Good Times with Alex Hinton

Ten years ago, Colby Burleson and Clint Marvin left Susie M’s to open Good Times Tattoo. The original shop was located in a tiny space near the old Blue Boutique. “Only one person could work in at a time and catching them there was kind of tricky,” current Good Times artist Alex Hinton says. 

At the time of Burleson and Marvin’s departure, Hinton was still working at Susie M’s under Kelly Miller, but after five years he decided to join forces with Good Times when they relocated to 900 South. The shop moved again in 2001 to their current location in Artspace’s Bridge Projects. The shop’s current artists include Hinton, Burleson, Marvin, Vic Back, Pat Delvar, Thai Le, Danny Madsen and Bonnie Seeley. SLUG recently had the chance to speak with Hinton about his experiences in the world of tattooing, as well as the tenth anniversary of Good Times Tattoo.

SLUG: At what point in your life were you inspired to become a tattoo artist?

Alex Hinton: When I was younger I knew that I enjoyed art. I knew that being a professional painter is like winning the lottery and I knew I didn’t want to do commercial art. One time I was sitting in the counselor’s office in the 8th grade with a report card full of F’s and my school counselor asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up. It just hit me and I said, “I’m going to be a tattoo artist.” She told me to think realistically, and here I am.

SLUG: What is your favorite thing about Good Times?

AH: What I love about the shop is that there is a focus on being artists and doing things custom, but on top of that we don’t take ourselves too seriously. It’s a fun environment to work in—it’s bright and open and it’s not uncommon to hear a prank phone call or break out with karaoke or dancing. We’re all pretty light-hearted people.

SLUG: As tattoos have become more common in our society over the years, how has your personal clientele changed?

AH: It used to be small one time tattoos. I’m sure there are shops in town doing that kind of thing, but we are a very custom-oriented shop. I am generally working on large pieces like sleeves and back pieces, and I don’t usually work on anything that’s going to take me fewer than nine hours.

SLUG: Do you have any boundaries when it comes to custom tattoos? Is there an image or body part you wouldn’t tattoo?

AH: We like to make sure that when it comes to hands, necks and faces that we put those kinds of things on people who really deserve them. I know that kind of sounds like a snooty thing to say, but if you don’t have other tattoos and if you haven’t paid your dues and you don’t know what you’re getting into, then it’s not really appropriate to be tattooing your hands, neck or face. I also have a no dragon policy—this includes medieval dragons.

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Comments on this article

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Cassie Plant

Alex- Remember everything that you have accomplished is something you have created or allowed to come into your space. You are an amazing artist, and I am proud to say that my work is done by Alex Hinton. Cassie

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