Meet the Artists: Shaun Topper

📍Captured Tattoo, Tustin (Orange County), CA (USA) 

@shauntopper 

 

How long have you been tattooing or painting? 

Tattooing for 17 years, painting for 25 years

_____

What 5 bands or musicians are in your current rotation? 

Poliça,  The National,  Sade,  Built to Spill,  Windhand

_____

 

Favorite non-tattoo-related thing you did in the past year?

Outside of tattooing I spend a lot of time gardening and training martial arts. Training and competing have been a passion of mine for a long time and it's a healthy outlet of energy for me. Gardening is also great meditation and a way to have a bunch of fruits and veggies on deck. It's really rewarding to grow my own food. It has been said that it's better to be a warrior in a garden, than a gardener in a war. I guess it can't hurt to study both sides. Keeps me happy, healthy, and entertained.

_____

 

What’s your overall perspective on the current state of tattooing, and where do you see it heading in the future?

I feel like tattooing is in an interesting place where the talent pool and overall quality of tattooing is accelerating at warp speed. I don’t think this growth necessarily is a new development, but the curve appears to be a bit more aggressive as of late. It can be scary for people who hear those footsteps behind them and aren’t evolving, but also inspiring for those who are ready to rise to the challenge.  Evolution is key. The alternative is extinction.

_____

Where is your shop based, and what do you love about the location?

You can find Captured Tattoo 135 E Main Street in Old Town Tustin, CA. We’ve been in Old Town for over a decade but just made the move to Main Street a few months back. It’s a livelier part of town and in a beautiful historic building. The space we’re in now was at one time the original City Hall and Post Office of Tustin, which is interesting. The shop has still got some undertones of that historic charm even after the conversion into a tattoo studio. I like the outdoors, so being based in Orange County works well for me. Working and living close to both the beach and the mountains has been really nice.

_____

In your opinion, how important is it for artists to evolve their style over time? Is it better to master one niche or explore different paths?

Evolution. I think every artist should be actively pursuing evolution when it comes to technical application and their skill set. Stylistically, I guess it depends on the artist. If you love doing one style and have done it for 20 years and it's working for you, then that’s great. If you're the guy or gal who needs to burn it all and reinvent yourself every few years, that’s cool too. Personally, I’ve seen my work evolve but I don’t know that I’ve ever made a conscious decision to pursue or cultivate stylistic changes. I think they’ve happened organically and I’ve just been enjoying the ride.

_____

How do you see the relationship between client input and your own artistic freedom when designing tattoos?

I've always found it interesting that almost every piece we create as tattooers is a bit of art fusion– it’s very rarely 100% our own. Of course we’re the ones applying the tattoo but there’s always the client to consider. They’ve got their own expectations and preferences. It’s a fine line to walk. Everybody wants to have their own unique voice, but I firmly believe that we are here to make the client happy. Ideally, we find a clientele that is made happy by the style and approach that also resonates with us most. I’ve found that thorough consultations often lead to really successful tattoos. My definition of a “successful tattoo” is one that both the client and artist are proud to show off.

_____

How do you handle creative blocks or periods where inspiration seems harder to find?

Creative blocks are a forced reset for me– I honestly don’t fight against it. If I feel like painting: I will. If inspiration isn’t hitting me: that’s fine. Trying to force it has never been productive for me.

_____

What advice would you give to aspiring tattooers or those wanting to get into painting trying to establish themselves in today’s competitive industry?

To aspiring tattooers, I would give this advice:It's going to be hard. Probably harder now than ever before. There's a zillion talented artists out there, and the numbers are growing. Mediocre and lazy efforts will never rise to the top in the tattoo world. There’s too many others that are hungry and outworking you. Nothing short of extraordinary diligence will land you where you hopefully aspire to be.

_____

 

How do you measure success as a tattoo artist? Is it based on personal satisfaction, client feedback, or something else?

Measuring success as a tattoo artist is definitely subjective. Personally, the metric I use is my own happiness. I go to work, enjoy the time spent with my clients and coworkers, and create art that supports my life and interests outside of work. I have no complaints.

_____

 

Do you thrive under the pressure of deadlines, or do you prefer having unlimited time to perfect your projects?

Deadlines, although they work both ways for me. It really depends on the project. This interview, for example, has been on my “to do” list for weeks and I somehow keep finding a way to procrastinate. When it comes to my day-to-day clientele however, I really enjoy structure and having everything prepared and ready to go ahead of time.

_____

 

How do you feel tattooing has changed over the past few decades, and do you think it’s evolving in a positive direction?

Tattooing has obviously changed dramatically in the past few decades. Lots of these changes are positive and some are clearly negative. I’ve always thought about this from two directions: from the perspective of an individual (a tattooer), and from the perspective of tattooing as a whole. A lot of things that might be amazing for one can also be damaging to the other.

An example: There’s more unbelievably talented artists cranking out mind-blowing work every single day than ever before. Obviously, this is a massive win for tattooing as a whole. It’s also detrimental to the tattooer as an individual if they’re getting lost in the shuffle, or are unable to keep up with the spike in growth. Tattooing as an art form is undoubtedly moving in a positive direction. It’s right in front of our faces. How this affects tattooing as a profession… I guess that really depends on who you ask. Honestly, the amount of competition out there is staggering. I just let it motivate me rather than intimidate or discourage me– I’m just trying to do the best tattoos I can.

_____

Do you have any inspirations outside of tattooing that significantly influence your work?

I like to read. It’s easy for me to get inspired through books. Fiction, nonfiction, whatever. It always seems to kickstart the imagination.

_____

How do you approach balancing technical skill with artistic interpretation in your work?

A very good design can be tattooed poorly and still look cool. And a weak design can be tattooed so well that it makes up for the dogshit drawing, and it’s still a fun tattoo. It’s my opinion that we should always be looking to create a powerful design with a skillful application. 

_____