People of the OCQ: Julie

The Electric Umbrella Tattoo Studio in the Old City Quarter has been an integral part of the community since opening its doors in 2011. Originally owned by Russ Morland, in 2023, one of his apprentices, Julie Dives, took over ownership and has made the space her own. 

“Sean has been here since almost as long as I started as well. When Russ decided to retire, I took over as we all wanted to keep working together,” she explains. 

Since taking over the space, Julie has been making Electric Umbrella her own. One of her favorite parts of becoming owner was decorating this space with her eclectic thrift finds and gifts from clients. Filled with taxidermy animals, vintage paintings, funky dolls and more, the artwork lets your imagination run wild. 

“I like looking at things when I’m getting tattooed, so I decided to put a bunch of cool things in here. It’s just my style,” she says. 

.

Julie started apprenticing for Russ in 2015. She has been an artist her whole life and decided to get into tattooing as a way she could do art daily. 

“It was kind of a progression of finding a career in art that I could make a career at and I have always really loved tattoos,” she explains.  

Julie says the first few of her tattoos have meaning to them, like her first, which is of her old dog, however some are just random and silly. 

“I don't think they need to have any meaning. I have like random ladybugs screwing and an earthworm fairy, because, like, whatever, it doesn't matter,” she laughs. “It's more so just an addiction to having tattoos, not so much getting them.”

She also says that the culture of tattooing is evolving over the years. Society is more accepting of people having visible tattoos and the artwork itself is changing. 

“I tattoo three generations in a family; the daughter will come, then the mom will want one and then the grandma will want one,” she explains. “A lot more ladies are getting tattoos than there used to be. There's a lot more feminine approach to tattoos, like the very fine line dainty tattoos. The art itself has changed.”

At Electric Umbrella Tattoo Studio, there are six artists in the collective. Each have their own unique style, which works well for the studio to offer something for everyone.  

“So, depending on what comes in the door, we always put them towards whatever artist is going to be best for the project that they want to work,” she explains. 

Electric Umbrella is open every day of the week 11am until 5pm in the Old City Quarter at 321 Wesley Street.