Elwood is a professionally trained and certified body piercer, body brander and scarification and suspension artist and photographer. He was trained in San Francisco by Fakir Musafar, the father of the Modern Primative movement, and the man credited with bringing body piercing to the western world.

As an educator and body modification practitioner, Elwood is known for his humourous personality while educating audiences in a variety of classes and workshops. He is acknowledged for his vast knowledge of the history of body modification and practical safety.

In 2000, Louise van Duuren exported herself from Amsterdam. Now a Vancouver resident, she has been trained as a body piercer by Elwood, as well as completing the Fakir Intensives Piercing Course in San Francisco, taught by Fakir Musafar and his staff.

Louise is the event co-ordinator for Elwood's Body Modification, and has helped in putting together various ritual events for both public and private groups. Louise is a member of the Two Spirit Tribe, and brings her passion for and expertise to every event we do.

Louise also works outreach in the Downtown East Side. In her rare spare time, she attends local sweatlodges, enjoys readings, good food, good chocolate, coffee with lots of sugar, and sleeping. As a true Dutch person, she is easily pleased by double-salted licorice.

She can be contacted at louise@elwoodsbodymod.com  

Leanne has been a visual artist all her life. As a body modification artist she is interested in the semiotics of body adornment and modification; as well as the associated affects that pleasure, pain, and desire play within her work. Sensation, both spiritual and corporeal, continue to fascinate as she explores the human body through modification of its landscape.

Trained in San Francisco by Fakir Musafar for body branding combined with her piercing and desire to tattoo, Leanne is a relentless force to be reckoned with. Her warm and energetic attitude ensure clients feel safe and comfortable upon entering the shop, and leave with a positive experience.

With a firm belief that the body is a living record of an individual's personal history, Leanne takes pride in contributing to these flesh narratives and is committed to providing the highest standards in health and safety to her clients.

Leanne can be reached at leanne@elwoodsbodymod.com

Vanessa has been fascinated with the world of piercing since she was old enough to know what piercings were. She loves the psychology and reasoning behind each person's choice to get pierced, whether to mark an important date or occasion, or to celebrate or one's own individuality.

She brings to the team a youthful vitality and energy, balanced with a plethora of life experience. As a parent herself she well understands the parental perspective and concerns, and welcomes any questions parents may have, or their wish to be involved in the piercing process.

Her commitment to maintaining high quality service combined with her unique personality and refreshing sense of humor are sure to make her clients piercing experience a positive and comfortable one.
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Christina's interest in tattooing stems from being a visual artist herself, dealing with the fine details of how the piece will look aesthetically is her goal within the tattoo industry. In doing this she considers all obstacles that the body can provide on a specific area, she also considers how her designs will work with other existing tattoos.

With her years of experience working as a tattoo artist she continues to gain more knowledge within the field of tattooing.

Christina received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr in 2009. Besides tattooing she spends her time painting and drawing; her interests consist of portraits, figurative work, pinups, surrealism, and old school art styles. She has been part of many art shows in Vancouver, Whistler and in the US, having had both solo and group exhibitions. Working with these mediums allows her many ways to express herself artistically.

She enjoys the differences in the tattoo world, finding it more social and involving partnership of artistic concerns where painting and drawing are much more isolated and meditative. She enjoys pushing her limits and artistic barriers by customizing her client's visions beyond their original expectations so that they are happy with both the long-term output and the artistic build of the piece they receive.

Check out Christina's personal website at www.christinachristie.com

Elwood is constantly training new staff, and they are always looking for someone to be able to practice on at a reduced rate.  

To set up an appointment, contact Elwood directly for details about when the next available time is at: