Childhood Passion turns to inked income
Courtney Waddell Haggen grew up on a farm near Belmont and she can not remember a time when she wasn’t drawing something. As a young girl she would find herself in the pasture drawing horses. Drawing has been a pasion of hers since she was able grasp a pencil. She remembers back to her high school years when her classmates were deciding on universities and what direction they would take; “Art was my passion, but I’m a realist and I really didn’t see a viable career in my craft. So I took University One right out of high school and quickly realized I was not university material; but I did I finish the year,” she laughed.
Throughout the past ten years Courtney has become very well known throughout the province for her creative body art. This was not where she expected her journey to take her, but she is very happy it did! “I never thought of being a tattoo artist. Friends would mention it to me but all I could think of was that it is a permanent marking on someone’s skin; what if I messed up?”
So how did she end up there? “Once I left university I went home; I really didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I just took odd jobs in the area. I guess my career started when a friend of mine encouraged me to apply for a job as a graphic designer.” Her job for the next couple of years was drawing logos on paper and then digitizing them. Courtney explained how a regular customer approached her requesting her assistance in designing T Shirts for Cycle Boyz, (Derek and Brent Law of Cypress River), a very popular custom motorcycle shop in Brandon.
Courtney soon found herself working at motorcycle rallies selling clothing and from there, she became Cycle Boyz full time parts girl. “I loved that job and the people I met. I bought my first motorcycle, an ‘86 Suzuki Intruder, when I worked there,” she exclaimed. Her days may have been spent at the parts counter but her evenings were busy doing random artwork for many of the customers she served during the day.
Brent Law of Cycle Boyz commented that several of his tattoos, as well as a number of art pieces in his home, are Courtney’s creations. “I love all her work but the one piece that is extra special to me is an engraved cow skull that came from my dad.”
“My mediums of artwork changed while I worked there (Cycle Boyz). I feel that engraving on metal and skulls gave me the leg up in the tattoo industry. She spoke of how she started really thinking about the future and as much as she enjoyed her job, she knew that she needed something more substantial. Having already designed the artwork for a number of tattoos, she decided to inquire about the industry and what it would entail. She contacted Ward of Ward’s Tattoos and spent the next few years as his apprentice. “I spent the first while observing, helped setting up the equipment, I drew a lot and bought a lot of grapefruits as they were what I practised on.”
Her artwork is exquisite, her attention to detail is precise and her creative genius is evident in the intricacies of her work. Is there a specific style that she gravitates to? “I enjoy a variety of styles, it keeps things interesting. Natural realism is something I especially enjoy.”
Following her apprenticeship with Ward, she moved to Winnipeg and has very recently moved to The Vine in Lockport. Will this move hurt her professionally? It’s safe to assume not at all; people have waited two years to get inked by Courtney.
During the interview it became crystal clear that it isn’t only her art that people gravitate to, her warmth and sincerity shine through as sharp as the needles used in her medium. Most of the artwork requires sittings that last anywhere from two to over four hours and it is important to Courtney to have a feel for her client to really know what they are wanting. “A tattoo is permanent and a client chooses one that holds a significant meaning to them and I feel so honoured that they entrust me to design.
PHOTO CAPTION: Courtney Waddell Haggen, originally from Belmont, works on her craft at The Vine in Lockport.
