It’s that time of year again and Halloween is fast approaching. To celebrate the spookiest time of the year we have picked some of our favourite Halloween inspired tattoos…
Apprentice Love: Luke Oakman
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!
Fashion Pearls of Wisdom: Inked and Educated
Our guest blogger is Natalie McCreesh aka Pearl, a fashion lecturer, freelance writer and creator of Fashion Pearls of Wisdom. In this post she’ll be talking about her decision to not cover her tattoos at her graduation ceremony…
This summer I had the opportunity to don academic robes for the graduation ceremonies at the university where I work. I gained a PhD in Biochemistry (textile and fibre analysis should you be intrigued) in 2010 however this was the first time since then I would wear my robes, this time to watch my own students graduate. Graduation ceremonies are filled with tradition and seen as formal affairs, dress code is generally smart and conservative. For my own graduations I’d worn smart basics such as a blouse and pencil skirt with some cool shoes for a bit of personality. There is also the practicalities of wearing the gown to consider, they were designed to be worn by men in suits, the hood looping around a shirt button to secure it. Thus wearing it over a dress can cause it to slip around. That said in the 11 years since my first graduation things have changed, the dress code is more about what the students see as ‘their best’ which can be anything from evening gowns to party dresses, t-shirts under blazers and so on. No matter the changing styles it’s an occasion to get dressed up and of course celebrate these amazing achievements.
I’d planned to wear a shirt with loose tapered trousers due to the afore mentioned practicalities, however the day turned out to be a scorcher (robes are heavy and hot at the best of times) so I just threw on a light summer dress, one I wear for work often, instead without much thought other than to make sure I found some safety pins to avoid being strangled by my gown’s hood.
It was only upon putting on the gown and looking at myself in the mirror did it occur to me I should perhaps put on tights to cover my tattoos. As I said these ceremonies are formal affairs. I’m lucky enough to be given the freedom at work to wear whatever I want. As it happens you can’t really see my tattoos with what I wear to work due to the fact I dress in what I deem appropriate – I wouldn’t wear backless dresses or shorts to work say. What I do tend to wear are calf length dresses with jackets, so in the warmer months you can see the tattoos on my lower legs and feet. If anything my tattoos have only brought positive reactions. Although this hasn’t been the case in previous jobs, it has never been a problem for me to cover my tattoos if requested, I think it would be ignorant not to acknowledge the fact there is still very much a stigma around tattoos. Many of my students are tattooed and they are always encouraged to express themselves however they wish, there is no dress code per say for them.
So what made me decide to keep my tattoos visible on this day? It was actually something a friend had said to me ‘look at you with all your education and your tattoos’ and I thought yeah, just look at me, because it really doesn’t matter if you have tattoos or not and we need to break those boundaries. I’m not encouraging anyone to get tattooed, that’s personal choice, but I am in a position to help break the negative stigma attached to tattoos and that I feel is an important place to be.
Sarah Jane Docker: Creepy Kewpies
19-year-old Sarah Jane Docker is an illustration student, blogger and freelance artist from the Lake District. We love Sarah’s dark and gloomy style, inspired by The Horror Issue and our recent Miniature Ink II exhibition, Sarah has created a series of creepy kewpies just for us…
Do you have a background in art? I started drawing from a very early age, usually little things like butterflies and rainbows (I’m all about symmetry) which progressed into making little picture books about the adventures of my toys and writing stories to go with them. I didn’t realise there was a name for what I was doing at the time (illustrating) and carried on drawing and practising into my teens. My parents were never the most artistic of people but they always stood by me and my decision to draw and create, even when I chose to ditch the idea of A-Levels for an Art and Design Diploma 40 miles out of town!
How did you get into blogging? A few of my friends ran blogs that I’d been reading for a while. One day I thought ‘hey, I could do this!’ so I did.
What kinds of things do you blog about? Anything from lifestyle advice and DIYs to make-up and tattoos. My last tattoo orientated post talked about getting your first tattoo and what you should think about before and during. One of my most recent and favourite posts is about dating yourself and why it’s important that you should take time out to be alone, treat and learn about yourself, find out what you’re all about! I’m quite young so don’t expect people to follow my advice but the response to my writing so far has been ace. I love reading all comments and am yet to experience negativity in the blogosphere.
What kinds of things do you draw? This is a tough question! I draw a wide variety of things. Portraits, creepy little kewpies, mandalas (which I love, love, love to draw. The possibilities are endless and I can really get stuck in!) anything inspired by Eastern culture. I dabble in typography for fun now and again. A major project I just completed with my partner was our first comic book, 3 Parts Mad.
What medium do you use? Mainly pen and ink. It can be really controlled or explosive so it always fits my creative mood!
How would you describe your style? Another tricky question! Versatile, dark, floral, intricate. I’m still working on it so hopefully I’ll have developed a little by this time next year.
What inspires you? Sounds terribly elitist but feeling free or empowered. Living in the Lake District gives me the ability to hike up a mountain whenever I like, I feel most free there and take inspiration from the nature and people around me, everything in its raw state. Seeing other artists succeed motivates me to carry on creating and seeing younger people follow what they want to do, even if it is a risky career makes me remember why I’m doing this. Eastern and tattoo culture is also a massive inspiration, crazy colours, symbols and beautiful deep rooted tradition! Of course, books and magazines are an endless source of inspiration too. My creepy kewpies were drawn after reading The Horror Issue for the billionth time!
What was it about The Horror issue that inspired you? The whole atmosphere of the issue is insane, I love it! Dark yet beautiful photo shoots (yo Hannah and Emily), interviews with inspiring artists and the article on eyeball tattooing. Something I really like but could never go through with, eek! Gore gives me the creeps, but anything twisted I love and I tried to show through my creepy kewpies.
Can you tell us about your tattoos? My biggest piece is three peonies on my upper left arm to symbolise the main women in my life and my appreciation for Japanese tattoo, my other is a heart and dagger under my right boob. No meaning for that one, I picked it off a valentines flash sheet but it looks ace and I like how secret it is. I have another heart on my shin with a drawing that my friend did last year, she sadly passed away so this will always be super precious to me! Most people just ask what it is when they see it. I plan on getting lots and lots more, sorry mum.
Can people buy your art?
Yes! I have a Facebook page where you can message me about any piece you like and I’ll give you a price! Or you can find me on my Etsy page which is empty at the mo but keep your eyes peeled for creepy Kewpie prints soon.
Apprentice Love: Lady Bonsai
Lady Bonsai is a 27-year-old Italian apprentice working in Naples, we love her dark, simple and often naughty tattoos. We chatted to her about her classic style and what inspires her…
When did you start tattooing? I started tattooing in 2015 and I am apprenticing at the moment at Napoli Ink in Naples. I sent my portfolio to lots of different studios and the guys at Napoli Ink asked me to work with them.
What did you do before you were a tattooist? Before I started to tattoo I used to work as a manager in a street wear clothes store. I have always been fascinated by art. I changed my whole working life to follow my dream to become a tattoo artist.
What inspires you? I’m inspired by Art Nouveau, 1920s actresses, porn and bsdm (bondage, submission, dominance, sadomasochism) subjects.
What kind of things do you like to tattoo? I love to tattoo women’s silhouettes in a romantic yet sexy way.
How would you describe your style? I would describe my style as a graphic and passionate blackwork.
We have recently released The Horror Issue, what is your favourite horror film? My favourite horror movie is Freaks (Tod Browning, 1932). A black and white movie, it is really amazing and a great inspiration to me.
Can you tell us about your own tattoos? My own tattoos are a mix of various styles, I really love tattoos to suit my body and it’s different parts. I have a lot of different subjects from various artists including a moth by Alessandro Florio on my leg.
