Category: Tattoos

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“It’s awesome to think that people can have my art on their skin for the rest of their lives”, interview with tattoo artist Tati Ferrigno

Tati Ferrigno knew she would follow the path of becoming a tattoo artist as soon as she started learning. Working out of her private studio in São Paulo, Brazil, we chatted to the artist to find out more about her art…

How long have you been tattooing and how did you get into it?

I have been tattooing for three years but before that I used to work as an illustrator and graphic designer for about 15 years. I created a famous line of children’s characters for stationery products called “Jolie” in Brazil during this period.

I had a successful career as designer, however, I still had the dream of becoming a tattoo artist. The pandemic was the best opportunity to make this dream come true because I had time to study it and once I started, I knew I would follow this path.

What inspired you to become a tattooer?

I’ve always felt an attraction for the rebellious visuals of tattoos and the empowerment it brings to women.

I felt amazed by the idea of bringing my art to this world and doing exclusive illustrations for clients.

It’s awesome to think that people can have my art on their skin for the rest of their lives.

Do you have a first memory of tattoos?

Yes, I do! My very first memory of tattoos was when I saw a woman with a blue butterfly on her thigh. I believe I was six at the time. It caught so much of my attention because I already loved to draw and I realised we could have drawings on our skin, I was amazed by that!

How would you describe your style? Do you prefer colour or black and grey?

My style is fine line and whipshading. I love to work with thin needles because I can explore more details in the art. Black and grey has my heart but I also like to apply soft colours on some tattoos.

We love your pet portraits. Do you have one that stands out in your mind?

For sure, I do! There’s one pet portrait with a white cat and a Shitzu dog. I love the composition, the little bell flowers and the depth of the cat’s eyes. It’s certainly my favourite one.

What do you like to tattoo and draw? What inspires you?

My preferred themes are feminine figures, botanicals and animals. I love to draw goddesses and empowered, feminine women. Since I was a kid I have had this bond with feminine heroines. I used to draw the female cartoon characters I saw on TV – I definitely love it.

What’s your favourite, making or getting a tattoo?

Getting a tattoo is exciting but I feel awesome tattooing my art on people’s skin, so I prefer to make tattoos for sure.

What are your hopes for the future?

I have so many goals I want to achieve! Some of them are to have my work known internationally and participate in international tattoo conventions.

What’s been your proudest moment so far?

Tattooing abroad as a guest artist in my second year as a professional tattooer was certainly something very exciting for me. It also brought my work more recognition.

Make sure you follow Tati (@tati_ferrigno) for more incredible tattoos.

We’re always talking to amazing tattoo artists, check out our latest interviews.

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“Tattoos are an amazing way to express our individuality,” tattoo artist, Ehyang

Tattoo artist Ehyang adores putting her art on people’s bodies. “I think it’s a proud and rewarding thing that someone likes my paintings and keeps them on their body for the rest of their lives,” she enthuses. “There‘s nothing more glorious as an artist than that.” We caught up with her to find out more…

What’s your earliest memory of tattoos? Did you always want to get tattooed?
“When I was young, I just liked getting tattoos because they looked cool… then I started to just fall in love more and more, so I thought what could be better than to make them my job?”

How long have you been tattooing for? How did you train to become a tattoo artist?
“This year marks my third year. For my sanitation education, I took theoretical classes on machines and needles After that, I practiced with a rubber board.”

How would you describe your style of tattooing?
“My style is fine line ornamental. To differentiate myself from other tattooists, I draw animals with an ornamental twist. That’s the characteristic of my tattoos. I love fine lines and decorative tattoos.”

Do you tattoo lots of tourists who’ve travelled for your work?
“Half of my guests are foreigners and some of them visit Korea just to get a tattoo from me.”

How long is your wait list? How do customers book in?
“I’m taking reservations by e-mail, I used a Korean chat app, but I think e-mail is easier. I usually tattoo one person a day.”

What are the rules for tattooing in South Korea? Is tattooing more underground or becoming more mainstream nowadays?
“I think Korea is still a little conservative about tattoos. Most young people get tattoos, and they like to get small tattoos. But I think there are more people getting tattoos than before.”

“I love that a client’s idea can take me somewhere I never thought I would go. “

What’s the best way for customers to come up with an idea for you? Do you offer flash or prefer custom work?
“Customised work is more fun. I love that a client’s idea can take me somewhere I never thought I would go. The design that I and the customer made is new and interesting…”

What is the address of your studio?
“It’s 61-1, Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It’s my private studio.”

Any interesting hotels / shops / cafes nearby?
“There are many cute and pretty cafes near Mangwon-dong, Korea. There is a famous street called Mangridan-gil, and there are many cute shops there. Mangwon Market is also famous. It’s hard to walk around on weekends because there are so many people.”

Do you ever do guest spots? If so, when / where?
“I did in Singapore, Australia, Canada, and the U.S.”

What are your hopes and plans for the future?
“Now I want to settle down somewhere. I’d love that to be in America because I think I can do something fun and big with more diverse materials than in Korea. I’d love to create a unique style tattoo that only I can do…”

What do you love most about tattoos?
“Tattoos are attractive, there are so many styles and it’s fun to be able to express our individuality. And as an artist, I’m proud to be able to create my own creation with tattoos, and I don’t think there’s anything more interesting and attractive than that.”

Give Ehyang a follow on Instagram @e.hyang.tattoo.

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Three Kings Tattoo London anniversary flash day

3 year tattoo flash day

We absolutely love a tattoo flash day. It’s so exciting being part of a tattoo party, making friends in the queue and choosing a flash design to have tattooed on you forever. On Saturday July 15th, Three Kings London (@threekingslondon) in Deptford are celebrating their third birthday with a flash day and evening of entertainment.

All flash designs will be at a set rate of £60 from one of their expert tattooers, so check out the full blackwork flash sheets on offer here. If you’re one of the first 50 customers on Saturday July 15th you’ll receive a goody bag filled with:

  • Discount vouchers from Three Kings
  • Goodies from local independent neighbours
  • VIP entry for you and your pals to celebrate with the Three Kings crew to the sounds of Rinse FM loved DJ Joe Milli at Little Nan’s

So make sure you get down early!

The tattoo artists at Three Kings London
The Three Kings Tattoo London crew

We first spoke to Amanda Rodriguez in 2019 (read her interview here). With it being three years in July since Three Kings Tattoo out of NYC and Brooklyn launched a studio in Deptford, South East London under the leadership of New York artist Amanda Rodriguez, we wanted to catch up with the tattoo artist.

How have you been since we last spoke in 2019?

I’ve been really good. It’s been really up and down work wise since COVID but now it’s starting to pick up again. We’ve got an amazing crew at the shop now with five full time artists other than myself. My clientele is building slowly but surely and I’ve been able to work on some really amazing pieces in the last few years.

You’re now owner of Three Kings Tattoo, can you tell us how you got to where you are?

Just a lot of hard work and determination to be honest. My business partners from America were super helpful in getting me here to the UK also.

What’s owning a studio like – the highs and lows?

Owning a studio is different than I thought. I love the space I have curated and the artists I have chosen to work with and our employees. However, as a business owner you always have work to do and you are responsible for others’ income which is a lot of pressure. I’ve found juggling the business stuff and my own tattooing career really difficult at times as I have less time to draw and post online.

Amanda's flash tattoos
Amanda’s flash sheet

We think a flash day is the perfect way to celebrate three years, what can people expect on the day?

The flash day is so much fun! We usually have people waiting to get in at 11am and tattoo straight through to 7pm with a little lunch break. This will be our fourth or fifth flash day so I think we’ve got a good system – we take people’s details and what tattoo they want and then let them explore Deptford until we are ready for them. Our customers will get a goody bag with some merch and vouchers for local businesses and this year we are giving them to people before they get tattooed so they can utilise some of the vouchers while they wait (if they have a wait!) This is the first time we’re doing a Saturday so we’re expecting more people. Afterwards we have a party happening at Little Nan’s with a DJ. It’s going to be good fun!

What are you most looking forward to on the flash day? 

We always meet some amazing new people on the day and I’m really looking forward to having new people come and experience the shop and the fun vibes. I’m also looking forward to people enjoying Deptford on the day while they wait. I really love the area and we tend to get a lot of people who don’t know it well so this is a great opportunity to get people here and see what Deptford is all about!

What does the future hold for Three Kings Tattoo?

Hopefully lots more guests and our artists being very busy! Brand collaborations down the line would be amazing and trying to give back to the community. 

Three Kings Studio

The flash day is open to the public from 11am to 7pm on Saturday 15th July on a ‘walk-in’ basis. The after party at Little Nan’s Grandad’s Shed in Deptford Markey Yard starts at 7pm.

Location: 182 Deptford High Street London SE8 3PR

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Cheeky blackwork: Interview with tattoo artist Alice

Tattoo artist Alice (@oneskinnyleg) creates “cool tattoos for cool people” at Sanctuary Body Art in Edinburgh. We caught up with the artist to find out more about her style, inspirations and hopes for the future…

Tattoo artist Alice
Portrait of Alice by @continuous_portrait_project

How long have you been tattooing? 

My first tattoo was October 2021 – so you could say it’s been since then. 

What inspired you to become an artist?

As soon as I started getting tattooed, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. It was a horrible itch I needed to scratch. I knew the remedy was tattooing, but I couldn’t reach the ointment at the back of the bathroom cabinet. You get the idea with this dermal analogy, so I’ll stop there. I got my apprenticeship aged 29 – a bit late to the party, but I normally am anyway. 

What’s your earliest memory of tattoos? Did you want them as a child?

I didn’t think about them much until I was 16, then they were all I thought about. I desperately wanted some Death Cab for Cutie lyrics down my forearm – not just one line, like actual verses.

I also tried to get my fingers tattooed when I was 18. It was in a shop in Yorkshire where I went to school, and it was pretty much just in the living room of a terraced house. I got told to come back when I had more than zero tattoos.  

Can you tell us about your own tattoos and your first tattoo?

My first tattoo was a falcon on the back of my arm. It’s been described as looking like a fish and a cannabis leaf, but never a bird. I wanted it to be as small as possible so this is absolutely my doing. 

Some recent cool stuff by Edinburgh pals Justin Yaroma, Enrique Vega and Sophie Bellingham, all of whom I can’t recommend enough. 

Do you have a favourite tattoo experience?

I had just the most fun with Justin Yaroma. We laughed a lot and I left the studio a better person with a banging tattoo. 

Do you have a background in art or anything creative?

Growing up I worked on my mum’s stables picking up a lot of horse shit. Over the years, I became an expert – my muck-heaps were something of an artform and have been known to make builders cry.

During lockdown I started drawing digitally for the first time, made a bunch of t-shirts which sold alright, and then managed to get an apprenticeship from there. Cheers, furlough! 

How would you describe your work? What drew you to this type of tattooing?

I would describe my work as cheeky blackwork plus cats.  

I was inspired a lot by the work of tattooers Sad Amish & Matt Bailey during the immaculate conception of One Skinny Leg as an art Instagram page. I love the way the artists can express so much movement with lines and solid black – nice bold ideas and bold tattoos.

I was drawn to this type of tattooing as I love the contrast of solid black against the skin. 

Portrait of Alice by @continuous_portrait_project

What do you like to tattoo and what would you like to do more of?

I like to tattoo lady faces, and I would like to tattoo more lady faces. I’m really digging a big bold line at the moment so anything with this I’m super excited to do. Shoutout to my customers who have an awesome range of weird and brilliant ideas – always down for more of these. 

What inspires your pieces and flash?

Things I think are cool get added to the list. Cars are cool. Fire is pretty cool. Cars on fire? Yeah, that makes it. I’ll probably do some cowboy flash –  everyone who’s anyone has wanted to be a cowboy at some point. Christian imagery is iconic too, so a little pinch of that. 

Where do you see yourself and your art in the future?

Looking forward to my first guest spots next year. I’m super happy to be in a warm and welcoming studio – so looking forward to growing and improving within a supportive environment. 

Make sure you follow Alice (@oneskinnyleg) for more fun blackwork tattoos.

We’re always talking to amazing tattoo artists, check out our latest interviews.

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Interview with tattoo artist Gigi

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.

Follow @gigi_tattooer for more adorable tattoos.

We’re always talking to amazing tattoo artists, check out our latest interviews.