Services
Seven Crowns Tattoo
Seven Crowns Tattoo is your definition custom ink shop. Not your typical storefront shop on Queen or Bloor. Nor is it downtown like some of the other shops we've checked out. They're the type of shop that you suss out, knowing what to expect when you walk in.
Seven Crowns is the only tattoo shops in midtown, a stone's throw from Yonge and Eg. As I walk along Yonge passing a row of independent restaurants, the odd Starbucks and some other cafés, I see Seven Crowns' unassuming sign. That's all. A sign and a door leading you up a set of stairs. At the top of the stairs, on your right is a hair salon, brightly lit and as you would expect. On your left is a tattoo shop with a different flavour.
There's no flash tattoo art on the walls, something common at most of they city's top ink joints. Well, that's a half-truth; there's one small collection of flash from 1925. The shop's classic aesthetic, in co-owners Matthew Ellis, 37, and George Brown, 36, own words, is turn-of-the-century. Well, turn-of-the-century saloon with the din of tattoo machines. They both sport playful facial hair and are both clad in black. The shop is equal parts art and antiques in the main section, as they own two of the suites on the floor. They recently expanded and added the front suite where they have the reception desk and a couple tattoo beds this summer. They also expanded to a current tattoo staff of five to help support the area's burgeoning walk-in crowd.
Ellis and Brown both worked at Way Cool Uptown for 10 and seven years, respectively. Before that, they both had completed apprenticeships and paid their industry dues. And with solid clienteles and reputations built, they decided to branch out. To open a custom shop. "Just not the everyday, run-of-the-mill work," says Brown, perched on one of the shop's stools. And with no other tattoo stores in the immediate vicinity, they set up shop in 2008. "It hasn't been completely bastardized up here yet, and hopefully we can hold onto it," says George, speaking of the locale. "We thought we would inject something cool into it."
Sitting there, chatting with them, Ellis and Brown are no-bullshit guys. They're there because they genuinely seem to enjoy what they're doing. And that's part of the reason why they got out of the storefront tattoo scene: complacency to the artform. It has now become a rule at Seven Crowns: "Complacency is not acceptable here," Brown insists. Because, with a half-laugh, Ellis explains that about 40 percent of his work is cover-ups from "scratcher" shops. And that's just plain sad however you cut it.
Asked to explain their individual styles, they take pause. "We all have our own bend on those traditional styles," says Brown. It goes along with the store's classic, unique vibe. Even when asked to do flash work, they put a custom spin on it. "You start to develop a style of your own. Well, you're developing away from a style. The tattoos have committed styles, the artists don't exactly," explains Ellis. And that's why all they need is a front door with a sign - they have carved out a receptive clientele based off their work alone.
"Most people are seeking us out, not necessarily for us, but for what we do," says Ellis. That typically speaks for itself.
All tattoos are at $150/hr across the board. "Hagglers can haggle elsewhere," says Brown.
Writing by Ryan Bolton / Photography by Dennis Marciniak
Discussion
27 Comments
Sort By Oldest First / Newest First
Subscribe
If you want a cheap tattoo then you'll spend the rest of your life with a tattoo that looks cheap. If you want something that'll always get you excited to have then go to Seven Crowns.
Do you read? It says, verbatim,"There's no flash tattoo art on the walls, something common at most of they city's top ink joints. Well, that's a half-truth; there's one small collection of flash from 1925."
All the flash is from 1925, as it says a half-truth. Moron.
After we presented our idea to Matt, we had a follow up consultation to view the final product - a custom, one-of-a-kind piece. It was perfect - beyond our expectation.
Seven Crowns is definitely one of my favourite shops in the city - they have a crew of very talented artists that produce quality work! I can't wait for my next visit!
If your thinking about getting a tattoo I have only 2 point of advice:
-Be sure about what you want and bring pic's to illustrate the idea
-If you spend time on nothing else, take the time to research the tattoo artist & their studio.
let me tell you - i was terrified and freaking out.
but not only the tattoo looks amazing and the lines and the whole design - she was so friendly and funny and very accomodating. i felt i was tattooed by a friend. the whole atmosphere in the shop is awesome - Alex was very helpful as well by explaining things and making me feel that asking all those questions that i was is not a bad thing at all. As he said - it is for the rest of your life - so do it right and exactly where u want! :) Holly is an amazing artist - everybody looking at my tattoo is loving it saying that it looks just unbelievably feminine and suits me. thank you guys for making me (the completely scared first timer lol)so comfortable and I LOVE MY TATTOO!
if i ever get enough balls to get another one - i wont go anywhere else! Perfect place
I love my tattoo. Savannah listened to what I really wanted to capture and what I didn't and truly made it beautiful!! Very respectable place, would highly recommend it!
Hopefully it will come out amazing! Gonna take 3-5 hours on it, so shouldn't be too bad. First tattoo, I was nervous but reading these great comments I am now just very anxious to go there and just get it done with :)
http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/koihalfsleeve/media/DSC_0183_zps187d6064.jpg.html
I take responsibility for my part(allowed the drawing to be tattooed without looking at it much. I put too much trust in the artist) but I went to a custom shop to receive a quality tattoo and I did not.
The tattoo is just badly composed. Mistakes in three cherry blossoms, huge fins on the koi. Koi is awkward and long. Way too skinny on the bottom half. The tail has no shape. The shading on the bottom half looks bad. Some of the light blue turned green. The light blue looks bad. I was told that blue was the only option as I had some faded ink that was lasered prior. The line work on the bottom half with the water fall is off. There's a line that connects that shouldn't. I said I also would want to turn it into a full sleeve and the way it was finished off at the bottom would make it pretty difficult.
After first laser session.
http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/koihalfsleeve/media/Toronto-20130312-
00096_zps2fe6f073.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0