Tattoo artist aims to leave his mark on Deadwood

Tattoo artist aims to leave his mark on Deadwood
April 3, 2011
Amanda Friar
Rapid City Journal

Dan Collins has been tattooing since he was 11. He did not start the Aces-n-8s Tattoo and Piercing Parlor in Deadwood, however, to make a pretty penny on his long-standing passion for tattooing.

“These people that I tattoo may never remember my name, but they will remember the tattoo I gave them,” Collins said. “They always remember the artist, just like a song. We may not be making as much as Charlie Sheen, but we’re still winning.”

Collins and his wife, Angela, recently moved to Deadwood from Chicago, leaving behind three children who, according to Collins, would never leave. Previously, Collins owned a tattoo shop in Phoenix but was forced to leave the business after having a heart attack at age 39. After a five-year retirement to fully recover, he went back to work at a friend’s tattoo shop before he visited Deadwood.

The Black Hills Tattoo Festival, held in Deadwood in October, was Collins’ way of getting himself back into tattooing and inspired him to open his own shop again.

After a 950-mile move from the windy city of Chicago to the gambling town of Deadwood, the biggest thing that Collins and his wife miss most, besides their children, is the noise. They now live in Lead, although they plan to soon move to the noisier and livelier Deadwood.

“We used to live in downtown Chicago, so we’re used to the loud noise,” Collins said. “It takes a while to adjust. I just like the noise.”

After his experience in Deadwood during the tattoo festival, where he worked with Tattooed Life Radio and did walk-in tattoos, Collins knew he wanted to move to the Black Hills.

“I love the history,” Collins said. “I really get into the history of Deadwood, and the Black Hills are beautiful.”

Shop piercer Mike “Scooby Big Dawg” Taylor agreed, saying he can appreciate the town now after watching the television series “Deadwood.”

“I’ve got more appreciation of it and of the culture,” Taylor said. “It makes it more special. We’ve lived a lot of places, but this is the best.”

Angela Collins said she enjoys the people she has met in Deadwood. After getting sick soon after their arrival in Deadwood and spending a lot of time in the hospital, she was immediately impressed with the people in the small town.

“Here, we’re accepted,” she said. “Everyone’s really friendly, and people really care.”

The Aces-n-8s, at 376 Main St. Suite A, is the first tattoo shop in Deadwood and, according to Collins, they’ve had great success so far. The shop opened St. Patrick’s Day weekend, and in their first week of business, the shop did 15 tattoos and 12 piercings.

Collins said they will do any tattoo customers may want besides gang or color-related material and portraits. Collins sports a portrait tattoo that stretches over his entire back. His own tattoo is part of the reason he will not do portrait tattoos.

“I only let a person do that who does that type of work,” Collins said. “I’m intimidated by it because of who taught me. You know, what’s your study? You do what you’re good at.”

Collins said he really enjoys doing traditional Sailor Jerry art and hopes to bring that style into the Black Hills.

“I believe in tradition and respect, and that’s what that art shows to me; it’s honoring the tradition of tattooing,” Collins said.

Collins and Taylor hope that the shop will succeed, but more than anything, they hope people who visit the shop leave after having a good time.

“The important thing is that they come in and experience a good time and a fun time,” Taylor said.

“We’re a big tattoo family,” Angela said.
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