Lively tattoo artist inks Gord Downie, Tragically Hip homage for client

Thanks to the skill of a Sudbury, Ont., tattoo artist, one Tragically Hip fan will now get to see Gord Downie every day. 

Dale Mathias, owner of Pricked Tattoos, said he was approached some time ago by a client who for years had been planning a Canadiana-themed sleeve tattoo. 

Mathias — who is regularly booked a year in advance for his services — agreed to take on the project when he had an opening. But, with word that the Hip's frontman had been diagnosed with brain cancer, the project suddenly took on a sense of urgency.  

"A year went by and now it's time for me to design this Canadiana-themed sleeve," Mathias said. "Rather than use the Hip logo, I called my client suggesting we do a portrait, and immediately he was in favour."

'Fiercely Canadian' 

Mathias and his client sorted through different photos of Downie, and tried to come up with something that would best represent the famous Canadian.

"After I researched some photos I kept going back to the same reference image," Mathias said. "I slept on it, took another look and knew it was perfect. It's got great contrast and it's a true projection of Gord Downie."

Portraits and realism are his Mathias' speciality, though he said inking Downie was a first.

The portrait took almost three hours of work and is only partially complete. Mathias said the rest of the sleeve will feature other recognizable Canadian imagery, as well.

"To be honest, I was as pumped as [my client] was," Mathias said. 

"It's an honour for me truly to have completed this piece of someone I respect. I'm fiercely Canadian, too."