Winds of Change

It’s no secret that Fargo-Moorhead is home to a plethora of talented tattoo artists and Aaron and Ellie Maher are no strangers to the scene. Ellie was co-owner of Dead Rockstar in Fargo, along with her brother, sister, and mother.

In 2008 Ellie and her husband Aaron relocated to Bismarck to open a second location. Once her mother retired, the family business was restructured and Tailwind tattoo was born.

Now, the husband and wife duo have made their way back to Fargo and they will be hosting a grand opening celebration at Tailwind Tattoo’s new location. Friends and visitors can enter to win free ink and have a chance to score some free Tailwind Tattoo SWAG as long as it’s available.

High Plains Reader had the opportunity to chat with the Mahers about their beginnings, art and the business of the “biz”.

High Plains Reader: Where did you get your start in the body modification industry?

Ellie Maher: I've been in "the business" since 2000 when I started working at Sterling Rose tattoos as their receptionist. I worked my way up to body piercer, and then as a tattoo artist and never looked back. I never pursued art as a career because I wanted to make a comfortable living and not be one of the starving artists. So I got my business degree instead. The same week I graduated from college, I was offered the job at Sterling Rose. I took a chance and went with my gut. Lo and behold, I'm using my degree too. It was the right decision.

Aaron Maher: I got my start tattooing at Dead Rockstar Fargo in May of 2004. I drew a cave painting in utero so i've been doing drawings since before i was born. I was initially drawn to tattoo art from "lowbrow" art mags like Juxtapoz and tattoo mags like International Tattoo Art in the mid and late 90s. I really enjoyed those magazines and the interviews in them. When I was 14 my older brother got his first tattoo at 18, of a lion drinking a beer and I thought it was super rad. I was hooked from there on out. That's not a joke. He still has that tattoo. I apprenticed under the beautiful and extremely talented Ellie Maher. I began romancing her shortly after my apprenticeship was finished and we were married in April of 2007. We now have a five year old son and a three year old daughter.

HPR: How would you describe your tattooing style?

Ellie: My tattooing style is always described to me as bold color and feminine. My husband Aaron is a great influence on me with formal/schooled art. My favorite big-name tattoo artist is Jeff Gogue -- I can only wish I was that talented! I try to use intuition to get inside my client’s head so I can give them what they want. Some people can’t get their words out to describe what they're really looking for.

Aaron: Ellie does great color realism tattoos and really has a knack for portraiture. Her attention to detail set her tattoos apart. I feel i do best with Japanese Motifs and Japanese styled tattoos with a sort of New School twist to them. I love drawing with movement and I think that kinda gives my Japanese-esque stuff a distinct look to it. I also love New School and illustrative tattoos and I think you can see that in my work as well.

HPR: Ellie,you were named one of North Dakota's "40 under 40" in 2014 (40 business professionals under the age of 40). What was that experience like? Could you tell us a bit about it?

Ellie: Being one of the "40 under 40" was a huge honor. It feels good to be recognized for what I do well, and not just being ridiculed and lumped into the classic tattooed stereotype. It goes to show how far this industry has come. I think that is what sets our business apart from most other tattoo studios too. Just because we do tattoos doesn't mean it isn't a business. I take pride in it. I wake up thinking about business and usually go to sleep thinking about business. It drives me. I have to wear many hats -- tattoo artist, business owner, mom, wife. I always make time for my kids.

HPR: After relocating both your family and business to Bismarck, what brought you back to Fargo?

Ellie: Family is VERY important to me. That was why we moved back home to Fargo. What kind of life is it when you don't have anyone around to share it with? Our business was booming in Bismarck and we left it to start over again here. Everything in my being told me it was the right decision, and it totally was. We are sooo happy to be back! Our only location is here in Fargo now. The feeling of our new studio is intimate, comfortable, and professional.

Aaron: We are located a bit off the beaten path from your typical tattoo studio, so we don't get a ton of walk-in traffic and we like that. We wanted to create an appointment-only studio that has a nice and relaxed feel to it. The atmosphere in the studio is positive and inspiring. Ellie and I both do our own scheduling without a receptionist so it is just us and our clients and there are no phones ringing off the hook. The vibe is nice and relaxed. We are probably the only husband and wife in town who both tattoo, co-own, and operate the tattoo studio together. The studio environment reflects that for sure.

HPR: Do you offer cosmetic tattooing? Ellie, I saw that you do areola pigmentation for breast cancer survivors, what is that experience like?

Ellie: We actually don't offer cosmetic tattooing anymore. That was one of our old employees that did it. I still do areola pigmentation when I get a request for it. It’s very emotional for the client. I've done quite a few mastectomy scar covers which is also very emotional for my clients. But at least I can change the evidence from a painful time in their life into something beautiful that they want to look at.

IF YOU GO:

Tailwind Tattoo 

3481 University Dr. S.

www.tailwindtattoo.com