Shawn Hedley and Tattooers for Japan

-Who are you and where are you from
I’m Shawn Hedley, and originally from Toronto Ont. Currently Im just finishing up at Classic Tattoo in Red Deer Alberta. Im joining the crew at Lucky Strike Tattoo in Edmonton Alberta in May

-How did you get into tattooing
I got into tattooing pretty young building my first homemade rotary machine at 13 and quickly giving it up after seeing what I was doing to friends.
By the time I was 17, I had my sleeves, neck and small hand tattoo which was not so common in 1989 and that made my friends feel I was best suited to once again try my hand at it.
This time my friends all pooled money and I got to buy some equipment from a friend Dave Hughes that that was coincidently selling machines belonging to the guy that did my first(real) tattoo when I was 15. 
Equipment in hand and a line up of friends and with some help from a local shop I was on my way to what would turn out to be a lifetime of stories in something that I knew right away was special
and at the time closed to public so the mystique was something very appealing.
-How long have you been tattooing
Professionally I say just under 21 years but with a few year of regrettable tattooing before that

-Did you complete a traditional apprenticeship
No. I messed that up loosing focus over a girl for a few months and that was long enough for me to ruin that opportunity.
Fortunately not long after I fell in with Dave Wildenboer at New Tribe Tattoo in Toronto where we both were fakin it till we make it kinda situation.
It was through Dave I would meet and to this day consider my mentor Bill Baker.

-Tell me about tattooers for Japan
Tattooers for Japan is a Facebook group and website created by my good friend Dave Allen. So here is his explanation:
“This site has been created in response to the recent natural disaster in Japan. The goal is to unite tattooers globally to show their compassion and gratitude to a country and culture that has influenced most of us artistically and personally.
All of us owe a large debt of gratitude to Japan for its contribution to tattooing and the trade we are all so passionate about. The idea is for each tattooer/shop to schedule a walk in day in April with all proceeds going to relief efforts in Japan.
Choose your own day, advertise to your client base and community, pick a theme if you’d like. Please invite any tattooers you know to join this effort.
Join the discussion below to help decide how the money should be dispersed, via charities or through our own connections(tattooers) in Japan.
Let the Japanese foundations of respect, compassion, and integrity inspire you to help!”

-Why did you start this fundraiser
I was in constant communication with Dave in the early stages of the Facebook group just hearing him out when he needed to bounce ideas around and giving my thoughts on any matters discussed.
I helped Dave get into Tattooing during my time at Sacred Heart Vancouver and I learned when he gets passionate about something roll with it or get out of his way,
I of course choose to roll with it and I figured I was in a good position to help organize some events around Alberta seeing I have some good friends between Calagry and Edmonton.
-Tell me about any art shows you’ve been apart of, or put on
Haha I have managed to not be in any shows in a long time, I just seem to leave shit to the last minute and then I rush to produce something I`m not happy with.
The last 5 years the garbage has been my curator. I did manage to get some Vans done for Rich Hanford`s `Just for Kicks` Show a few years back.
Im currently putting together a show `Now that`s loosin`yer Head: The art of good head VolI` It`s a show featuring art on old school chopper helmets, I got Biltwell Inc. a chopper parts company to sponsor the show which will be held June 5th at Classic Tattoo in Red Deer for just one day then at Craftsman July 30th for a month then will be showing at the Calgary tattoo and Arts festival in October. Some of the artists involved this round are the Deadly Tattoo crew, Doug Fink, Leigh and Scottie from Smilin Buddha, Dave Wildenboer & Kyle Hollingdrake from New Tribe Toronto. Clint Danroth who has been a huge help and supporter from day one, make sure to check out the poster art Clint did for the show. The list goes on. Im in the planning stages now for Vol 2. If anyone wishes to be involved in future shows I will be putting together email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to get on the mailing list

-Who are your main influences
I have lots of influences that would be to long to list but I have to say that the past couple years it has really been the people I work with.
Jessie Beans has had such an influence on not just in drawing but just how she approaches everyday at the shop was really something I needed in my life, I was turning into that bitter old timer and letting shit from all angles affect me.
Lucas Ford brings such simplicity into his tattooing and yet when you see a tattoo he did it has his signature all over it, a real pleasure and honor to have the chance to work with everyone at Classic.
Thanks to Andy, Lucas, Ryan and my number one Beaner

-What do you hope to see happen with the industry
Thats a loaded question for a bitter old timer hahaha. I hope the air of entitlement blows over soon. Tattooing will always grow in different ways, ever evolving, being shaped by new ideas or refining some old.
Its a roller coaster ride that you have to love but sometimes the loops are a bit much.

-What bums you out about the industry
The whole entiltlement attitude that so many have now is brutal. People tattooing only a couple years and bitchin cause they donèt have the client base of seasoned tattooer.
Kids who only do one type of tattoo and think they are the shit. One trick ponies lay out to die in pasture.

-Any final words or shut outs
Check out staybratty.com for future artshows and of course come down and support the many artists participating in the tattooersforjapan.com fundraisers May 1st at Deadly Tattoo Calgary Ab, May 7th at Lucky Strike Tattoo Edmonton AB and May 15th at Classic Tattoo in Red Deer AB. So many artists to thank for these events Deadly Tattoo, Classic Tattoo, Eternal Tattoo, Bushido Tattoo, Smilin Buddha, Lucky Strike, Ink Addiction Saskatoon, Strange World and Im sure Im forgetting some so sorry about that.