KAGAWONG – Since the age of 14, Corben Matsell-Savage wanted to be a tattoo artist—now he has opened the Kagawong Tattoo Company.
He attended Canterbury High (in Ottawa) in the arts program, followed by a four-year program at the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto. Mr. Matsell-Savage completed his apprenticeship at Reactive Ink. This training then led him to manager position at Midway Tattoo in the Kensington market, also in Toronto.
Mr. Matsell-Savage brings 10 years experience in fineline and custom tattooing to the Island where he relocated in May 2024. He continues to travel to Toronto where he has built up a clientele of customers.
Currently renting a unit behind JK Automotive in Kagawong (1428B Lakeshore Road), where there is a portable tattoo table along with a pool table and Pacmania machine, customers can work with Mr. Matsell-Savage to custom design what he refers to as “a piece of art”.
Mr. Marsell-Savage does his own bookings, currently by appointment.
Fineline is done by making lines crisp, solid and pencil thin which can create a more detailed delicate design. This can be anything from a skull to roman numerals.
For those who are hesitant to get a custom tattoo, Mr. Matsell-Savage says, “everybody who’s afraid can handle it” and reassured “people are a lot tougher than they give themselves credit for.”
Getting a tattoo has become a “popular way to express yourself. It’s not as serious as it used to be. It doesn’t have to mean anything. If it looks good, it will live the test of time.”
Mr. Matell-Savage got his first tattoo at the age of 16. “Preferences change and sometimes they are sentimental.”
When asked about it, this writer was shown his left forearm where it has been covered up. Mr. Matsell-Savage can cover up or fix an existing tattoo but does not remove them.
Mr. Matsell-Savage was mentioned in NOW magazine as one of the top five tattoo artists in Toronto.
“If you’re curious, try it, get a small one.”
by Sharon Jackson
Follow Corben on Instagram @corbenms.
