YORKTON — When it comes to creating body art locally you have to think of tattooist artist Dennis Cantello.
Better known to those interested in tattoos simply as ‘Driller’ he has been creating body art on literally thousands of human canvases for four decades now.
In fact when asked how many tattoos he has done, Driller simply laughed a little, before admitting he has no idea, other than it has been a lot.
That isn’t surprising for an artist who has managed the longevity Driller has – a testament to how much his work has been coveted by those seeking something to enhance their look in a very personal way.
It was back in 1985 Driller said he started learning the craft starting out initially “as kind of a hobby.”
It was really a case of being a rather persistent young fellow – age 13, he said, basically ‘bugging’ an established tattoo artist for some time before they finally consented to give him some insights and lessons.
The lessons were obviously well learned.
While the street address of Drillers Tattoos has changed often through the years, starting initially in his home, and when COVID cut into business back to his redesigned garage where he operates today, the common thread has been his dedication to the customer and his art.
When he finally started doing tattoos Driller said he was basically alone at the craft.
“There was no one around. There was maybe five in the whole province,” he recalled.
When asked why he still does it, Driller was quick with the answer.
“It’s the love of doing it. It’s the art,” he told Yorkton This Week.
Of course over four decades the art – or at least the source of the art has changed.
While once people would head to the shop to leaf through page after page of tattoo ‘flash’ picking out one they would want on their skin, today “it’s more and more off the Internet,” said Driller.
Of course if you want something a bit more unique, or individualistic, Driller has you covered there too.
“I’m still doing lots and lots of custom work,” he said, adding that is the artistic aspect of tattoos taking what might be four, or five rather scattered ideas someone has and bringing them together in a cohesive custom piece.
Along those lines Driller said he created a number of unique designs for his 40th anniversary, a few still not selected by anyone that he noted he’d “love to do.”
The thing about custom pieces, Driller says he wants them to be forever unique, usually given the paper art to the recipient, and not even taking a picture for his files so that no one else can ask for the same piece.
Today, Driller said gals are often looking for something that has an element of simplicity “with real fine lines . . . delicate work.”
By contrast animals are ‘in’ with many male customers.
The acceptance of tattoos has changed too – and for the better in Driller’s estimation. He noted it was not so long ago different businesses required body art to be covered while on the job. That is less the case today.
“It’s more accepted now,” he said. “They realize a tattoo doesn’t change the person.”
While the art people gravitate too changes over time – fads and interests evolving – so too has the business side of tattooing.
“It’s slowed down,” said Driller. “The economy has changed.”
So too has the artist landscape.
It used to be you needed a foot in the door to even get a tattoo outfit, but now they are readily available to anyone. That has meant for competition, which is fine, but Driller cautioned people should really check out any artist they go too, because what they put on the skin is more or less permanent.
Through all the changes Driller has stayed focused on the art, and the desire remains today.
“I’m going to go as long as I can,” he said.
