Though only recently joining Sure Fire Tattoo in Crown Point, Cody Wallenius brings an impressive 18 years of experience to the craft. Hailing from Chicago’s South Side and now a Crown Point resident, Cody sat down with LOCAL 219 to discuss his journey into tattooing, the influences that have shaped his career, and what truly ignites his passion for this art form.
LOCAL 219: To start, could you share what sparked your interest in becoming a tattoo artist? Was it a lifelong ambition, or did circumstances lead you here?
Cody Wallenius: Art has always been a constant in my life. From childhood, drawing and painting were my go-to activities. I even considered art education after high school. Academically, I wasn’t the most engaged student, not because of difficulty, but simply a lack of interest in the traditional school environment. Looking back, I had some incredible teachers who recognized this.
Funnily enough, I was just talking to my high school art teacher on my birthday in November. We still keep in touch. He was a huge influence. He saw my work and was pretty direct, telling me, “You need to be doing something else. This place isn’t for you.” School just wasn’t my scene. I was always eager to travel and experience new things. My senior year attendance was so poor I barely scraped by. I was just mentally checked out. Both my art teacher and my careers advisor were on the same page: “You need to get out of here. You’re more mature than these kids; you should be working. High school isn’t your path; maybe college is.”
So, I gave college a shot for a semester, paid for it myself, and quickly realized it wasn’t for me. The initial plan was art teacher, but by then, I was already immersed in the tattoo world. I’d been hanging around tattoo shops since I was quite young. Got my first tattoo at 15, started spending time in shops around 16, even had my paintings displayed and was helping out at 17 – answering phones, the whole deal. By 18, they offered me a position, and my tattooing career really took off.
L219: That’s incredible to start so young. It sounds like fate intervened in a way.
CW: Honestly, it was a bit of a chance encounter. I met the shop owner at a skatepark. He left his phone behind, and I stopped someone from taking it. When he came back, he mentioned he owned a tattoo shop. I told him, “Oh cool, I have a tattoo.”
L219: That’s a remarkable example of how a simple act of kindness can forge significant connections.
CW: Exactly. We just started chatting, and years later, I ended up working for him. It felt like a small world moment. I think I was always destined to be involved in tattoos. Even in high school, I had a large tattoo on my forearm. It was inevitable, one way or another.
L219: It seems that for creative individuals, the traditional lecture-based learning environment can be challenging.
CW: Definitely. I’m much more of a hands-on learner. My initial idea with teaching was the appeal of having a studio space, access to equipment, and the ability to create art while teaching. Plus, summers off meant travel, and my art teacher organized those European trips.
So, I thought, “Perfect. I can go to Europe, visit art museums.”
L219: Were you able to make it to Europe?
CW: No, my family couldn’t afford it at the time. But since then, I’ve traveled extensively. Being thrown out on my own young meant those trips weren’t financially feasible then. The idea of traveling to see art as a teacher was appealing, though.
L219: What fuels your day now? What keeps you motivated and passionate about tattooing?
Coffee is definitely essential! And family life – my girlfriend and I have five kids together, so mornings are busy getting everyone ready and where they need to be. But beyond that, it’s being an artist.
I’m grateful to have let go of things that were holding me back, allowing me to reach this point in my career. I feel like I have the freedom now to travel, move around, and tattoo where I choose, which is a great feeling. So, freedom and coffee are my main drivers. And the constant creative fire that tattooing ignites. Just like the enduring appeal of a fire tattoo, the passion for this art form keeps burning.
L219: It sounds like you’ve built a strong reputation that allows you to travel and tattoo in various locations.
It’s really a result of longevity in the industry. Having tattooed for so long, you naturally meet a lot of people. Being around for many years means I’ve connected with a wide range of individuals. Many of us started young, and now we’re in our 30s and 40s, having built relationships over time.
L219: Who has been the most significant influence on you, both in tattooing and in life in general?
CW: In tattooing, definitely the old masters. Many of the older tattoo artists I admired have passed on. Legends like Sailor Jerry, Ed Hardy, Stony Sinclair – these pioneers are becoming fewer. Lyle Tuttle, who recently passed, Roy from Gary – I started at one of Roy’s shops. These were the artists who laid the groundwork, much like classic fire tattoo designs that continue to inspire modern artists. Their dedication to the craft and the timeless quality of their work are a huge influence.
L219: And in life, outside of tattooing?
CW: That would be my mom and dad. My mom has always been incredibly supportive. Looking up to someone, it would be my parents and grandparents. My grandparents are still married after something like 60 years. They’re still around and amazing, a really positive influence.
L219: What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned throughout your career that you think could benefit aspiring tattoo artists or others in creative fields?
CW: If I could distill it into one sentence: stick to the fundamentals. Master the basics, then build upon them. No one reached out and said, “Tattooing is broken; come fix it.” Because it’s not. It’s an art form with a long history, predating us and destined to continue long after.
If you’re not contributing to tattooing, putting your art out there, genuinely trying to make your mark, then what are you really doing? Whether it’s mastering traditional styles or pushing boundaries with new techniques, like incorporating vibrant colors into a fire tattoo, it’s about adding to the ongoing story of tattoo art.
L219: What aspects of being a tattoo artist do you enjoy the most?
CW: Seeing all the incredible work being created. The amazing pieces coming out of this shop, other studios, and from my friends. We’re all working in the same field, yet expressing ourselves uniquely in different locations. It’s cool to scroll through Instagram and see what my peers are creating each day. From delicate floral designs to bold fire tattoos, the diversity is inspiring.
I appreciate how tattooing has gained acceptance and become mainstream. Not necessarily because it’s “big,” but because it’s now widely accepted. It’s normalized. People are more open to expressing themselves through body art, whether it’s a small, meaningful symbol or a large, elaborate piece like a full sleeve fire tattoo.
L219: Like all art forms, tattooing is limitless in its creative potential.
CW: Exactly, the boundaries have been broken down. It’s out in the open. Everyone is getting tattooed, and there’s always something new emerging. I enjoy that aspect – people striving to innovate, to push the art form in new directions, rather than just replicating the same old designs. That becomes stale quickly.
I especially value originality. The artists who paint and draw their own designs. That’s what I find truly exciting – seeing original work. For a while, it felt like everyone was simply copying each other, but now, artists are branching out, realizing they can forge their own paths.
For me, the enjoyment comes from the movement, the dynamism – traveling, tattooing, experiencing different tattoo cultures, seeing other shops and approaches. It’s about having a good time and putting my passion into my work. And seeing that passion reflected in the incredible diversity of tattoo art, from classic styles to modern interpretations of timeless symbols like the powerful and evocative fire tattoo.
