Red Raider Becomes Tattoo Artist
by Julie Stoddart
Orson Mellin was on track for a successful career in art. A Lubbockite with a passion for drawing, Mellin enrolled in Texas Tech University in 1999. When he emerged with an impressive portfolio and a Bachelors of art degree in 2003, he was ready to take on the world.
But, for Mellin, what he wanted to do most was what most artists criticize – the art of tattooing.
“I just always thought it was so cool,” Mellin said. “Being able to use a body for a canvass is just amazing. Tattoos often signify changes in peoples’ lives, and I wanted to be part of that.”
Mellin took his degree and began work as an apprentice at Piercecution Tattoo Shop on 19th Street in Lubbock. He was not being paid in money, but in experience.
“It’s a lot of work,” Mellin said. “I basically lived there, doing all the things an intern might do at a business. I was a coffee boy, a guinea pig, and a janitor.”
Mellin said the best part of his day was when he got to practice his art.
“First I had to start out just drawing on paper free-hand,” Mellin said. “Then, once the boss says it’s good enough, I can move on to tattooing animal skin.”
Pigs and cows are the test-dummies for aspiring tattoo artists, and according to Mellin, are great for practice.
“When I finally got to tattoo an actual person, it was almost the same – minus some hair,” Mellin said. “I had to get really good before they would let me tattoo a person and then I got to practice on the other guys who worked there. I love it because no one takes themselves too seriously.”
Mellin began taking art classes in elementary school, competing in various art shows and winning awards in the First Friday Art Trail in Lubbock.
“I didn’t always want to be a tattoo artist,” Mellin said. “I just loved to draw and I wanted everyone to see my work. While I was in college, I was so interested in tattoos even though I never had one. I just decided after I graduated that tattooing was what I wanted to do.”
Mellin’s mother and father were not crazy about his career choice, as they felt like he was wasting his college degree.
“You go to college so that every door is open,” Mellin said. “I have every opportunity and I am so thankful to my parents for paying for my education. I just decided that I wanted to do tattooing. In the end, they realized it was a passion and now they support me.”
As for future plans, Mellin said he would like to move to a bigger market.
“Maybe Dallas or Houston,” Mellin said. “Just somewhere that is bigger than Lubbock and can provide more opportunities for creative tattooing.”
Mellin said he hopes to one day take his degree and his love of tattooing to Los Angeles, California to further develop his talent.