by Geoffrey Stephenson Photos courtesy of Russ Abbott and Ink & Dagger Tattoo Parlour
From the December 2007 issue of PRICK Magazine
Russ Abbott & Malia Reynolds
One of Ink & Dagger Tattoo Parlour's custom studios
Nestled away in a quaint location sits Ink & Dagger Tattoo Parlour, one of the Atlanta area's newest tattoo shops. Ink & Dagger is owned by artist Russ Abbott, who is no stranger to PRICK. Abbott's tattoos have been featured plenty of times over the years in our magazine, and many of our staff wear his work on our sleeves, literally. Ink & Dagger recently held their grand opening party, which received a great response from the local tattooed community. We had the opportunity to sit down with Abbott and find out more about his new spot.
With 10 years worth of return clientele to rely on, Abbott had finally reached a place in his life where he was ready to open his own tattoo shop. "Since I started tattooing, I've been dreaming of opening my own studio where I could call the shots. Ink & Dagger Tattoo Parlour is my way of giving back to the craft that has given so much to me. I chose the city of Decatur because it was close to home and just minutes from all of the coolest parts of Atlanta. It’s a great mix of city and suburb." The shop itself is a reflection of Abbott's love for the craft of tattooing. A large collection of traditional American and Japanese style tattoo flash and paintings adorn the walls of this old brick building. The antler chandelier and fancy woodwork gives the feeling of an old gentlemen's club. The custom-built artist's stations look like genuine antiques. "Overall, I couldn't be happier with how the shop came out, but I'm definitely glad the construction is over so I can get back to tattooing."
Russ Abbott
Without a doubt, there’s plenty of tattooing to do. Over the last few years, Abbott's bold and illustrative tattoo style has caught the eyes of many collectors who seek him out for large, multi-session tattoos. Unable to restrict himself to one style of tattooing, he has pretty much tried it all. "These days, most of my tattoo projects seem to focus on epic story-type themes. I also really enjoy interpreting traditional American and Japanese style themes. With my more adventurous projects, I’m trying to re-define what people think of as a tattoo while still respecting the hard-learned rules of what makes a tattoo stand the test of time."
If you're not quite ready to commit to large-scale tattooing, Ink & Dagger has another talented artist you may be interested in. Malia Reynolds, who began her tattooing career three years ago, recently moved to Atlanta to work at Ink & Dagger. "She would come to town and get tattooed by me. I was impressed by her work and her personality. She makes customers feel so comfortable. I'm so lucky to have her at the shop. For now, she does walk-ins while she's building up her clientele."
Russ Abbott
Russ Abbott
Russ Abbott
Ultimately, Ink & Dagger has room for a total of four resident artists. Future plans include visits from regular guest artists as well. "Tattooing is experiencing a huge surge in popularity and acceptance. Fly-by-night shops are going to continue popping up all over the place. But we're the good guys. I've built my reputation on clean, solid, and artistic tattooing with no attitude. I won't settle for anything less from my staff."
Russ Abbott
Malia Reynolds
Ink & Dagger Tattoo Parlour
1036 West College Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 373-6655
