoo studio New World Samurai and Karma Art Gallery in Canmore 15 years ago and now eight tattooists work there. He has done thousands of hours of tattooing.
“I do tattoos from palm size to full body suits,” Petersen said. “The majority I do are sleeves and backs.”
He first learned the art of tattooing when he was living in Antigua, Guatemala 20 years ago.
“I went to Guatemala to help a friend open a bar that he was building,” Petersen said. “He left and I finished building the bar. But I wasn’t really into the bar life.”
So Petersen found something more interesting.
“There was a pretty thick arts community in Guatemala,” Petersen said. “A friend who was a tattooer got me started. He offered to help me. He was my first mentor.”
Tattoo artists also go to school for health courses but the tattooing process is learned through mentorship.
“The learning curve has changed over the years,” Petersen said. “Nowadays it’s a much quicker learning curve as everything is more accessible. But it’s still better to take it slow. It’s not something people should just pick up and do.”
There are quality and health concerns, he said.
“We have to be most careful of blood born pathogens,” Petersen said. “And to be careful of the ideas people have, if they are good or bad ideas. Usually, I have a better idea than most people do.”
Over time, people appreciate tattoos that they have put more thought into.
“It’s important to think of an idea that is timeless and you can appreciate and grow on the rest of your life,” Petersen said. “Or it’s a beautiful piece of artwork that you are going to collect and appreciate. Just like a painting or any piece of art.”
Tattoos do hurt but they’re tolerable, he said.
“It’s like a heavy cat scratch,” Petersen said. “Similar but not as deep as acupuncture. Tattooing is in the top three layers of the skin. Like third degree sunburn.”
They were once used as an amulet for health concerns, in tribal ceremonies and in the Bow Valley, usually just for show.
Rock stars with facial tattoos are nothing new. A mummy from the pre-Inca culture was found with tattoos on her lower cheek.
“Everyone is made different, so everyone has a different purpose or reason for having a tattoo,” Petersen said. “There is a big difference for someone from the South Pacific to get a tattoo compared to someone from the Bow Valley. For me, I collect the artwork first and the meaning second.”
Petersen’s designs have an Asian influence.
“I like to do tattoos with influences from Japan, Tibet and India,” Petersen said. “Like dragons, Buddha and koi fish. And animals done in a fantasy way like a super powerful eagle.”
Before he was a serious tattoo artist, Petersen competed on his snowboard in slope style and boarder cross competitions.
“I maintained the snowboard park at Mount Norquay for a couple of years and taught and coached a bit,” Petersen said.
He painted the rails and features at the snowboard parks at Mount Norquay and Sunshine Village with a number of other artists who also helped him paint the murals at Devil’s Gap bar in Banff.
To see more of Petersen’s work please visit his website at www.newworldsamurai.com.
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