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Human animals: Shani Nizan

Tattoo artist Shani Nizan is known for her human animals which she creates in New York at Inked NYC. We chat to the tattooist about the inspirations behind her recognisable artwork…

What inspired you to become a tattoo artist and how did you become an artist? I have been drawing ever since I can remember. When I was younger I would draw every day for four hours. In the afternoon my mother would sit me and my sisters on the living room carpet for creative time. Thinking back that must have had some influence on me. 

I would say that my formal entry into the art world was actually in physics class, when I couldn’t focus I would draw my teacher, Efraim, who had unique facial features.

During my mandatory military service, when I was bored, I would draw on my arms. I then shared these on social media and loved the reactions and attention I’d get. People would approach me and asked to get inked as they thought they were actual tattoos.

Shortly after getting released from the army I knew I had to explore my options as a tattoo artist. After a while, I realised that tattooing made me “even cooler” than I was before, but more importantly I had the opportunity to meet a lot of new people and connect with them on a deeper level. So I am really glad life led me that way.

How would you describe your work? “Very specific” is the first thing I would say to someone that asks this question. Then I would add that I am always combining human bodies with animal heads. My style is semi-realistic mixed with naive drawing that I believe is inspired by old time children’s books.

How did you come up with your human animals? I was drawing them separately at first – animals because it was good practice and people because I was curious to draw my friends. One day I showed my drawings to my great aunt Galia, as her opinion matters to me a lot and she said “you copy well.” 

After feeling down for a few days I saw a video called “everything is a remix” which showed me how some great pieces of art were a combination of two already-m existing things. I tried to do the same and mix two of my interests, since then, it’s been hard to draw anything else. I can’t stop!

The first one I did in July 2017, I called her “Lady Linda” and I tattooed her on my thigh. I have tried and still try to develop as an artist and do other things, but they’re still what I like to create the most. 

They’re so different, some of my clients will use this hybrid to give their pet a human personality that they always had, some will use the animal head as a mask to hide with or as a metaphor for themselves. 

What attracted you to black and grey tattooing? Before I even started tattooing I never used colour. I would draw mostly “by the way” as I call it, carrying with me a small sketch book and a pen.

When I started tattooing it felt unnatural to use colour. I also imagined it wouldn’t be comfortable to carry so many ink bottles around when touring and traveling. 

Have you always tattooed like you do now? When I started tattooing I was doing lots of different styles so I could learn different techniques. Pretty early on I realised I didn’t think it was necessary and I started tattooing only my own art that was pretty similar to what it is now.

Of course like every artist I got better, developed and matured (hopefully). I found it hard to stop creating something that I liked so much, like my creatures. In my opinion, to force a young tattoo artist to learn all of the techniques is like teaching a guitar player to play every kind of music in the world. 

Can you tell us about the process behind your tattoos? Usually, I will wait to meet the client in person so we can work on the sketch together. Sometimes I prepare something beforehand but I’m never disappointed when I realise we need to start over.

The connection between me and the client as we build a sketch together is the most important part for me. That’s the moment when we both can feel that it’s not just a logistical process but an experience that means something. 

Sometimes people can be surprised or feel stressed when they come to get inked without having seen a design, but I think that that’s the magical part of tattooing.

What inspires you? I have problems remembering new things nowadays and I think the reason is that my memory storage is at full capacity. My mind is filled with children’s songs, tapes and memories I have from childhood.

In general I am fascinated by the imagination of children which is usually boundless, honest, creative and lively. These qualities can be seen in my drawings, in my youthful behaviour and by the fact that I am writing a children’s book.

I’m not sure how it comes to play a part but I think what inspires me the most though is music. I’ve always been drawn to music and most of my friends are musicians. I get inspired by documentaries about musicians I admire and in order to get myself working I need my music playing. My clients can testify that the one thing they need to endure, beside the pain, is listening to me sing throughout the session!

What do you like to tattoo and what would you like to do more of?  Lately I’ve started performing free hand abstract tattoos, that complement the body and hopefully make the client like the tattooed area more than before.

It takes time to start being known for a new niche but I hope to start creating more of these tattoos soon.

Can you tell us about your experiences in the tattoo industry? I am always experiencing three different parts of the tattoo industry. The one in Israel where I was born and started working so it always feels like home. The one in Europe where I was travelling from studio to studio between cities and countries and met amazing artists that are great inspirations. Lastly the one in New York where I feel like the industry is the most “industrial”, in the most positive way. At Inked I get the best treatment an artist can ask for from a studio.

What moment in your career are you most proud of?  Without a doubt the moment I got an email from Julia Rehme inviting me to be a resident in her studio in Berlin. I had less than one year’s worth of experience back then and even though I was arrogant to perform my art and my art only, I was doubting myself a lot on the inside.

Being invited to work with Julia opened the most important doors in my career and I’ll forever be thankful to her for that! 

Can you tell us about your own tattoos? Are you a tattoo collector? I don’t have a lot of tattoos, just a few pieces that I got from my friends and colleagues. My favourite one is a flower on my back done by a friend that I taught how to tattoo about a year ago. @Amita__________ got so amazing so fast that I wanted to give her a big canvas to work on.

Make sure to follow Shani on Instagram for more tattoos and travel updates.

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Interview with tattoo artist Varvara

Tattoo artist Varvara works out of a private studio in Moscow, Russia where she’s known for her mystical dragon tattoos. We chatted to the ‘mother of dragons’ about her inspirations, proudest moments and life as an artist…

What inspired you to become a tattoo artist? How did you become an artist? I didn’t study art before I started tattooing, but I have always wanted to connect my life to creativity. After getting my first tattoo I knew I wanted to become a tattoo artist. I then trained in the art of tattooing at a studio and I used to practise on my friend. Now I have been tattooing for eight years.

Have you always tattooed like you do now? No of course not! My first tattoos were very funny and different. I started to look for my own style and I have developed this over the years. I’m also constantly trying to improve and take my work to the next level.

What attracted you to this type of tattooing? I like tattooing dragons because they are mythical creatures. This element of fantasy means I have complete freedom when I create their image. I also like the graphic look of black and grey tattoos, I think it looks awesome, especially the contrast between dark dragons and pink gentle flowers. 

Can you tell us about the process behind your tattoos? It all starts with a sketch. I create each design during a consultation session which is based on the anatomy and wishes of the person I’m tattooing. Every one of my sketches is individual and nothing is repeated.

What would you say to someone who is worried about what their body looks like, but wants to get tattooed? I think that every body and everybody is beautiful. You just need to find a master who will emphasise your virtues. This is why I only freehand my tattoos. It allows me to create individual projects, which take into account the anatomy of the body and the preferences of the client.

What inspires you? I am inspired by the usual things: nature, my dogs, travel and of course love. 

What do you like to tattoo and what would you like to do more? Of course I like to tattoo dragons, but I would also be happy to make other magical animals. 

Can you tell us about your own tattoos? Are you a tattoo collector? I have a lot of tattoos on my body, but I can’t call myself a tattoo collector. I have got a lot of tattoos based on what I liked at the time but now I approach my choices a lot more consciously.

What moment in your career are you most proud of? I am proud that I created very recognisable dragons and that I am able to give them to a large number of people.

You describe yourself as the ‘mother of dragons’ can you tell us more about this? Oh it is a joke! My clients would often call me that, so I decided to put it in my Instagram profile because I liked the comparison.

How have you been affected by the pandemic? I didn’t work for a while during the height of the pandemic, but then everything returned to normal. After the pandemic I’ve found that people want to let beautiful things, including tattoos, into their lives even more than before.

If you don’t already make sure to follow Varvara on Instagram for more dragon tattoos.

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Interview with tattoo artist Sergei Titukh

Tattooist Sergei Titukh from St. Petersburg, Russia works in one of the most stylish and atmospheric studios in the city centre – INKME. Born in a small town in the Rostov region (South of Russia), he moved to St. Petersburg in 2005 to study and never left. Read on to find out more about this incredibly talented blackwork artist…

What inspired you to become a tattoo artist and how did you become one? In 2005, when I moved to St. Petersburg I entered the Maritime Academy, but six months later I realised that it didn’t interest me and I changed to the faculty of design. At university there were practical classes in drawing and painting that gave me a good foundation for artistic development. It wasn’t until I started tattooing that I began to develop my drawing.

Then in 2007 I became interested in rock music, which for me was the first step towards tattoo culture. I wanted to buy a guitar and grow my hair long while I started going to rock gigs. The underground atmosphere really pulled me in – I wanted to be a rock star. I did become one; I bought a guitar and gathered the band together. At that time I wasn’t ready for tattooing, but my hobbies gave impetus to it.

How did you become an artist? I have drawn throughout my life and always had friends telling me to become a tattoo artist. But my way into tattooing was a long one. After uni and my rock years, in 2010 I decided to find a tattoo shop where I could learn, but the tattoo training was too expensive. At the time I didn’t have much money, there was a cheaper piercing course and as body modification was generally interesting to me, I decided to become a piercing master.

I joined the community, met many interesting and talented people who, at that time, were at the top of the tattoo culture. I didn’t study tattooing professionally and lost interest as I went deep into piercing for a while. It wasn’t until 2014 that I become excited about tattooing again. This time I bought my own machine and started teaching myself. I tattooed myself at first, I still have these on my legs and they still seem pretty ok!

After the third tattoo on myself I felt confident that I could tattoo my friends. I worked from home and bought all the necessary equipment. I have always taken the responsibility of tattooing very seriously. So I made myself a mini studio in my apartment with everything needed for sterilisation and so on, as I was very worried that I could harm someone’s health.

But I didn’t work at home for long as I applied to a new studio specialising in graphic black and white works – Blackyard Tattoo. The guys took me on and I was incredibly happy that I would be working in a real tattoo shop. I worked there for two years and developed as tattoo artist before opening my private shop. I then travelled in Europe and the USA and since the end of 2019 I have been working with the INKME team.

How would you describe your style? My style is black graphics and my monsters are my calling card. At first I didn’t know exactly what I would tattoo, my first sketches were in dotwork and linework. But then my eye was caught by the dark and mystical works of Russian tattooers. Now I understand that this kind of black tattooing was just gaining momentum at that time and I was lucky to catch this wave.

I then tried to make a few of my monsters, the designs were simpler as I drew on paper while trying to understand how I’d do it on skin. At that moment a vision of what my tattoos should be formed and over time I honed my technique. I can’t name a specific style for my tattoos; I work with black ink and make creepy monsters. I’m drawn to mythical and fantastic stuff. I often use the same elements in my sketches: poses, hands, claws and paws, thereby trying to preserve my author’s vision.

Can you tell us about the process behind your tattoos? More often designing a new tattoo is quite a lot of work. The time has long passed when people just went into the studio and chose a design from ready-made flash sets. Now individuality is valued, so an original design is developed for each customer. I never repeat my own or other people’s work. Thanks to design programmes and gadgets I can develop the design and make edits if needed. However, I sometimes miss the “live” element of drawing on paper and often, with pleasure, take a pencil in my hand.

There are clients who come just for my style and give me complete freedom when creating a design or choose a ready-made design, I really appreciate it. I find this a comfortable way to work and I create a design based on my own imagination as I have no frames and restrictions.

But there are those who come with their idea based on existing characters, with this I try to implement everything in my own style as much as possible. As a rule people don’t mind this because they came for my style, I thank them for this!

What inspires you? find inspiration in nature, horror movies, stories about witches, mythical creatures, and music like black metal, doom metal and stuff like that.

What drew you to work only in black ink? I just have no passion for colour drawings and working with a large palette of colours. This also applies to my own tattoos; my first tattoo is a sleeve based on my own sketch. At first I was delighted with the result but the sleeve features colour. After a while I become uncomfortable with the colour on my hand as my preferences changed and now it’s covered with blackwork.

What do you like to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? I would like to do more large-scale projects, such as on the back or torso. Spaces where a customer doesn’t have some kind of framework on the body that he is trying to fit a specific design into.

I’d like to create more experimental tattoos with transitions from one part of the body to another, such as from the back to a leg. I’ll be incredibly pleased to work on such ambitions projects.

At the moment, my portfolio is diluted with existing characters from movies, books and games which are usually commissioned by my customers. Although it may upset my clients I’d like to do less of this kind of work and pay more attention to the universe of my monsters.

Can you tell us about your own tattoos? Are you a tattoo collector? As I mentioned, I did a few tattoos myself while I was studying. Most of my tattoos are from my friends and tattoo artists I have worked with. Naturally they are also all dark and black and white. I don’t chase tattooers with big names, if I like a sketch and the quality of the master’s work I will gladly get a tattoo from him. But I also don’t do thoughtless and impulsive tattoos, they must be in harmony with my tattoos and coincide with my inner states.

I have ideas on how I want to close the remaining areas on my body, but all the tattoo artists I want to go to are in different countries. So I don’t know when I can make an appointment with them.

Where can people get tattooed by you? I always announce my plans on my Instagram @t_i_t_u_k_h. You can also email me at titukhtattoo@gmail.com with any questions. Actually I love it when people write to me saying that they would like to get a tattoo from me, even if at that moment I am on the other side of the world.

These requests are important because they help me plan my guest spots. I collect these in a database and if I get a sufficient number of applicants in a certain region, I will visit there with pleasure.

How does guesting compare to tattooing in one studio? When working in a particular studio the work process is well-established and you don’t need to worry that there will be no necessary equipment. There’s an already formed team, it’s like a second home.

When working as a guest artist, especially if you are going to the tattoo shop for the first time you need to foresee everything in advance. I’ve been lucky with the studios I’ve stayed in as the people were open and willing to help.

The best part for me is new acquaintances; I can happily say that the guys from all the studios that I have visited have become my friends. Although the pace during these trips is fast and you get very tired, so there must be a balance and time to rest.

What’s the tattoo scene like where you are? St. Petersburg is the cultural capital of Russia. There are a lot of creative and versatile people here. So when it comes to tattoos everything is fine, the older generation is already used to it. There’s practically no condemnation and there are many good studios and artists. I can happily say that tattooing in Russia is at a high level and I often hear people mention different tattooists with different styles abroad. Because of the great competition, tattoo artists must constantly improve and upgrade their technique. 

What moment in your career are you most proud of? For me, the most important achievement is that I found my dream job and I’m now I am doing what I love.

Make sure to follow Sergei for more awesome horror-inspired tattoos and find out where he’s tattooing next.

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Decorate with tattooist Eden’s colour

Tattoo artist MINJUNG AHN / EDEN works in a personal studio in Hongdae, Seoul, Korea specialising in colourful tattoos. We chat to EDEN about the way she decorates her client’s skin with unique, natural art…

What inspired you to become a tattoo artist? How did you become an artist? Since I was a teenager I have loved art. So much so that I would spend time drawing every day. I also graduated from a design-related high school and university.

I feel an inexplicable sense of pride and joy when people like my work, especially when they choose to have one of my drawings as a tattoo. These feelings are why being a tattooist is the best career for me. It provides me with everything I’ve ever desired.

How would you describe your style? If I were to give my work a title it would be a ‘bright colourful mood’ or the ‘eternal colour forest’. I draw everything including animals, but everything I draw I do so within my own style and interpretation.

The interpretation incorporates a wide range of colourful expressions and leaf-based design techniques. Also the most significant part of my work is how vivid and unambiguous the expression of colour is. As if a sticker has been attached to the skin rather than a tattoo.

What drew you to colour tattoos? With colour tattooing it’s possible to express various moods depending on the colour used. I can express a soft look or one that is healthy and vibrant with colour. Anything is possible because of how strong the colour is.

I feel like this is the most attractive part of colour as a tattoo genre. I also thought I’d be able to express myself well in colour tattoos. I think my artistic direction to work in colour was already set before I even started tattooing.

Can you tell us about the process behind your tattoos? I use a stencil when I’m tattooing, but there’s no subject matter that I can’t draw for my clients. I’m always trying to find new material and my strength is that I have a drawing style that only I can create.

Even when I’m drawing I’m thinking about which material or theme will best match the style of my painting. I also try various colour palettes, the joy of finding a different colour combination is indescribable.

When I’m designing or tattooing I don’t choose a specific colour depending on what I’m drawing. Just because there are green leaves it doesn’t mean I have to use green. I am free to change the colour according to the customer’s preference.

What inspires you? What inspires your flash designs? I get a lot of inspiration from movies, books and exhibitions, amongst other things. There are places or moments that stand out to me, such as a movie with beautiful colours or a maple tree I met while taking a walk. These things seem to draw my attention and inspire me. I get inspired before and after I draw the design as well.

You describe your tattoos as accessories, can you tell us more about this? Tattoos are becoming more popular than before, they’re often seen as the ultimate accessory. They contain positive meanings for the wearer and the colours used can convey a good mood too.

More and more people think of tattoos as elements to express and symbolise themselves, to make themselves more attractive. I want to leave people with tattoos that are designed to fit the curves of their body and I want that tattoo to become a work of art.

What do you like to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? I mainly create tattoos of plants and animals. These are usually small pieces of work, for me there aren’t any disadvantages or difficulties when working on small things. However, in the future, I want to increase the amount of work I do that is bigger in size.

Can you tell us about your own tattoos? Are you a tattoo collector? The tattoos I like the most are the ones I got from my teacher SOL, who helped me learn how to tattoo. He engraved roses in his favourite purple colour onto my skin. It is a tattoo that I will never forget because it is a tattoo left by combining my favourite colour with my favourite flower.

What’s the tattoo scene like where you are? I am currently working on the Hongdae side of Seoul, Korea. Korea is a country with many restrictions when it comes to tattooists and their careers. Nevertheless, in Korea, the love for tattoos and the interest in them is growing. There are various artists who are actively creating tattoos and I’m working hard to continue my positive activities in tattooing.

Make sure to follow @eden_tattoo_ for more incredible colourful tattoos.

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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.