1987

Got my first skateboard: I credit everything I have done to the discipline and hard work skateboarding has taught me, and all the great people I’ve met along the way. Skateboarding was everything to me, and the constant teeth rattling beatings over hot asphalt and concrete while trying something over and over again, has taught me to overcome all obstacles and hurdles that have been thrown at me throughout my life. The origin for everything I do as an artist has come directly from growing up in the skateboard community, and the artists behind all the old board graphics played a major roll in the beginning stages of my interest in art. Originally I would remove old, worn out board graphics, and then draw my own over top to freshen things up. This turned into drawing on my friends skateboards, and all over my school books and notepads with countless skulls, screaming hands, and oozing faces.

1989

Introduction To Punk Rock: Music became a big part of my life, especially the hardcore punk movement which was in it’s last breath around this time. I started to watch local NB bands such as Lizard, The Scapegoats, Neighborhood Watch, Next of Kin, Roach, and Eric’s Trip at small venues around town. This scene brought me in contact with a new group of people who were making something out of nothing, thinking for themselves, and generally bringing people together to make them feel like they belong. This also brought on a new brand of artwork that heavily influenced my style, and album covers from bands like The Misfits, The Accused, and Black Flag opened up a whole new world for me to explore. To this day, the artwork of Raymond Pettibon still blows my mind!

1994

On Tour: By this time I was pretty much done with schooling systems and started traveling back and forth across the country. I visited Edmonton a fair amount, and all cities in between while skateboarding, drawing, and getting into painting. I worked various crappy jobs, partied lots, and started getting into tattoos at this point. This was pretty much the story of my life over the next few years…

2000

Back on the East Coast: I settled in back at home and started working at East Side Board Supply, a company I strongly believe in due to its grass roots dedication to the skateboarding community. At this time in my life I returned to my roots of skateboarding and music, and became heavily involved with painting as well. I also began doing flyer artwork for Nick Of Time, and Droltab Records for show promotions, and did some album artwork for local bands as well. (I also played in a band for a while, which was something I have always wanted to do.) I held my first art show around this time, which pretty much sold out, and gave me the confidence to somehow pursue a career in the art world. I started getting some tattoos done by an artist next door to the shop, and I learned that there is a lot more to becoming a tattoo artist that what I had originally thought. I showed him my portfolio and expressed my interest in becoming a tattoo artist, and he ended up offering me an apprenticeship.

2003 – Present

Enter The World Of Tattoos: The hardest thing I had done to date was learn the art of tattooing. The level of artwork, and constant change of style was like nothing I have ever dealt with as an artist. And the amount of time you have to commit, and the raw emotion of dealing with a person enduring a tattoo was intense. It was like going back to square one for me…back to when I first started drawing on my worn out skateboards. But I’ve got to admit, I loved every minute of it! Despite the steep learning curve, the stress, and heavy work loads, it was all worth it to be able to create something that would be appreciated. Now the tattoo artist here at White Lotus, I take pride in the fact that you enjoy my work, and allow me the privilege to mark you for life…

Shaun Martinson