Daily Inspiration: Meet Shannon Elliott

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Elliott.

Hi Shannon, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been drawing as long as I can remember. My parents are total hippies and we moved around a ton so it was always how I entertained myself as a kid. I knew I wanted to make art for a living but I had no idea how. I went to college in my hometown, Vancouver, Canada, for graphic design and did that for a few years. I hated office culture and I was always on the verge of getting fired for taking depression naps in my car at work and accidentally drunk dialling my boss.

Around this time I was getting super involved in the DIY and art scene in Vancouver, doing murals, making posters for local bands and giving my friends stick and pokes in my bedroom. I started getting tattooed by actual professionals and I realized that this is what I was looking for the whole time.

It was almost like fate; I met my mentor, Yi Stropky, totally by chance at the bar on my 27th birthday and threw myself into tattooing fully. We both ended up getting hired by Black Medicine, an up and coming shop that specialized in black work style tattoos. It was a crazy time to be in the industry, tattooing was insanely busy, instagram was blowing up, and we all became local celebrities overnight. Covid eventually came and shut us down, but I wasn’t ready to stop anytime soon.

I ended up fulfilling my teenage dream of moving to Los Angeles about two years ago. I grew up absolutely obsessed with the Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan “Y2K Party Girl Era” of LA, and there are so many tattoo legends and shops here, it was a no-brainer. Plus I needed to get out of those Canadian winters. I now split my time at Le Papillon studios in the Arts district, and Jelly Los Angeles in Koreatown. I also regularly attend conventions and do guest spots all over the world. I’m honestly living my dream and it feels so surreal to say that!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not! Like many artists before me, I’ve struggled with mental health and substance abuse issues for most of my adult life. It’s something I’ve had to confront constantly, especially working in an industry that’s competitive, stressful, and built around a culture where partying is part of the job description. Tattooing can take a real toll if you’re not careful. I’ve seen incredibly talented colleagues burn out, hit rock bottom, or have to step away from tattooing entirely just to take care of themselves.

Personally, I’ve had to make a lot of changes over the years to stay grounded and healthy. The one thing that’s consistently helped me cope with anxiety and self-doubt is making art. When everything else feels chaotic, sitting down to just focus on making something brings a sense of calm and clarity. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s always been my anchor, and it keeps me inside and out of trouble for the most part.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in illustrative black and grey, with a strong Japanese, Chinese, and American Traditional influence.. Being half Chinese, I was raised surrounded by eastern art, and I’m drawn to the clarity, movement, and symbolism in that style.

At the same time, I have a deep appreciation for classic American Traditional flash, reinterpreted through my own perspective and merged with a more feminine sensibility. I’d say my work is very much “for the girls.” While I do tattoo men, the majority of my clients are women and queer folks, especially people of Asian descent, which means a lot to me.

One of the things I’m proudest of is that I’ve been able to develop a style that feels uniquely mine. It took years of trial and error, and it will probably be something I’m working on until I die. Finding my voice as a tattooer was hands down the hardest—and most rewarding—part of the journey.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I feel like I am constantly taking risks in life! Moving to a new city, travelling solo, making new friends—all those things involve risk. Hell, even trying a new restaurant is risky. I’m totally down for all of it. Although I will say, being in my thirties, the one thing I don’t play with is physical risk. I’m just one broken wrist away from financial ruin, so unfortunately I won’t be joining in any snowboarding or skydiving trips anytime soon.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.shannonelliott.ca
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paingardens/

Image Credits
Maddie Iverson