Category: Features

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Interview with Sarah Terry

Tattoo artist Sarah Terry is currently on-the-road in the UK, here she tells us about her journey to becoming a nomad tattooer and the tattoos she creates along the way…

What inspired you to become a tattoo artist? I’ve always wanted to be a tattoo artist ever since I was little. I used to look at heavily tattooed people and want to be like them. I always loved art, and it seemed like the perfect career! I remember designing my first tattoo during my year 7 English exam (and getting it tattooed on my 18th birthday!)

How did you become an artist? Despite always wanting to be a tattooer, my art career was actually more textiles focused from school onwards. I studied embroidery at university, started running workshops in schools and eventually earned my teaching certificate. This led me to working in a youth offender institute teaching young prisoners.

It was during this time that Instagram launched and suddenly my eyes were opened to the possibilities of tattooing. I got excited about it again and started talking to prison officers about how I’d always wanted to tattoo. They were really encouraging so I started looking for an apprenticeship. I was teaching during the day, drawing and painting at night. It took me about one and a half years to finally find an apprenticeship and I haven’t looked back since. I sometimes have to pinch myself – I’m literally doing my dream job!

How would you describe your style?  I’d say colourful neotraditional florals (but I’m also willing and able to do dotwork too).

Can you tell us about the process behind your tattoos? I usually draw a week before my appointments. I used to do it as and when, but found it helped my anxiety to have a day dedicated to it instead. I’m lucky now that a lot of requests are for my style – I have a huge photo gallery of flowers and my latest obsession, mushrooms  – that I use as reference. That way I can ensure that my customers are getting truly original content, not just something from the first few pages of Google. I use an Ipad to draw, I usually draft my drawings several times before rendering the final design. 

What inspires you? What inspires your flash designs? Readers will probably not be surprised to learn that nature is my biggest inspiration. I’ve always loved drawing organic things- there’s just so many beautiful and incredible things out there. I’m particularly inspired by juxtapositions – light/dark, natural/man made, etc. I am also inspired by textile design, print, folk art and fashion. 

What do you like to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? I love tattooing flowers and mushrooms, and honestly I just want to do more of that! I’d specifically like to explore more larger, freehand projects that work organically with the body. I’m prepared to do some great deals for any customers who’d like to collaborate with me on anything like this. Please do get in touch! 

Can you tell us about your own tattoos? Are you a tattoo collector? I am HUGE tattoo geek! I am incredibly proud of my own collection which includes pieces by Claudia de Sabe, Sneaky Mitch, Wendy Pham, Stu Pagdin, Maverick Reeve, Danielle Rose and Gem Carter (who just finished my incredible back piece). I’m almost covered now but I’ve got plans to see Joe Frost soon to fill my last big space. I have a huge amount of bird tattoos, closely followed by tigers and cats. And of course, flowers! I don’t have any barbed wire or mushrooms yet, think I’ll need to remedy that! 

What inspired you to be an on-the-road artist? During 2020 I got divorced and sold my house. The first thing I wanted to do was explore my new found freedom. I literally had the chance to start again – but I didn’t know where. This journey is about seeing places in the UK I’ve never seen before, in the hopes that I’ll find my next spot to settle. Part of it is about meeting new people and creating new friendships with other artists and customers all over this country, and part of it is about enjoying my life for myself after living for a long time for someone else.

How does guesting compare to tattooing in one studio? Well I basically tattoo out of a plastic bag these days! (if it’s good enough for Claudia it’s good enough for me!) It can be a bit stressful packing up and moving on so much, but it’s worth it as I get to see so many new places and meet new people. Life is for living and I’m all about the experiences! 

Where can people get tattooed by you? I have regular monthly guest spots at Tooth and Talon in Manchester and The Gold Room in Leeds. I’ve got guest spots elsewhere in the UK being confirmed as we speak. I’m planning to visit Brighton, Birmingham, London, Wales, Norwich, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee as well as a few others. I’ll be updating these on my social media and my website so if anyone wants to get tattooed by me, please check those out!

How have you been affected by the pandemic? I definitely feel like I’ve seen an affect. Having such a huge global event happen in our lifetime is bound to have an impact on everything! I think the pandemic, paired with my nomadic lifestyle, has made it harder to get bookings. Like anything – it’s all about balance. I understand I’ve traded the opportunity to build a client base by moving around, but I hope in the end it will be worth it when I find my place and can settle there with all the amazing memories I’ve made. And hopefully I will have built a beautiful network of gorgeous clients all over the UK! 

Make sure to follow Sarah on Instagram for more tattoos and travel updates. Check out her available flash designs here.

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Interview with SIGAK

SIGAK or @tattooist_sigak as you might know her, creates magical dream-like tattoos at Sol Tattoo Studio in Seoul, Korea. She also specialises in out of this world cover-ups, read on to find out more…

What inspired you to become a tattoo artist? How did you become an artist? I graduated from art middle school and high school and majored in fine art and art history at university. After graduating from university, I worked as an illustrator. While I was working a friend of mine who was a tattoo artist suggested that I learn to tattoo. So I did just that.

How would you describe your style? The world I create is a dreamy fantasy. I make fairy tale-like images with blue, purple and pink as the main colours.

Have you always tattooed like you do now? At first, I tattooed illustrations that looked like they had been drawn with a pencil. My Instagram profile image is one of them. In the past I would draw galaxies, constellations, the night sky and clouds. Then after using only black ink, I gradually used various colours.

What attracted you to this type of tattooing? I am instinctively attracted to mother nature including her galaxies, night sky and the sea. Mother nature is an unknown world that humans cannot imagine, she is naturally out of reach. But, when you tattoo her on your skin you can have your own world.

Can you tell us about the process behind your tattoos?  I discuss with a client the design they want and what we can do based on this. After that, I search for a reference image and create an appropriate design, then show it to the client. It usually takes three or four hours to make a design, but it depends on the details.

After the client confirms the design and I make any necessary modifications, tattooing then takes four to five hours. This is from the stencil to the photo shoot. This can also vary depending on the design or size.

Do you prefer to work in black and grey or colour? Both black and white and colour have their own charms, but I prefer colours. This is because even if the image is the same you can create a different atmosphere depending on the colours you use.

What inspires you? I get inspiration from a variety of things. Sometimes I think of design from novels, plays and music. But the most important thing for me is to always look at various pictures. The type of picture doesn’t matter as I try to encounter an array of arts, because anything from modern art to commercial design can inspire me.

What do you like to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? My childhood dream was to become a writer like Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Not only did he write a beautiful novel, but he also drew his own illustrations. I love how pictures and words can tell a story in different ways. It’s a vague dream, but one day I want to be someone who delivers what they want to say in writing and illustrations.

You specialise in cover-ups can you tell us more about this? Cover-up tattoos are making new tattoos on existing tattoos, scars, dots, etc. When designing cover-up tattoos it’s best to design them in darker or similar colours than the existing tattoos. In addition, the condition of the existing tattoo or scar determines whether the procedure is possible or not. There needs to be a discussion between the artist and client before anything can happen.

Are there any challenges when covering tattoos? If your tattoo is too dark or you have a lot of damage to your skin from when you got it, you will have difficulty in proceeding with the cover-up tattoo. The damaged skin is slightly convex compared to the other skin. which makes it difficult to paint a new colour onto it.

In the past, tattoo machines and needles were not as delicate as they are these days so, some people’s skin was damaged during the tattoo process. I’m always more careful when I design cover-ups like this.

What would you like our readers to know about their cover-up options? If you want to cover your existing tattoo there are some things to consider. First of all, you’re better off choosing a colour similar to or darker than your existing tattoo when you ask a tattoo artist for a design. You can try covering your tattoo with a brighter colour, but you may see your existing tattoo after everything has healed.

Secondly, you should be aware that the cover-up tattoo should be bigger than your existing tattoo. Thirdly, if you want to get a bright cover-up tattoo you’ll need to remove the existing tattoo with one to two sessions of laser treatment. After that, when your skin is fully regenerated you will be able to choose a brighter colour.

Can you tell us about your own tattoos? Are you a tattoo collector? I’ve only got four tattoos so I wouldn’t call myself a tattoo collector. My first tattoo is a drawing of the earth, it’s my Instagram profile picture. When I learnt to tattoo I had to practice on real skin so I tattooed myself. It’s not great but I’m satisfied with this tattoo because it encompasses memories and my initial intentions.

My other three tattoos are about my family; I have a tattoo for my mother on the back of my neck, one for my father on the inside of my arm and tattoos related to my sister on my thighs.

What is the tattoo scene like where you are? In Asian cultures older generations have negative perceptions of tattoos. Some of them think tattoos are related to gangsters and violence – they think it’s a dark culture. However, this perception is changing in the younger generation. Most people in their 20s and 30s are open to tattoos as a way to express their individuality. They also regard tattoos as fashion, accessories or art.

What moment in your career are you most proud of? I have met a wide variety of clients in this job and they often tell me their tattoo stories. The most memorable moment for me was the day I gave a cover-up tattoo to a client who had a tattoo associated with bad memories that she wanted to forget. The tattoo was very thick and big, so she couldn’t erase or cover it.

She said she was grateful that I covered the bad memories with happy ones. Moments like this are the proudest moments of my career.

How have you been affected by the pandemic? Before the pandemic I met so many foreign clients and I’m thankful that they came to Korea to get tattooed by me. The pandemic made it difficult to travel between countries and I lost the opportunity to meet foreign clients. I hope the pandemic will be over soon so I can meet everyone again.

Make sure to follow @tattooist_sigak for more incredible tattoos and astounding cover-ups.

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Tattoo stories: Cicely

At Things&Ink we’re a curious bunch – we want to know about your tattoos. Why did you get that design? Why that artist? Tell us EVERYTHING! So we’re introducing our tattoo stories series, as a way to get to know you all better (and be nosy). Here’s Cicely Rae Jackson (she/her) sharing her tattoo story…

Hello! My name is Cicely and I live in Holmfirth with my husband Josh and our two kids Lilith and Abel. I create content for a living and spend the rest of my time hunting for treasures in our local charity shops!

How old were you when you got your first tattoo, what was it and do you still like it? I was 17 or 18 when I got my first tattoo. It was a pretty dodgy studio and there were a lot of red flags that would stop me going ahead with the tattoo now, but I was young and inexperienced! 

I asked for a bow on the back of my ankle (they were super trendy back then ). I was never shown a design and the guy tattooed directly on to my leg without a stencil or freehand drawing, but I was happy enough with it for a couple of months. I then went to another studio and had it coloured in to try improve it, but it still wasn’t amazing. I later had it covered up with a bigger lilac bow, but you could still clearly see the original bow underneath.

So I eventually went to a great artist who worked it into another tattoo and covered up it up with a navy bow. 

What made you want to get tattooed? I’ve always loved the look of tattoos and grew up with a mum who really supported us in expressing ourselves and I just knew I wanted to be covered in tattoos at some point in my life.

Can you tell us about your tattoo collection, any favourite pieces, artists or experiences? The majority of my tattoos are traditional designs or done in a traditional style. I love how bold they look and how they sit together.

One of my favourite memories of getting tattooed was when my sister and I took a trip down the country to Hastings to get tattooed by Cassandra Francis. We got a hotel room and stayed for the weekend, it was such a great adventure.

When I chose my wedding dress I knew I needed my shoulders tattooed. That was such exciting wedding prep going to shedwolf in our local town to get them done in the lead up to the wedding.

Cicely on her wedding day

Jemma Jones has done kewpie baby tattoos of both our children, on both me and my husband. They are the same but different and I love how they represent the kids’ names.

One of my pride and joy tattoos is a crying lady head by Danielle Rose. She did a guest spot in Manchester on my birthday and it was meant to be. I had had a big year of crying, including a break up and getting this tattoo was a lovely end to that!

Do tattoos have to have a meaning? Not at all! Personally I consider my tattoos a collection of art from talented artists, I have a couple that mean a lot to me but I’d say 85% have no meaning!

What sorts of reactions do your tattoos get? I’m always happy to discuss my tattoos with people that have a genuine interest in them, the style or specific artists etc. I’d much rather people talk to me about them than just stare. 

The negative reactions to my tattoos have predominantly been from family members or people of the older generation. A manager, at one of the jobs I had as a teen, was really against my tattoos being on show as I worked on the women’s wear floor of a department store. The same rules didn’t apply to the staff on the men’s wear floor and we had a lot of disagreements about this!

Can you tell us about your experience as a tattooed mum? My experience as a tattooed mum has been on the whole, a positive one. When my daughter was younger and we would go to different baby groups, I would always be conscious that other mums would judge me but I think a lot of that was in my head.

I’ve also found tattoos to be a really lovely talking point with like-minded mums at these kind of baby groups or in the playground! If my tattoos put people off wanting to approach me as a mum friend then more than likely we wouldn’t get on anyway! 

What do your children think of your tattoos? They don’t really seem to notice them, I guess as they have been part of me for their whole lives. Sometimes my daughter will try to look for matching items that me and my husband have, like snakes or babies. My daughter’s friend refers to my tattoos as my patterns and she always wants to feel them.

Do your tattoos help you to view your body differently? I absolutely adore my body and I think my tattoos have played a big part in that. Sometimes when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror or see a photo that includes a lot of my tattoos, I feel so happy as this is exactly how I’ve always wanted to look.

Do you have any future tattoo plans? I would be completely covered if I had the money and the time! The next one I have booked in is my fingers and I would love to start on my chest this year.

Be sure to follow Cicely for charity shop treasure hunts, adorable kids and craft inspiration.

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Interview with Ria Kim

Ria Kim or @tattooist_kimria as you might know her, tattoos adorable pet tattoos at Sol Tattoo Studio in Seoul, Korea. We chatted to her about her tattoo collection and the tiny tattoos she creates…

What inspired you to become a tattoo artist? How did you become an artist? I actually majored in design, but always dreamed of a career in drawing. However, the reality was tough and I ended up getting a job in a field that’s totally unrelated to drawing. Then I became interested in being a tattoo artist.

The idea that someone will have my drawing on their body for the rest of their life seemed very attractive and I decided to pursue being a tattoo artist. Looking back, it was the right choice. The only thing I regret is not doing it sooner.

Have you always tattooed like you do now? I didn’t start with micro tattooing. When I started my technique was limited. I was doing less detailed and more rough styled work. My subject matter wasn’t pets either.

As I gained more experience, my drawings became smaller and more detailed works were possible. That’s when I started focusing on pets.

What attracted you to this type of tattooing? In the beginning I thought small tattoos had limitations, especially in what you could express in them. Like a lot of people I also had negative views on the colouration of micro tattooing. But it’s not like that all.

You use a very thin needle for micro tattoos, so you can still get those details and they’re very realistic. Also, thin needles allow the colour to penetrate deep and accurately into the skin, so as long as the artist has the right skills, the colouration is not a problem. The more I do micro tattoos, the more I seem to overcome prejudices and limitations. It’s such an attractive genre.

Can you tell us about the process behind your tattoos? Most of my clients come to have their dog or cat tattooed, so communication is very important. From choosing the photo they like to sharing stories of their pet, having their precious family member tattooed means a lot to me as well, so we talk a lot.

You do really cute small tattoos, why do you think small tattoos are so popular? Smaller tattoos tend to be more popular among the younger clients. The younger generation see tattoo as an accessory, so I think they just want a piece they like and have it placed on their body without it being too serious. 

Are there any challenges when doing tiny tattoos? Of course. Tattoos are different from drawing on paper, so I must be very thorough and I do feel the pressure. Tattoos change over time with your body, so I need to keep that in mind. The size of the piece matters as well. The appropriate size varies from person to person because everyone’s skin is different.

I always communicate with clients to figure those out. That means, sometimes having to persuade clients to change their design when they ask for tattoos that are too small for their preferred spot or skin type.

What inspires you? I get inspired by my client’s stories. I work on the pieces as I recall what they told me about their cats and dogs during the consultation. I feel so many emotions especially when I’m drawing their eyes. 

What do you like to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? I’ve been specialising in pets so far and I love this theme, so I want to continue to grow within it. My clients come to me from all over the world and if I had the chance I’d love to meet them and their pets in their homes. I also want to write a book by weaving their stories with my drawings. 

Do you prefer to work in black and grey or colour? I prefer black and grey. It’s always interesting how a black ink alone can be used to express so much depth and various tones.

Can you tell us about your own tattoos? Are you a tattoo collector? I have lots of tattoos, I’d say about 15 to 20. My first tattoo was done by me. When I first started learning how to tattoo, I was curious about what it would feel like to get tattooed, so I did one on my arm. It wasn’t all that pleasant!

My second tattoo was for my birthday. I had one done by one of my favourite tattoo artists, @Oozy_tattoo. My very recent tattoo is of my precious dog, done by my teacher, @Soltattoo. I love all the tattoos on my body, but the one from Soltattoo is my favourite one.

What is the tattoo scene like where you are? The tattoo scene in Korea has progressed so much. Korean tattoo artists are so talented that they are said to be the best in the world. Before COVID-19, 80% of my clients were from overseas. That means all those people decided to come to Korea so that they can get tattooed by a Korean artist.

Moreover, Korean tattoo artists develop and produce needles and tatoo machines on their own. They are amazing quality and I also mainly use needles and machines made by Korean tattoo artists.

What moment in your career are you most proud of? I usually tattoo pets and my clients visit me to remember them. As I’m tattooing, the client and I talk a lot of about their relationship with their pets. We share a lot of feelings and emotions and it seems to go beyond the simple relationship between clients and artists.

When I hear that my work has consoled them, it makes me think that I’ve made the right choice by choosing this job. In these moments I feel the great power of the cute little tattoos I draw and I become very proud of myself. I want to continue to comfort and give precious memories to my clients.

How have you been affected by the pandemic? As I mentioned before COVID-19 80% of my clients were from overseas. They would contact me months before visiting Korea to get a tattoo from me. It’s amazing and I always feel so thankful.

They tell me how incredible my work is and how much they love my work, and when it’s done, they leave with faces full of happiness. Some of them send me photos of my work with their pets once they return home. They’re such valuable experiences for me, don’t you think? I’ve also received a lot of invitations from overseas studios, but it saddens me that that I can’t move freely because of COVID-19. I pray that this situation will end soon.

Finally are you a cat or dog person? I’m a dog person. I have a tattoo of my old friend on my arm. My friend’s name is Go Bok-su and he’s 13 years old.

Make sure to follow @tattooist_kimria for more pet portraits.

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Catching up with tattoo artist Mimi-Sama

When we first spoke to Anna “Mimi-Sama” back in 2018 she was a travelling tattooer beginning to specialise in manga tattoos. Since then she’s settled at Black Serum Tattoo in San Francisco and has become even more sought after for her blackwork and manga style. We caught up with Anna to chat all things tattooing the pandemic and what’s changed in the past four years…

When we last spoke to you you were a travelling artist has this changed? Indeed, it has changed as I settled in San Francisco in July last year. Before that I was in Montreal for just over a year. Of course, the pandemic had a big influence on me as travelling has been very complicated. So I took this opportunity to settle and find new exciting work opportunities. Later in 2022 I will travel again within the US as I’ll be at lots of conventions and guest spots.

What was it about the city that made you want to settle there? I chose San Francisco for several reasons. Firstly I met Brucius Xylander, the owner of Black Serum Tattoo a few years ago. I really liked his way of thinking and I loved the shop he had built. The second reason is the city itself. It’s a vibrant and cultural city, where a lot of our modern era changes come from. The weather is great, the people are nice and the city and surroundings are beautiful.

What’s the studio like? The studio is bigger than when I visited it a few years ago, but it has kept the art at the heart of everything. Brucius keeps his place entertaining and inspiring for the people who visit it with an array of art and craft objects. But what I really like the most is the opportunity I have to meet great artists from everywhere. Every month, we have artists from Asia, Europe and other places in the US visiting us, it’s a wonderful place of artistic exchanges.

While you were still a travelling artist was there a place that stood out to you? I worked for almost a year in Tokyo in 2019 in the Ichi Tattoo studio. Living and working there has definitely had a big influence on me. I was thrilled that I got to live amongst Japanese pop culture and it gave me more confidence about my own style and art. It was a special time in my life and for my family who were there with me.

Tattooers and tattoos aren’t very welcome in Japanese society, so I was very lucky to have the chance to tattoo there in one of the best shops in the city. It was definitely helped me to develop my technique and art.

How has the pandemic affected you? How have you found the lockdowns, did that have an affect on your creativity? Yes, of course, it’s had an impact on my work. First of all, I had a lot of tattoo conventions planned. When they were cancelled it was a huge financial loss as the reimbursement has been very difficult. We have to be empathetic though as everyone has suffered, but yeah it has been quite difficult at times. In addition, the studio I was working at had to close for several months. But, I don’t want to complain as it was the same for everyone! 

When it comes to my creativity, I think it was positive in the end. I am a workaholic and I don’t take as much time as I would like to for other things beside tattooing. So the lockdowns were a good opportunity to spend more time with my family, do more research about Japanese art (my biggest inspiration) and of course read mangas and watch anime!

Since we last chatted has your style changed? Would you say you’ve grown as an artist? Yes I do! Having a change of environment and perhaps moving a little bit less made me focus more on my technique. I can say that I have reached a higher level in terms of blackwork techniques, such as whipping and dotting. I have really progressed in the use of different textures and the management of light contrast.

Also I changed some of the tools I work with (my machine and needles) and I am now able to work with thinner needles with a great effect, even after healing (like in this Totoro tattoo).

You’re known for your manga tattoos, is there any character or film you haven’t tattooed yet and would like to? I would like to do some Gunnm tattoo projects. It is the manga that I started with as a teenager and I haven’t had the opportunity to tattoo it yet. But I am quite happy about the diversity of projects that I have, even if I would love to tattoo more of Dorohedoro manga, as it is a good match with my style!

Do you see yourself moving away from this style? Does it still excite you? It still excites me for sure. I am trying to put more of my own style into my creations. That’s why I came up with my concept of Mangala which is mix of manga and mandala. I really like the graphic blackwork and I really want to pursue this style alongside my love of manga. I really believe it’s a great combination and makes for unique tattoo pieces.

Can you tell us about your own tattoos: when did you get your first one, do you still love it and do you have a favourite tattoo? Similar to lots of other tattooers, my first one is far from being my best. But I still love it as it is a part of my personal journey. My favourite one is a rabbit made by one of my great friends Mademoiselle Hirondelle.

This tattoo tells a very personal story and she took the time to listen and draw something that incorporates that. The whole process has been very cathartic for me and it’s definitely an important moment in my life and on my skin.

With that tattoo in mind do you think all tattoos have to have meaning? Not at all! Just get a tattoo because it is fun! When you try to put too much emotion and meaning behind a tattoo, it can easily fade away before the tattoo itself! Of course, it’s not always the case, but I see it happen from time to time. In life and in my work I like to keep positive and fun, so I always advise people to have a positive feeling when it comes to their tattoo project.

We spoke before about motherhood and tattooing, what does your little one think of your job and tattoos? She is 4 years old now, but I don’t think she sees my work differently from other people’s work. For her, the main thing is mommy leaves in the morning and comes back in the evening.

She may be more interested in the temporary tattoos you find in candies than other kids but that’s it! She had a phase where she liked to draw on herself but it passed.

Make sure to follow Mimi-Sama on Instagram for more manga and blackwork tattoos.