Tattoo artist Gigi (Heaji Choi) tattoos beautiful fine line tattoos from Monday Island, Seoul, South Korea. We love her one-liner tattoos and chatted to the artist about her style, journey into the tattoo world and inspirations…
How long have you been a tattoo artist?
I started tattooing in 2020, so three years now.
How did you become a tattoo artist?
I happened to see a video on YouTube where Doy, a Korean tattooist, was being interviewed about his job and life as a tattooer. Afterwards I did loads of research, searching for more information around this career. I thought it looked like an interesting career and so I began learning to tattoo.
What made you want to become one?
The act of leaving a meaningful and long-lasting piece of art on a person’s body was an attractive concept to me, it still is. That’s why I have always been respectful of tattooing and responsible.
What’s the best thing about your job?
I think meeting different people is the best thing. It is a wonderful and enjoyable experience when I meet not only Koreans but also guests from other countries
How would you describe your work?
I find the characteristics of a subject be it an object or person and express these using a flow of lines.
How do you do your one-line tattoos?
Sometimes the lines are quite complicated and the area and size of the tattoo is small, so I can’t exactly see the lines when I place a stencil. If I draw a line wrong even once, the drawing and tattoo might look a bit different. So I am often checking the design and tattoo while I work on it.
What inspires your designs?
I like to take a walk and listen to music. It seems I am inspired by seeing and feeling nature, observing objects and animals around me. Of course, I try to get inspiration by going to art galleries and exhibitions as well.
What do you like to tattoo? What would you like to do more of?
I like to make tattoos of nature, natural subjects and animals. This is what I usually do now, and I want to work on various topics in the future.
Do you have tattoos? Can you tell us about them?
I have a few small tattoos. Most of them are flowers and animals. I got some of them because they were made by my favourite artists, and I got some because I happened to see the design and I liked it so much. I love my tattoos so much!
What do you do when you’re not tattooing?
I like to do yoga. At first, I started doing it just for the physical benefit because I work a lot. But the more I did it, it seemed to help me mentally too, so it suits me really well.
What’s been your proudest career moment?
There’s one client I remember. She got a very meaningful phrase and image on her wrist. It was her first tattoo. She couldn’t take her eyes off it for a while after getting it tattooe. She was very moved and started crying, saying thank me so much.
That’s when I felt once again that this kind of work really does provide a really meaningful moment for people. Since then, I have become more serious about my work – I’m very proud to have this job.
Tattooist NAKKAB creates incredible tattoos that flow with his client’s bodies. We caught up with the artist to find out more about his style, process and plans for the future…
How did you get into the industry?
I got into it the old school way I would say. I was young and full of energy! You know; cleaning around the studio, making tea for clients, setting up the stations, taking bookings etc. That’s when I learned most about tattoo equipments and hygiene, and of course how to tattoo. I was an apprentice for about seven months, by the end of my apprenticeship I was already tattooing clients.
I’ve now been tattooing for around eight years and I enjoy every year more than the other.
What made you want to become a tattoo artist?
When I think back, I can say that the roots took hold back in my childhood. I was working as an apprentice at a barber shop between the ages of 10-12. I remember one evening when our boss got a tattoo inside the barber shop! It was a wing tattoo on his neck. I was fascinated by the process as it was pretty badass and looked very cool to me. Just as I turned 18, I got my first tattoo and that day I decided to do my research on how to become a tattoo artist in Turkey.
How would you describe your tattooing style?
To describe it quickly we can say abstract tattooing. But of course this is not enough so I named my technique as “sernakkab”. This is where I use the possibilities of traditional Turkish marbling (ebru) and blend them into the individual’s skin by taking their muscle and bone anatomy as a reference.
It’s a combination of traditional paper marbling and contemporary tattooing with a minimalistic approach.
What inspired your unique style?
I studied fine arts and painting when I was in Istanbul. There we had a class called “Traditional Turkish Arts”. It was optional to take the class but I went for it to grow my vision, since we were mostly taught about contemporary art and Bauhaus school disciplines. I was so inspired by that class and I wanted to blend it into the lineworks I was working on then. At first it was a bit experimental, I was showing my designs to our professors and they were giving me constructive comments. In time I got more and more conscious and deliberate with what I was doing.
Can you tell us more about performing humanity in an artistic way?
That has been written in my bio for years now. I don’t even know if it’s gramatically correct but it sounds poetic. It means that with my artistic identity, I am actually performing as a human, rather than just being one.
What’s the process behind your pieces?
In my atelier I have a corner where I create shapes through marbling. I usually spend time there and work on new designs on different papers. When my clients ask for a design, I search through these papers and pick the one that fits their vibe. Then I study the individual’s body part where they want the tattoo.
In the end I blend the design with the anatomy of my client so that it flows on them. On the tattooing day we make slight adjustments if necessary. Sometimes I go freehand on some parts of the tattoo. Eventually we end up with a tattoo that is organic and unique for each individual.
How long do they take?
Smaller works usually take about two to three hours. Bigger works mostly vary from four to eight hours. Even though I do big works sometimes, I use a lot of space in my designs to emphasise the anatomy, that’s why some very big tattoos might take less time. My longest tattoo took 16 hours, of course we completed it in three sessions.
Do you prefer working in colour or black ink?
It depends on the individual’s vibe. Sometimes I make suggestions when I believe some colours would look good on the design, even if my client had black in mind. Mostly they give me the freedom to go with whatever I have in mind. I appreciate it a lot and do my best to come up with a design that we both love.
What tattoo projects have you been working on?
Lately I have been studying traditional Turkish calligraphy (hat) and interpreting it with my tattoo designs. I am looking forward to sharing it with my followers very soon!
What’s really been getting you excited?
I am excited about the future. Meeting new people, doing new projects, being part of fun collaborations and inspiring the newcomers!
What do you want to do in the future?
I want to start a YouTube channel and share the experience I have with people. To this day I have learnt a lot of things online, and made too many important decisions with the help of people on the internet. Well, I want to give back to the community whatever I can!
What’s been your proudest moment?
The sernakkab works came out as my final project when I was studying at university. Being the only one in the university who did artwork with tattooing was a proud moment for me. I always love to play around with the limits of the materials, give them different purposes to bring out anything progressive. Finding a sweet spot between traditional marbling and contemporary tattooing was one of them.
Make sure to follow @nakkabdoesit for more outstanding tattoos.
We last chatted to Owen Paulls (@owenpaulls) in 2017 (read his first interview) when he was tattooing on the road. We caught up with the black and grey tattoo artist, who now works out of his private studio (Owen Paulls Tattoo) in Brighton, to find out what he’s been up to for the last six years...
How have you been since we chatted in 2017?
Great thank you! Hope you have all been good too. I’ve been traveling all over and seen some cool things…and ink!
You’ve been tattooing for almost 10 years, how does it feel to look back on where you started?
I don’t really know to be honest! I’m certainly more involved with the industry than I imagined was possible when I started, and there’s so much to learn along the way. The perimeters are always shifting and evolving in the tattoo world, so I guess I feel humbled to think of surviving it for 10 years!
Where do you hope to be in another 10 years?
I hope to be in the same creative mind space and to be focused on how I can keep improving. I really hope I never lose the drive to improve my artwork, in tattooing or painting!
What tattoo projects have you been working on?
There’s been more larger scale work in my diary as of late. I think the last time we spoke I was on the road, so I was mostly doing tattoos that had to be completed in one or two days max! Since then I’ve been able to play the role of a resident artist in a few studios and take on larger pieces over a wider time scale.
It’s been really challenging but a great push in learning how to construct legible sleeves, front and back pieces.
What’s really been getting you excited?
Well firstly, the progression of our industries artistic side over the past, I think three years or so? It’s amazing to watch such rapid evolution of an ancient thing. On a more personal note, I’m so excited and thankful for the trust in creating more surrealism and Disney mashup tattoos.
You mentioned in our last catch up that you were going into a more surrealism style, has this been the case?
I always wanted to do a little more realism that wasn’t so routed in real life or just a copy from a photo. I really enjoy being asked for portraits too, don’t get me wrong, but I love sci-fi or adding a little element of whimsy, flow and direction where I can. I’m still developing this style and trying to learn from other artists, who do this mix really well. At the moment I’m working on a few Disney projects which will see the characters collide with the real world in some way. So super excited for that!
You also mentioned you would ‘probably make the move to colour work’, how has this gone? What changed?
Honestly nothing really changed, apart from the brief pause we all took in 2020! I’m still interested in adding some colour elements but I’d have to stay somewhere long term to really polish this aspect of my work. Right now with traveling and shows, black and grey is the better choice for me and allows me to showcase the desaturated Disney work that has helped me carve a bit more of a tattoo identity over the years.
You were on the road, where’s been your favourite place to travel and tattoo?
It’s hard to pick just one place! I spent nearly two years traveling full time on the road and saw so many amazing places. I really love Italy and Florence especially. It’s so beautiful and relaxing there and in the same breath, I love Colorado for the mountains and nature. Probably because it’s a wilder, more rugged version of where I grew up! NYC and LA of course are beasts of their own, and I do love the busy hustle of city life. I’m tattooing in Germany later this year so maybe that will be added to the favourites list too! Who knows!
Any experiences or stories that stand out?
I remember being in literally the coldest weather I have ever experienced in Ottawa, Canada a few years ago. I thought I liked snow until then! There was a storm and snow stacked against the buildings around four feet. Every pavement and road was pure ice! I was there working a tattoo show and spent nearly the whole thing inside a set of three interlocking buildings with sky bridges, to escape the cold! You’d have to be tough to live there I think!
Oh and almost getting hit by lightning in Florida! I was walking to the shop in the rain when it struck the traffic lights two metres in front of me, taking out the whole block. The loudest sound I’ve ever heard in my life, I’m very lucky to not have been crispified!
How’s the tattoo scene changed since we spoke in 2017?
Change wise, aside from the rapid artistic boost that 2020 seemed to inspire, I’m thankful to see the industry start to become more inclusive. I know there’s still a way to go just like every industry, but we have started the journey and it’s nice to see artists becoming more comfortable to express themselves in their art and/or tattooing.
What’s been your proudest moment in the last six years?
One of my proudest moments has been recently, when I was asked to attend a few tattoo shows, based on my paintings alone. I’ve been working hard on my paintings for a few years on my days off and it’s very validating to be recognised for this. I’ve also had the chance to be part of some really progressive and highly talented teams, like the Empire Inks crew and the FYT artist line up. Not trying to push anything when I say they have the best approach to artist sponsorships and give back at every opportunity. I’m very grateful to be involved with them!
How did you find the lockdowns, were you able to be creative?
I was still in Hollywood during the lockdown, so we really only had one long one over there. It was tough to be taken away from my career plans, mid stride but I understand this was the same for so many creatives and I do appreciate the safety aspect involved there.
I set myself up with a painting and designing schedule, working 10-7, like a regular tattoo day, four or five days a week. I’d just finished a set of classes at LAFFA (LA institute of fine art) and was really keen to get to practice more. Obviously this was more paint time than I had anticipated but I believe it kept me sane and kept the wolf from the door bill wise! I’m aware I have been very lucky though and know this wasn’t the case for everyone around the world.
On a final note I want to say thank you to everyone who supports my art and tattooing. I’m always looking to expand my skill set and learn what I can to improve. I’m thankful to have done a catch up with you and hopefully we can do another in a few years!
It’s never been more important to get an amazing photo or reel of your freshly made tattoo.Not only are you a tattoo artist but you also need to be a social media manager and photographer too. To help you capture your art in the best way, realism tattoo artist Grigorii Butrin is sharing his top tips…
Black and grey realism is a style that remains one of the most popular trends in the world of tattoo culture to this day. Grigorii Butrin (@butrin.tattoo) is a talented artist, many would say he’s up there with the best tattoo artists working in this style.
Grigorii conquered the world’s tattoo community with his realistic tattoos consisting of striking contrasts, complexity and detail. They bring the image to life so that it looks 3D on his client’s skin. His sense of detail, light and composition makes his work different from others in the industry.
Gregorii’s tattoos are known in many countries, they have been frequently appreciated by judges at international tattoo conventions around the world. Grigorii Butrin is a member of several professional teams and clearly understands how to make black-and-grey realism truly spectacular. It’s this understanding of the craft which has gained him hundreds of loyal clients across the globe, and allowed him to give master classes to other artists. He’s also collaborated with world-known brands and giants in the tattoo industry – he’s a tattooer on the rise.
Looking at photos of his work from a professional standpoint you can see how he scrupulously works on photographing his tattoos. According to Grigorii, “this is very important, because it is not enough to make a high-quality tattoo, it is necessary to present it correctly to the audience.”
“Practice shows that you need to photograph tattoos immediately after the session. The reason for this is very simple: in 90% of cases, the creator will never see this tattoo again, and there is no point asking clients to take photos later, because they will not be able to do it correctly.”
Grigorii Butrin shares his recommendations in photographing tattoos to his colleagues:
Do not turn off the light in the studio completely, dim it. To illuminate the work itself, use a light together with a polarising film – this makes the picture more natural, especially if you are photographing a miniature tattoo. Many tattooers prefer to photograph the work with a single light source, which makes the photos gloomy due to the lack of background.
In the case of using several illuminators, glue the films to them in the same way, in accordance with the instructions. If the lights are not synchronised, then they will have to be turned over in order for them to work correctly. Cut the film according to the size of the luminous surface of the lamp, do not allow non-polarised light to get into your work.
On your phone, use the first three settings for the final edit of the photo: Exposure, Shine, Light areas. They have the least effect on image quality. You can also adjust the Saturation. In order to increase the set of processing tools, I recommend installing photo editing applications.
Remember that the photo will only show what was projected by the lens into the phone’s memory. If the photo is highlighted and if the whole tattoo is flickering with highlights, then it ‘s not possible to restore what did not get into the phone’s memory, when you took the photo no matter what subsequent processing you do. That is why you need to use polarising filters. Processing will only correct some flaws, but will not change the image itself in any way. Take high-quality photos initially.
Tattoo artist Olesia (@lescrowtattoo) creates large-scale gloomy tattoos consisting of clear lines, contours and shading, which she coins ‘Gravure’ tattoo. We chatted to the Ukraine artist based in Los Angeles about her love of mythology, tattooing style and more…
“I create a drawing in an engraving style based on Greek mythology, and then I transfer it not to wood or metal in order to make an impression, but to the skin of a person to keep it there forever. From my perspective this is synthesis of the arts which is timeless”
What’s your earliest memory of tattoos or tattooing?
My first tattoo was a gift for my first girlfriend. It was first letter of mine and the name. Veeeeery trivial I know…but it’s a warm memory.
How long have you been a tattoo artist and how did you become one?
I’ve been tattooing for 12 years now. Since I was a girl I loved drawing and contemplating nature, but my mother and teachers said my art was strange and gloomy, which stopped me from pursuing my art.
After school, I entered the Art Academy at the Faculty of Design and Architecture. I didn’t want to become an architect, but studying helped me with the basics of compositions. I eventually got a job at my friend’s tattoo studio.
Can you tell us about Gravure tattoos?
Gravure tattoos have become my own niche. It’s characterised by large-scale pieces, often inspired by Greek Mythology, which are gloomy in nature expressed lines and shading.
As I learnt to tattoo I found an audience who revered my style and trusted what I was creating. After several years of experimenting and tattooing in Barcelona and Europe I honed my skills and what made me unique, that’s when I moved to LA.
What in particular draws you to Greek mythology?
In Greek mythology I am attracted to how perfect the image of a person can be. In general, they knew a lot about the beauty, mind and earthly pleasures.
Do you have a favorite story or a Greek God?
I like all the stories about Hades and Persephone. For me they are like a movie- «only lovers will survive».
How do you see your tattoos evolving in the future?
I don’t know, maybe I’ll be in slavery to AI, like all of us! Most likely I will remain just an artist and it doesn’t matter where my drawings are whether they’re used for illustrations, bodies or some kind of engraving on robot panels.
I hope one day I will write a book about my inner travels and will illustrate it too, it’s the dream of my life.
You describe your work as gloomy, do you have a gloomy personality?
I’m definitely the queen of darkness inside , but in society I am a very cheerful and sociable person, the one who will make everyone laugh, unite and gather for a party (I can’t live without the fun of sarcasm and nightlife). But yes with myself I’m blue and gloomy.
How do you feel when you’re tattooing?
For me, this is a moment of concentration, meditation and also a time when I can combine work with knowledge (during the sessions I always listen to audio books or lectures on history) just imagine those feelings! Your body’s here creating a world on another person’s body and your mind is separately traveling through the pages of novels or the past! This amazing sensation is disturbed only by pain in the neck or back.
How does the LA tattoo scene compare to other places you have tattooed?
I moved to LA half a year ago, so I haven’t fully felt the difference yet. But if we talk about the public itself, the clients here are very grateful and open to everything new more than, for example in Spain, despite the fact that my style here is something new because America is the founder of traditional and realistic tattoos, especially in colour. And of course, the scale of the country doesn’t allow you to stay without work for a long time.
Where’s been your favourite place and inspired you the most?
My favourite city, no matter how trite it may sound, is Paris. But it’s just for my soul cause my lovely poets are buried there. If you mean tattoos – New York is the best city for work and spending money. I’m a fan of the big city vibe!
Can you tell us about the tattoos you have on your own body?
My tattoos look more like a diary of small disconnected stories, each one belongs to a certain period. I dream of a big project for the whole of my back, but ideas change every year, so my back is still waiting for the right idea.
Follow Olesia @lescrowtattoo on Insta for more gloomy Gravure tattoos.
