We chatted to Luke Oakman a 24-year-old tattoo apprentice about his developing style, inspirations and how he started working at Edshead tattoo studio in Chelmsford, Essex…
How did you start tattooing? Tattooing was something I’d always wanted to do towards the end of school and college, I just never really took the leap towards chasing an apprenticeship at that point as I was never confident enough to take chances. After being told enough times over the years following college I was ‘a wasted talent’ because I did nothing with my art, I decided to pull together a portfolio and just go for it. I’m now well into my apprenticeship at Edshead and looking forward to where tattooing takes me!
How long have you been tattooing? Coming up to nine months now. Which is the first time I picked up a machine to use it, I did a little shark tooth on my leg.
What did you do before, do you have a background in art? The only background in art I have is college, I did my A Levels in art and photography, the only things I truly enjoyed at school. Right out of college I got a job in IT, which I did for too long! I got settled into that routine until the end of 2012 when I decided I needed a big change in my life, so I set myself a new target and began building up my first portfolio.
How would you describe your style? I guess I would fall under neo-traditional. It’s hard not to label a style of tattooing, I just call it my work and hope people like it really.
How has your work evolved/developed since you started? I drew a hell of a lot during my apprenticeship, I was trying to develop a style ahead of tattooing in an attempt to make my work recognisable in some way. My work has slowly got more detailed through the months I added more linework as I began to feel more confident with lining my tattoos, which is a direction I knew I wanted to make from the start. I just had to hold off until I knew it was something I could execute properly I guess.
What inspires you? Easily nature, I’ve always watched a lot of David Attenborough documentaries, my grandad started off that obsession long ago! So now when I don’t know what do draw the first thing is normally an animal of some kind.
Do you admire any other artists, do they influence your work? I admire too many artists to list them all, mainly tattooists these days. I’ll list my top five in no order for anyone that somehow doesn’t know these names/lives under a rock:
Robert Borbas
Kate Gill
Antony Flemming
Natalie Gardiner
Antony Cole
They’re all well known artists and their work speaks for itself really. Their styles among others have definitely influenced my own work and I’d love my work to go in the same direction.
What kinds of things do you like to tattoo? Birds, just putting it out there. I love birds. Anything nature based is right up my street, but I’ll enjoy most tattoos that I can use my own style with.
Can you tell us about your own tattoos? I don’t have a lot of tattoos when I think about it. One arm and stuff all over my legs. Only a couple have any meaning, it’s more art appreciation for me now. If I can give an idea (if any) to a tattooist I admire that I know they’ll enjoy doing, that’s when the best tattoos happen.
I got my first one at 22 by Ant Cole which was a kestrel perched on a compass. The arm isn’t far off a full sleeve now by him, I’m super fussy with who I get tattooed by and waited until I found an artist I knew was perfect for me, and Ant is beyond good. It’ll be finished when I can afford to fill the gaps!
Will you be at any conventions or doing any guest spots? I just finished a guest spot at Rock’n’Roll in Dundee. I was doing a tattoo trade with Daryl Watson, so it was just by chance I was lucky enough to work there for a few days as well. I don’t have any plans just yet as I’m still an apprentice. But one thing I know for sure is I want to travel, so when I’m able to I’ll be on the road seeing new things and meeting new people. With any luck!