Name: Ryan Downie a.k.a Ron Downing (long story)
Age: 29
City you were born in: Huntington Beach, CA
City you were raised in: El Toro, CA
Shop you're currently working at: Last Chance Tattoo
Shop number: (702) 458-7770

Razordolls: How long have you been tattooing?
Ryan: 10 years

Razordolls: What got you interested in the business?
Ryan: I'm not really sure of one thing in particular, although my parents said that I asked for a tattoo machine for Christmas when I was 9 years old.

Razordolls: Where did you learn to tattoo/who did you apprentice under?
Ryan: I learned from many different people at one time, I was the guy that showed up at every shop and bugged anyone who would listen long enough to give me a small nugget of information. Officially John Ondo of Blitz mfg. taught me 99% of what I needed to know about tattooing, I probbably would not be where I am at now if it was not for him, but it would be hard to give all of the credit to one person, due to the amount of people that helped me as well around that time.
Razordolls: I understand, that's awesome you got tips and lessons from a variety of artists.

Razordolls: When did you get your first tattoo and who did it?
Ryan: Although I am not very proud of it, I got my first tattoo in my kitchen by myself. Shortly after, I was tattooed by Shane Jay of what I believe was called Skin Expressions at the time but is now called El Toro Inkhouse.

Razordolls: What is your favorite part about being a tattoo artist?
Ryan: I'm not sure if I could nail down a favorite part, I'm not sure there is a part that I dont like.
Razordolls: Haha, well that's good!

Razordolls: How do you like the shop you're currently at?
Ryan: I just opened it 3 weeks ago, and thus far I love it! The only thing better than tattooing is doing it at your own shop.
Razordolls: That's awesome! Congratulations.

Razordolls: How do you like the tattoo scene in Las Vegas?
Ryan: What do you really say about a town with 130 tattoo shops? I think its like any other town, we have good shops and bad shops, mostly bad unfortunatly. you can't trip without falling into a tattoo shop these days here.

Razordolls: How many shops have you worked at altogether?
Ryan: I worked at 4 different shops over 2 years time in California, and 2 in the last 8 years in Las Vegas before opening my own.

Razordolls: Do you do guest spots at other shops?
Ryan: I used to try and travel alot, but in the last couple of years I have been mostly staying around town these days.

Razordolls: Who are some of your favorite tattoo artists?
Ryan: Wow, thats a hard one, there are way too many to list but a few of my bigger influences are; Eric Maaske, Bert Krak, Juan Puente, Spit (Jeramiah), Casey Cokrlic, Oliver Peck, Wrath, Tennesse, Rick Walters, Dan Higgs, Adam Barton, Sid Stankovits, Braden Kendall, daniel Albrigo, John Ondo, Thad Ritchey, Rogerio Silva, Kent Kelley, Danny knight, Shannon Bundy, Dave Fox, Jim Minor, Lindsey charmichael, Matt Shamah, Bumper, Brother Greg, 2 cents, Jake Underwood, (I hope I spelled that right...) And of course The Mighty Captain Blackarm (I'm sure I forgot a whole shitload of people...)
Razordolls: Haha, it's alright, by stating you forgot a few people, we'll hope you won't hurt any feelings. ;)

Razordolls: Do you feel your work is influenced by any of those artists in particular?
Ryan: I would say almost everyone I have ever worked around or have ever just seen work from (good or bad) has influenced me in some way or another. I might see a piece from someone I have never heard of or seen work from before, and it might blow me away and make me rethink the way I do something completely. Or it might be how not to do something that influenced me when seeing something as well. I think that with the amount of available information to young tattooers these days, and the rate at which tattooers in general are becoming amazingly good at it in such a short period of time. I think if I'm not learning how to get better all the time I'm actually getting worse.

Razordolls: Are there any artists, non-tattooists, that have influenced your work?
Ryan: I am obsessed with religious iconography, and anyone who can paint Elvis on a piece of velvet!

Razordolls: What do you feel is the biggest misconception about your career? Do you do anything to defy this?
Ryan: I think that alot of people are getting into tattooing these days because they think "it's the cool new job" or that it's an easy way to make money and have an easy job that allows you to sleep in and work at your own pace, or a good way to get laid. Sadly enough, I see more new tattooers barely unable to pay their bills and renting 2 bedroom apartments with their 3 roommates just to make the rent. Tattooing requires a true love for what you are doing, everytime someone wants to get tattooed by you it's an honer and a privilage to be doing so. When you are doing what you love and being paid for it at the same time, it's the greatest feeling in the world.

Razordolls: What is your goal as a tattoo artist?
Ryan: To always get a little better than I was the day before.

Razordolls: Are there any artists you REALLY want to get tattooed by? Or name a few of the artists you have work by.
Ryan: See question number 11

Razordolls: How do you feel about your own tattoos? Have you ever tattooed yourself?
Ryan: For the most part I like all of my tattoos, I'm sure if I could go back and get some of them done differently I would, but either way I'm happy with them.

Razordolls: Do you have any bad or silly tattoos? Which one is the absolute worst/silliest?
Ryan: I have tons of silly tattoos, a few that stick out are as follows; i covered an ex-girlfriends name with a tattoo of a piece of dog poop, with flies around it! I also let an ex-girlfriend tattoo me years ago, it's a stick figure, fully equipped with tits and make up!!
Razordolls: Hahaha, that is...pretty amazing. I especially love the dog poop one.

Razordolls: Do you have a favorite tattoo?
Ryan: Definatly the virgin mary done by Eric Maaske.

Razordolls: What are your thoughts on flash?
Ryan: I was once called a flash factory! I put out 30 sheets in my first 3 years of tattooing, and I hope no one has them anymore because I'm not all that proud of them anymore! Hah! I love doing flash, although in the last few years I have been doing alot more prints than flash.

Razordolls: Would you consider getting an entire arm or leg blacked out because you don't like the work on it anymore?
Ryan: That's kinda funny! Many years ago, my roomate and I did probably what could be considered too much drinking in one day, and by the end of the night he convinced me to black out his entire lower arm black. He is now known as "Captain Black Arm" his arm was a sleeve covering a sleeve covering a sleeve before that so it was almost entirely black anyway, haha!

Razordolls: What about getting tattoos removed by laser?
Ryan: I have alot of tattoos I would rather not have but I dont think I'm gonna be removing them by laser anytime soon, even though I may not like them, they all remind me of sometime in my life that usally makes me laugh anyway. I do however have a few that I will probably cover up eventually.

Razordolls: What do you think of the "hackers and scratchers" that are out there?
Ryan: Real Tattooers will pass the test of time and be successful at what they do, there will always be "scratchers" or whatever you wanna call them. I was a "scratcher" at one time myself.

Razordolls: Are you planning on attending any conventions soon?
Ryan: Maybe a few local ones, I really just want to spend alot of time around town these days. If I am gonna travel anytime soon it will most likely be to get away from tattooing for a minute, and take a vacation.

Razordolls: Where do you see yourself in 10 years or more? Still tattooing?
Ryan: Of course. Maybe still in Nevada, maybe even Texas i don't really know.

Razordolls: How are things going for you in the love department?
Ryan: Girls are a pain in the ass, but I have been told that I am too, so I guess it kinda evens out pretty well.
Razordolls: Well your girlfriend is seriously beautiful! haha.

Razordolls: What is your view on heavily tattooed women?
Ryan: I think there is nothing more unattractive than a good looking girl with really poorly done tattoos. It kind of reminds me of spray painting a Mercedes. Alot of girls these days are more focused on getting alot of tattoos really fast rather than taking the time to choose the right person to do them. Other than that a good looking girl covered with really well done tattoos is great!

Razordolls: What do are your feelings regarding porn?
Ryan: Assuming one of the partners is not a donkey, I don't see a problem with it.

Razordolls: What are your thoughts on Razordolls.com?
Ryan: You mean good looking girls getting naked? That's just terrible! Haha! Fine by me!

Razordolls: Do you have a favorite Razordoll?
Ryan: Well I have not had the chance to lurk the whole site yet, but from all the girls I have seen on myspace or met in person I'm gonna go with Mary Murder!

Razordolls: Haha! Score.

Razordolls: Favorite movies?
Ryan: That's tough, I own almost 800 movies! Ghost World, Royal Tenenbaums, Eternal Sunshine of the Spottless Mind, Matchstick Men, Wild At Heart, The Fisher King, I Heart Huckabees, The Life Aquatic, Casino, Intacto, The Usual Suspects, Shawshank Redemption, The Princess Bride, Boondock Saints, K Pax, The Notebook, The Devils Rejects, Office Space, Billy Madison...

Razordolls: Favorite bands?
Ryan: The Dwarves, Mad Sin, Gogol Bordello, Kings of Nuthin, 7 Shot Screamers, The Animals, Batmobile, Merle Haggard, Butthole Surfers, The Caravans, Motorhead, Charley Horse, Chris Isaac, Conway Twitty, The Legendary Shack Shakers, The Dan Band, Danzig Dean Martin, Demented Are Go, Rose Tattoo, The Devil Makes Three, Elvis, Freddie Fender, Gorillaz, Guns and Roses, Hank Williams, Hellacopters, Hellbound Hayride, Hot Boogie Chillun, S.O.B, Joe Jackson, Junkyard Dogs, Loretta Lynn, Lucero, Morrisey, Morphine, Murder City Devils, Patsy Cline, The Planet Rockers, Rickey Nelson, The Scotchgreens, Al Green, The Starvations, Suicidal Tendancies, Supersuckers, Throwrag, US Bombs...

Razordolls: Favorite books/magazines?
Ryan: Anything by Mad magazine, and the endless library of referance books that I use almost daily!

Razordolls: Name a few places you'd like to visit:
Ryan: Japan, Amsterdam, Hawaii

- Mary