Roxborough's First Tattoo Studio: Official Ink

Ridge Avenue has a new addition: Roxborough’s first licensed tattoo studio. From ripping up carpets to bringing in a graffiti artist to tag the wall of the shop, the inside of the building transformed into a creative space for the third location of the Black-owned and operated business to thrive.

Official Ink brings a fresh presence to the neighborhood, although its roots trace back to 2012. Nicholas Martin, a native Philadelphian known by the nickname "Quick,” is the owner. With the opening of his third tattoo studio, the other two being in Atlanta, Georgia, he is proud to open this location in Philly where he was born and raised.

“It’s been a long journey, but it was all worth it,” said Jesus Canales, a Roxborough High School graduate and the manager of Official Ink Philadelphia with over a decade of experience in the industry.

Canales’ favorite thing about his job is how it connects him with all different kinds of people. Canales has found that clients open up to him, creating meaningful conversations. “For some reason, that’s in my nature to comfort people,” he said.

“My life journey is on my body,” he continued, pointing out his portraits of his five children, his tattoo from the Marines, and the Official Ink logo, done to celebrate the shop’s grand opening.

A major event on that journey was when Nicholas “Quick” Martin and Canales met at Conwell Middle School and became inseparable.”I call him my cousin, because we’re really more than best friends,” Canales said.

“Quick” started tattooing at age 20 in West Philly, after a friend introduced him to the art form through stencil design. “I never had an apprenticeship. I just learned everything, self taught, on my own,” he said.

He honed his craft by tattooing his friends and family while attending Fisk University for art and business, and found a particular talent for the freehand designs he started doing at tattoo parties.

As a Black man, he also learned how to tattoo for darker skin tones. “I have experience in tattooing darker skin and getting colors to pop out, and using different contrast techniques and things like that to make tattoos show up better on darker skin.”

“I have experience in tattooing darker skin and getting colors to pop out, and using different contrast techniques and things like that to make tattoos show up better on darker skin.”

When “Quick” started his first shop in Atlanta, he invited Canales to come with him and learn how to tattoo as an apprentice. Canales had just lost his sanitation job in Upper Dublin, and was looking for a fresh start. “He actually made me believe in myself,” Canales said.

The tattooing community can be insular, with three years of unpaid work under another artist required to work in Philadelphia. “When I was coming up, nobody really wanted to give a hand,” Canales said. The experience made him want to make sure he was able to give other young artists their start.

Canales said that one thing that makes Official Ink stand out is the fact that they sell tattoo supplies at their location to support up and coming artists.” We’re basically lending a hand to the ones who want to learn, because others come down on people who are just starting,” he said.

As for advice to aspiring tattoo artists: “Block out all the hate. Have tunnel vision, focus on yourself, stay true to yourself and don’t worry about what any other artist is doing and just keep elevating.”

“Block out all the hate. Have tunnel vision, focus on yourself, stay true to yourself and don’t worry about what any other artist is doing and just keep elevating.”

Giving back to young tattoo artists is just one of the ways they support the community. Over the years Official Ink has sponsored several youth basketball programs (SBNP), Christmas toy drives, coat drives, and food for the homeless. “Official Ink will continue to do so for years to come. Giving back is what it’s all about,” says “Quick” the owner.

You can find them at https://www.officialink.tattoo or on Instagram @officialinktattoo, or visit their new location at 6117 Ridge Avenue.