Nate MacDonald

Nathan (Nate) MacDonald is a Prince Edward Island–born tattooer based at Barnstormer Studio in Ottawa’s Glebe. A trained educator who studied at the University of Maine, he pivoted from teaching at Nunavut Arctic College to an apprenticeship under Barnstormer owner Glen Paradis—and has been crafting bold, story-driven work in the capital ever since. 

Stylistically, Nate gravitates to large-scale Japanese and neo-Japanese work—think koi, hannya, dragons, masks—rendered with confident linework, saturated color, and classic flow. He’s equally comfortable in black-and-grey realism and custom illustrative designs, a range you’ll see throughout his feed as a resident artist at Barnstormer Studio. He keeps a healthy selection of flash while welcoming custom ideas, making the design process collaborative and client-led. 

Nate is an active convention and guest-spot artist—appearing at major shows like the Toronto Tattoo Show (NIX) and the Winnipeg Tattoo Convention—and he periodically travels back to the East Coast for bookings. To inquire about a project, reach him via his Instagram profile or book through his Barnstormer artist page.