INKLING FOR INK
It ’ s been said that behind every successful woman is herself . Julia Madeleine , owner of Atomic Cherry Tattoo in Port Credit , couldn ’ t agree more . The road to opening her shop in June of 2014 , where she works with her daughter Sam Tyson , also a tattoo artist , was anything but easy .
Two years prior to opening Atomic Cherry Julia was completely burnt out . She was working at Malefic at the time , a shop she was partners in with her husband and had spent fourteen years helping to build , when they split up .
“ I was trying to create a new life for myself while we remained working together ,” says Julia . “ I couldn ’ t relate to my customers with any semblance of humanity . I don ’ t know how I even functioned back then , I could barely tattoo .”
Julia knew her life needed a complete 180 degree change . So she gave up her house and most of her possessions , packed two suitcases , took her lap top , booked a one way flight to southern California and ran away from home . She spent the next six months in San Diego hanging out on the beach and learning to surf . She describes it as one of the best things she ’ s ever done for herself .
Much of the following year Julia spent living between San Diego and the Toronto area , working just enough to allow her to go back to California for two or three months at a stretch . And then eventually , in 2014 , she was ready to settle down and establish something completely her own . And that became Atomic Cherry Tattoo .
“ Someone recently described the shop as 1950s meets nostalgic , jazzy New Orleans with a voodoo mojo vibe ,” says Julia , “ And I thought to myself , Yes ! That ’ s it exactly !”
Her vision was to create a completely different environment from the stero-typical tattoo shop , where people could feel comfortable . Because she loves everything retro and classic pinup tattoos are her favourite thing to create , she designed the shop with that theme in mind .
“ The best compliment I ’ ve ever received was when a customer told me that I made him feel like he was coming home to mom ’ s kitchen for cookies ,” says Julia . “ To be able to make someone feel that comfortable and accepted around me is incredible . Because I care about people , not just their tattoos .”
While Atomic Cherry doesn ’ t actually serve cookies , they do serve up some serious ink on a large scale and they promise not to tell your mom about your new tattoo . Julia says they ’ ve probably already tattooed her .
“ We go through entire families ,” says Julia . “ Kids , parents , grandparents , uncles and aunts . You have your family doctor and now these days you have your family tattoo artist . It ’ s awesome .”
A good portion of the clientele that come through the doors of Atomic Cherry are tattoo virgins . Julia explains the best thing a first timer can do is to listen to the advice and expertise of the artist because great results come from leaving the artwork in the hands of the professional .
75 Issue 20 | Missy Ink