Today we’d like to introduce you to Tim Howell.
Hi Tim, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I began my tattoo career in North Park under Luka (RIP). He took me in after showing him a tattoo I had done on myself. That was my introduction to the tattoo world. It was pretty crazy, sort of a party shop where there would always be people around even if they didn’t work there or weren’t getting tattooed. Shorty after the shop got raided by police and the shop was dismantled and I was left to fend for myself, I didn’t know what I was gonna do but thankfully, Chadwick St Helix (RIP) took over the shop and brought me on as an official employee.
In hindsight, it was premature but it’s one of those sink or swims moments and I’m really grateful for it. Fast forward a few years, I was working in Lemon Grove where we had a guest artist visit from the east coast who introduced me to the traditional American style. This was around 2010. Something about it really grabbed my attention, and I proceeded to persue it ever since. I now own my own tattoo shop in Bay Park across the freeway from Mission Bay and Fiesta island called Port Side Tattoo. We opened in Sept 2018 with the blessings from my previous employers Kyle Walker and Nate Banuelos. So far, we have survived a pandemic, and the shop is thriving and doing great.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I started tattooing, everything was a full custom, and it was quite a struggle because I barely knew how to apply a tattoo non the less design a quality tattoo. With the help of the internet and Instagram, people now have plenty of styles and designs to choose from, so if you put the work in you can really hone in your craft and build a clientele
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a husband to a beautiful bride and father to two amazing children. If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know where I would be in life, they have pushed me to become the best version of myself possible and I am forever grateful for them.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I’m really into hip hop, and I listen to a lot of interviews with rappers and different artists. Such as the people’s party with Talib Kweli. Other than that I’m always interested in different arts and subject matters and for those, I listen to Joe Rogan and Angel and Z podcast, which can be found on Spotify.
Contact Info:
- Email: Portsidetattoos@yahoo.com
- Website: portsidetattoosandiego.com
- Instagram: @Portsidetattoosd
Image Credits:
Tanya Gomez (tattoo) Cory Vidal (tattoo) JC True (tattoo) Adam Sayre (tattoo) Tim Howell (tattoo) Taylor Kuykendall (photographer for artist portrait)
