When I was asked to interview Scott, it didn’t occur to me that I would have to write an introduction as well. I had heard of Scott Sylvia from very early on in my career. I was really green at the time and coming from Chicago, the SF tattoo scene seemed light years away. I watched for his tattoos and flash in magazines and read articles on the shops he was apart of. We met in 2007 in Salt Lake City through our mutual friend Maya. We did some arm wrestling, shared a few meals and really had a blast that weekend. Later that year I was asked to fill in at Blackheart for a few days and Scott and I have been close ever since.
To me, Scott Sylvia is a tattooers tattooer. He's helped define and shape a generation that is now taking on a senior role in tattooing. He builds great machines and has a work ethic that’s hard to match. I’ve always respected his work, but I feel a great bond with him because of who he is. Being around Scott helps make you a better person. He's as real as they come. He's lived a lot in his life, has seen many things, still struggles with things and through it all keeps trying to be good. In a business where it's a lot easier to be a jag off, Scott Sylvia is a stand up man. He's an amazing father and husband, both of which dominate his life. His insights on even the smallest things have helped me immensely in my career, my marriage and my business. He is one of those guys that people seek out just to be around. The guy at conventions who everybody makes sure to say hi to.
So here it is the Scott Sylvia interview. I think I was just as nervous as Scott was. We decided to do it in a place where he felt the most comfortable; at his work space. I was very honored to interview Scott. He is a man that I respect and look up to. I'm sure you'll enjoy this as much as I did.
-Nick Colella
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