Meet Tanner Dow | Tattoo Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tanner Dow and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tanner, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I believe risk important if you want to see your life change. You have to trust yourself enough to take risks, and know that by pushing through the trials you will see that positive change. I think I have a positive outlook on risk, because I have seen that the world is scary whether you take risks or not. I have jeopardized a lot to pursue my passion, and achieve the small amount of success I have. So, I strive to do my best, and learn as much as I can about the craft every day. Through risking everything to pursue tattooing, I have learned to trust myself, and believe that I can make my dreams reality.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have loved tattoos, and art since I was very young. I’d even draw on my friends with sharpie, so that we all had fake tattoos. After High School I decided to pursue a career as an Electrician, to have a stable career, but was in a life threatening motocross accident when I was 21. During recovery I spent a lot of time drawing, and knew that I wouldn’t be able to return to my job as an electrician. So, I decided to pursue an Apprenticeship. I submitted my portfolio to over 30 shops, before landing an apprenticeship in Laramie, Wyoming. I was at that shop for 5 years, and decided I wanted to take my career to the next level. I knew I wanted to relocate, and Fort Collins was always somewhere I wanted to live. The way this town celebrates art, and uniqueness has always caught my eye. I got my foot in the door at an up and coming shop, but Tribal Rites has always been the goal. If it hadn’t been for Aly convincing me to go in and talk to Curtis, I never would have gotten this job. I wasn’t sure I was ready, and figured I needed to be a higher caliber artist to even get their attention. Thankfully Aly is persistent, and Curtis really liked my hunger to always be better.

I would never say that my journey was easy, but I definitely wouldn’t change it. Because of what I went through, I have learned that I am resilient, and have a talent for this industry. I have also learned, that even on my bad days there is still something to learn, and a bad day doesn’t make me a bad artist.

I am a versatile artist, with the ability to create tattoos that showcase my personality, while still fitting the client’s vision. If I had a brand it would be centered around kindness, patience, and really dumb jokes.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is a tough one. My wife and I are home bodies, and new to the area. We love eating at Ginger and Baker on the rare occasion that we eat out. My wife loves to cook so we often choose to stay home. Beyond that we love attending concerts at Red Rocks or the Mission Ball Room, and seeing stand up comedy at The Lincoln Center or the Comedy Fort. Our favorite places to visit in Colorado are Ouray, we love to road trip there, or Estes. I used to be a huge Horror Film fan, and love The Stanley Hotel.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A huge credit goes to my wife Aly, who has pushed me to believe in myself and encourages me to step outside my comfort zone. I would also say that Curtis Burgess taking me under his wing, and mentoring me has played a huge roll in me progressing in my craft.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanner.dow_ink?igsh=Znp1ejJ3anRtbndt&utm_source=qr