Local tattoo artist Damon Conklin went from video games to ink

Damon Conklin is no doubt one Seattle's most influential tattoo artists.

In 2002, he founded the Seattle Tattoo Expo, an annual event showcasing talented tattoo artists from around the world. Unsurprisingly, Conklin owns his own tattoo parlor, SuperGenius Tattoo, located just nearby on 1017 East Pike Street.

Somewhat less expected? That he's as committed to his Christianity as he to his career as a tattoo artist.

Every Wednesday evening, Conklin hosts an informal Bible study at SuperGenius Tattoo. Surrounded by framed tattoo flash of buxom, winking women and by Conklin's own oil paintings, many of which carry religious undertones, attendees discuss books in the Bible.

The Bible study boasts a few regulars, but many drop in once every few months. Conklin doesn't mind. He understands busy schedules. And for those who might still waver about their Christianity, Conklin reserves no judgment.

He knows personally what it's like to run from God.

Conklin grew up in a family of Jehovah's Witnesses. As young man, Conklin frequently got into trouble, and his family tossed him out of their home on a few occasions.

"I deserved it," Conklin admitted. Even so, his childh ood brushes with religion did nothing to strengthen his opinions of Christians. "I thought people who believed in that were pussies." 

Years later, after successfully battling addictions to drugs and alcohol, Conklin's views about faith changed.

"I went crying back to God," he said. God, he added, was waiting for his return and has been an active part of his life ever since.

Just as willing to discuss his numerous tattoos as he is about his return to God, Conklin needs hardly any prompting before he'll roll up his pant legs and sleeves to show off his ink. In all, Conklin figured, he's gotten about 120 hours of work on his body.

Receiving his first tattoo at age 26 changed his life forever. 

At the time, Conklin worked as a video game animator. He'd always drawn, and eventually he went to an art institute to hone his skills. While at the art institute, Conklin attended a demonstration by a tattoo artist.

"I thought, ‘That's f***ing stupid. I'm going to be a real artist,'" he said. "I could have had a happy life as a video game animator. But then I got my first tattoo."

One tattoo led to another. Soon Conklin immersed himself in an art form that he'd previously turned his nose up at.

After 15 years as a tattoo artist, Conklin admitted that he underestimated the difficulty of drawing on human canvases, which curve and move and react to pain.

"At first you do a lot of bad tattoos on your friends," he said.

Conklin's talent as a tattoo artist grew over the years to the point where his own employees seek his work.

Ricky Way, manager of SuperGenius Tattoo, enjoys decorating his body with tattoos of animals. At one point he asked Conklin to tattoo a pygmy jerboa on the inside of his arm.

"He nailed it," Way said, motioning to the tattoo of a kangaroo-footed mouse creature.

In the future, Conklin hopes to have more time for painting. The Lynnwood Convention Center currently hosts an exhibition of his work, and he'd like to partake in more gallery shows.

Most of all, though, the change in attitude towards tattoo artists, which has occurred over the past 10 years, gladdens him. Previously, curious parties asked him what crazy tattoo experiences he's had.

"Now," Conklin said, "I think the world sees we're just a bunch of art nerds."

Sam can be reached at skettering@su-spectator.com