There’s nothing new about a parent wanting their child to one day follow in their footsteps, career wise. It happens all the time; family passing on the tricks of their trade to family. Though it’s a common enough concept for most trades and lines of work, you don’t often hear about tattoo artists passing on their legacy to their sons or daughters. But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t happen.
Thirty-six-year-old Blane Dickinson runs his own tattoo studio called Inkaholics Anonymous from his home in Penmaenmawr, Conwy, Wales. He’s more or less like any other hard working family man, except that in his home, he’s not the only tattoo artist: Blane’s 3-year-old daughter Ruby is currently being apprenticed by Blane himself.
For her fourth birthday this coming October, Blane will be giving his daughter a miniature tattoo kit, specially designed and made for small hands, shipped all the way from the United States. Blane wants his daughter to contribute a tattoo of a spider to his leg. Ruby currently takes “tattoo lessons” after nursery school and practices at her father’s shop with a toy tattoo kit.
It’s really not that surprising that something like this should happen. You see it all the time with sports or music or even painting. As long as there’s publicity to be had, people far and wide are always too eager to foist their kids into the limelight. In this case however, if Ruby truly enjoys tattooing, then I guess this is the best way to learn. Far better that she be doing this now under her father’s supervision than ordering equipment off Ebay when she’s 14 and scratching in some dingy basement somewhere. Of course, that could still be a possibility even with her dad’s training, but it seems far more likely that as Ruby grows up she’ll learn a respect for tattooing, thanks to her father. At least I hope that’s what her father’s teaching her.
Tags: 3 year old tattoo artist, Blane Dickinson, Celebrity, Conwy, Inkaholics Anonymous Wales, News, Penmaenmawr, Ruby Dickinson, Stories, Tattoo Artists, tattoo blog, three year old tattoo artist, Wales, Workforce
April 22nd, 2010 at 6:54 am
I think you’ll see more and more generations of families in the business - but 3 years old is way too young. The kid barely knows she exists at this point - why not wait until she’s older, understands, and can actually express HER desire to learn the trade.
May 1st, 2010 at 9:24 am
im the father in question…and to be honest with you…the newspapers have blown it slightly….i never said to anybody that my daughter was being given an apprenticeship….this has been made out like she will be working alongside me when shes four!….ive been in the tattoo business for 11 years now and am painfully aware that you learn something new every day!…..yes ..i do hope she follows in my footsteps…..she is a well grounded …and decidedly happy 3 and a half year old girl who is being forced into nothing!….on a daily basis she insists on wearing clothes with shop details on!..she calls them her “work clothes!”….she just very much likes to be included in every part of my life!…and im only too happy to oblige…..as this makes our bond even stronger and more special than it already is….sorry if i appear a little like im ranting…..i dont mean it this way….just the manipulation of the press on a story which to be honest was initially a nice piece in our local media!,has made me a little touchy!….best regards …Blane Dickinson….and Ruby D!……INKAHOLICS ANONYMOUS HQ….NORTH WALES!….07837 861978
June 30th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
I think it’s awesome that he let’s his daughter be involved in his work! & of course its going to make their bond stronger, so im 100% down with that. This is the kind of thing I like hearing about. A parent actually taking an interest in his kid, rather than throwing it down. Also makes me wanna visit his shop and see the little Ruby and maybe get some new ink. Awesome story.
August 23rd, 2010 at 8:07 am
i don’t see any problem with this at all, i can imagine you’d get quite a bit stick but as long as ruby is happy i dont see any problem. myself and my partner also tattoo from home and my sons is fascinated, hes only 16 month but given the chance and a biro he’ll draw a picture on you, and when hes older i honestly wouldnt see any problem in teaching him how too tattoo.
if a child is brought up around something they learn to respect and not abuse.