tattoo artist interview Archives

March 17, 2024March 17, 2024

“Tattooing is based on mutual respect, so It’s important to find the middle point between what the customer wants and what I want,” tattoo artist Isle

Tattoo artist Isle (@1sle_tattoo) works in Korea and has been honing her craft for the past five years. We sat down for a chat about her journey, her inspiration and what’s next for her beautiful botanical tattoos…

What first made you fall in love with tattoos? Do you have a strong first memory?

I’d always wanted to get a tattoo since I was a college student. But Korea was a very conservative society at the time, and the various styles of tattoos didn’t exist like they do today. I just thought that people with the tattoos looked so cool. After college, I switched my thinking, I started to think about what I actually wanted for myself and my life.

My body is mine, and I thought I should do what I want no matter what others think.

So I got my first tattoo, and two years later, I started learning the craft. The reason I started was not because I liked tattoos, but the more I did it, the more difficult it became, and the more fun and rewarding it was. It’s the same now, five years after I started tattooing.

What made you want to become a tattoo artist?

I’ve been doing painting whole my life since I was kid. So I’ve been thinking about how I can use my paintings commercially – other than exhibiting. And I wanted to learn a technique that will never disappear.

How long have you been tattooing for and how did you practice?

I started tattooing in 2019, so it’s heading to five years now. At first, I learned tattooing from my teacher. He thought me basic skills and then I practiced on a silicon pad. I repeated it until I drew the line straight, practised with my drawing, and I got confirmation from my teacher. I did it many times, and I finally did it on the human body. It became my graduation work and my first work.

We absolutely adore your beautiful botanical style, how would you describe it?

Thank you for the compliment. In fact, I don’t just stick to botanical tattoos, I can draw anything interesting. But most interests come from nature. That’s why I’m drawing a lot of things related to nature. When I draw for tattoos, I use an iPad and a coloured pencil brush the most. Sometimes I use a watercolour brush when I want to express it in a different way. My style is hard to describe in one word, but I think it’s a mixture of asian and western paintings. Since I majored in oriental painting, I think that kind of atmosphere naturally manifests itself.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Art work, films, landscapes, everything visual. Most of the subjects are nature, and the way of expression and colour are inspired by many things such as paintings and the scenery made by light.

You’re currently based in Korea, what’s the tattoo scene like there? Do you often tattoo tourists or mostly locals?

Mostly local. Korea’s tattoo scene has grown so quickly. As I said, Korea was a very conservative about tattoos but suddenly it became a trend. A lot of tattoo artists in Korea have good skills and a unique style.

How do you like to work with your customers to bring designs to life? Is it a collaboration, or do you prefer to have full control of your work?

Normally I prefer to have full control of my work. Clients come to me believing in my paintings and abilities so I want them to trust my aesthetic. Tattooing is based on mutual respect. So It’s important to find the middle point between what the customer wants and what I want.

Do you tattoo flash pieces or mostly custom?

Mostly custom I think. I’d love to do more flash works, but it takes a lot of time. Flash designs are good because I can present more in the direction I want.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

I want meet a lot of clients who can make a bond with me. I want to do more big pieces and develop my skills and style. And I want to draw many paintings and maybe even put on an exhibition.

Any other thoughts on the tattoo world itself?

It’s getting more competitive. With different styles emerging and blurring the boundaries between tattooing, painting and illustration, more artists seem to be entering the field.

It’s a good thing for the clients, but I’m not sure if it’s a good thing for an artist. Tattooing is not a must, so it’s also an industry that is badly hit by the economic situation. I think it’s been tough worldwide since COVID-19. Still, I love this job and I don’t think I’m going to quit art, so I try to survive.

Do you have any plans to travel for guest spots?

Maybe Europe. Since I started this work, I have become more brave. To live in a place I don’t know well, meet various people, experience culture, etc. After going through it, it’s not as difficult as worrying about it, but I think it’s a good experience to expand my world.

Make sure to follow Isle on Instagram for more stunning botanical tattoos.

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

November 12, 2023November 12, 2023

“Leaving a lifelong mark on someone’s body is intriguing, but it comes with a significant sense of responsibility,” interview with tattoo artist, Arar

Tattoo artist Chulwoo – AKA Arar (@tattooist_arar) – is based in Seoul, South Korea. He’s been tattooing since 2017, and has become known for his teeny tiny, super delicate tattoos with fine lines and a watercolour wash. Here the tattoo artist tells us his story about how he found tattooing in a country that hasn’t always been accepting of them…

Tell us about what made you fall in love with tattoos?

I loved illustration and aspired to work in that field. But, while browsing online one day, I stumbled upon some photos of tattoos created by a Korean tattoo artist – it was a profound revelation for me. The tattoos were incredibly small and intricately detailed, shattering my preconceived notions about tattoos.

Seeing that work made me realise the significant similarities between tattoos and illustrations. From that point on, I delved deeper into the world of tattoos, and it ultimately led me to decide to pursue a career in tattooing.

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

No, I wasn’t interested in tattoos when I was young. At that time, tattoos were not yet commonplace among Koreans, so I had a bias, thinking they would only be large and somewhat intimidating. That was until I saw small and intricately detailed mini tattoos.

How long have you been tattooing for? How did you train to become a tattoo artist?

Next year marks the eighth year since I started tattooing. When I first began, I didn’t have a defined drawing style, so I spent a lot of time honing my skills. I believed that – even as a less experienced tattoo artist – if I could create uniquely creative designs that others couldn’t find elsewhere, clients would reach out after seeing my work.

Back then, I was in a situation where nothing was guaranteed, and it made me quite anxious, but drawing became a way to alleviate that anxiety. I spent roughly 10 to 12 hours drawing each day. I learned tattooing from a Korean tattoo artist. It was a three-month learning period, with one month dedicated to receiving feedback on my drawings and the remaining two months practicing on rubber sheets with a tattoo machine.

How would you describe your style of tattooing?

My tattoo style revolves around drawing small and cute elements in my own way. I cover a wide range of themes, with a focus on subjects related to family, animated characters and pets. Using thin fine lines, I create clean outlines, and I enhance the drawings with light washes of pastel watercolours.

What’s been your favourite tattoo you’ve done?

I remember the first tattoo I ever did for a client. It was a tattoo featuring geometric elements, a rabbit and flowers. Because it was my first time tattooing someone else, it held special significance for me. Additionally, she’d chosen to book with me solely because she liked my design, despite my lack of experience in tattooing. So, it carries a great deal of meaning for me.

Do you tattoo lots of tourists who’ve travelled for your work?

Yes! A large number of foreigners are visiting, especially after the end of the pandemic, as travel restrictions have eased. Guests from a variety of countries are coming in now that travel restrictions due to Covid have relaxed.

How long is your wait list? How do customers book in?

It varies depending on the timing, but I generally reply promptly when I receive a message. I don’t keep a waiting list, so if you send a message through Instagram DM @tattooist_arar that works.

What are the rules for tattooing in South Korea? Is tattooing underground or becoming more mainstream nowadays?

Back when I started tattooing, it wasn’t popular in Korea. However, now it has become so widespread and mainstream that there are even TV programs dedicated to tattoos. With the increasing fame of Korean tattoos, I’ve come to realise the impact as people from around the world are coming to Korea to get tattoos.

What’s the best way for customers to come up with an idea for you? Do you offer flash or prefer custom work?

I mostly work on custom designs. I ask clients to provide reference images or rough sketches that I can use as a starting point. Requesting visual references is essential because written descriptions might lead to a significant difference in the design direction between what I envision and what they have in mind. Therefore, I insist on detailed explanations through images.

Do you ever do guest spots?

Yes. In 2023, I travelled to several countries for the first time. In January, I visited Singapore, followed by Hong Kong in March. After that, I spent two months in Paris, Frankfurt, Berlin and London. It was truly an amazing experience.

What are your hopes and plans for the future?

I want to travel to more diverse countries for guest tattooing, and I also aspire to create new styles of designs. I hope to continually draw pictures that people will like and designs that captivate my own interest.

What’s been your proudest moment so far?

It brings me great joy to have people from abroad, who have been following me for years on Instagram, come to Korea and get tattoos from me.

What do you think about the tattoo world itself?

Tattooing is a highly captivating profession. Leaving a lifelong mark on someone’s body is intriguing, but it comes with a significant sense of responsibility.

With the growing number of talented and unique tattoo artists, I feel the need to work even harder to stand out in the field.

Make sure you follow @tattooist_arar for more miniature tattoos

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

June 24, 2022

The little cottage: tattoo artist Ovenlee

Ovenlee creates cottage-style tattoos at Ovl Studio in Seoul, South Korea. We chatted to Ovenlee about her journey into the tattoo world, what inspires her colourful tattoos and what it’s like to tattoo in South Korea…

How long have you been tattooing? Around four years, I started in the summer of 2018.

How did you become a tattooist? What made you want to be one? I was a student at art college majoring in ceramic crafts and design when I got my first tattoo.

The day I got my tattoo I fell in love with it and tattooing. I was charmed by the craft and I loved the idea that someon else could have one of my paintings on them for the rest of their life.

After that I became interested in tattoos and my friend, who was a tattooist at the time, said I should become one too. He told me that my drawings would make very special tattoos.

It was then that I knew I wanted to learn how to tattoo. Luckily I came across Soltattoo who was advertising for a student, so I contacted him and he became my teacher.

What does tattooing mean to you? It is a medium that allows me to bring together the memories of myself and the people I tattoo. When I paint a picture using my own memories and experiences my customers can also attach a meaning to the image that’s unique to them.

We meet through my paintings and that’s how we share each other’s stories.

What inspires your work? I get inspired by objects in my daily life and things I remember. I enjoy taking photographs in my free time and sometimes I bring motifs from them into my work. I can also get inspired by verses from my favorite songs.

What do you like to tattoo? I love cute animals and flowers!

How would you describe your style? I think my paintings and tattoos are in a fairytale and cottage core style. The objects I depict evoke memories and I draw them in warm colours. In terms of the practical side of tattooing I mainly use colour ink.

The thing that makes my tattoos different is that I don’t add contrast with black ink. The design is done with just colour ink.

So after the tattoo heals the colours don’t look dark, but instead appear transparent and clear. I think they heal more naturally without black ink being added.

The tattoo becomes a part of the body more like skin; this is what I like the most about my work.

Can you tell us about your proudest moment in your career? I always feel super proud when I can offer comfort to my clients with one of my tattoos.

I had a client who wanted a tattoo of her cat who had died a few years ago. Through her tattoo and the appointment we shared many stories and she found comfort. When I can share stories like this through my paintings I feel very proud of my job.

Why are tattoos so special? Tattoos are the best way I can describe and express myself. I have several tattoos and these explain my life, the person I am and my life’s motto.

Can you tell us about tattoo culture in Korea? In the past, Korea was a very conservative society where tattoos were considered to belong to gang members and men. Because of this people with tattoos were not given as many job opportunities and celebrities on TV had to hide their tattoos.

Recently a lot of young people have seen tattoos as a way to express themselves and so various tattoo styles have appeared and a tattoo trend is rising. Unlike in the past, colour and mini tattoos are becoming more common and now young women are getting them (more than 98% of my customers are female).

As tattoos become more common more artists are flowing into the tattoo world and more genres are emerging. This makes me really happy. Older people still have a bad perception of tattoos, but now tattoos don’t seem to have much of an impact on finding a job and celebrities on TV shows don’t feel obligated to cover up.

However, in Korea, tattooing is considered a medical practice. A group of tattooists called the ‘Tattoo Union’ is working hard to fix this. As people around the world pay attention to Korea’s tattoo technology and styles, I hope they will pay attention to this issue as well.

When are you happiest? I am very happy when I spend time with my cat and listen to my favourite songs. A lot of ideas for my tattoos comes to mind at times like this!

Also, I am happy when those who have received my work send me a thank you message. There were customers who said they found hope and courage when they looked at their tattoos and others who were grateful that they have memories they could remember for the rest of their lives. My heart bursts when I think about it and I’m at my happiest at times like this.

Make sure to follow @ovenlee.tattoo for more colourful tattoos.

February 20, 2022August 4, 2022

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.

April 10, 2021April 10, 2021

Interview with Artem Koro

A tattoo artist and keen traveller Artem Koro creates incredible tattoo compositions. We caught up with Artem to learn more about his avant-garde tattooing and love for the craft…

I have always been attracted to the trade and have been a tattoo artist for the past six years. I first got tattooed when I was 14 years old and at 28 I realised that I could combine my love of tattoos and travelling the world into one profession. I then set out to become a tattoo artist.

I would define my style as avant-garde. It’s a style that has evolved and continues to evolve. That’s something that is very important to me; it’s important that my style and myself will continue to constantly develop. I don’t believe in staying in one place in terms of style and what I create.

I think it is very important to note that there is always some growth in my art. Development is the root of success as is growing as an artist.

I get inspiration from many aspects of life, including music, movies and places I have visited. I get lot of inspiration from nature, my roots and where I grew up (in the Middle East). For example, a lot of my textures and compositions are inspired by desert areas, Middle Eastern music, patterns on carpets etc.

Each appointment can take a full day, but the tattoo itself will take between three and six hours maximum. I like a darker atmosphere in my tattoos, and these days I prefer to work with black ink only. I try to perform work with a high contrast so that the tattoo will last for a long time in the best way possible.

I like to design animals that are not seen every day as well as different textures and unusual compositions. I also like to emphasise the aesthetics and flow of the shape of the body.

In the first two months of the pandemic it was very difficult for me to create and it affected my work. But over time I tried to keep doing the things I love in general (not only tattoos), and eventually this blockage passed. I can say I have remained active for the past year which has helped.

I cannot imagine life without tattoos. My life has changed 180 degrees since I started doing this work. It is very difficult for me to describe in words how much the world of tattoos has affected me. I believe it would be impossible to understand this feeling without experiencing it yourself.

Make sure you follow Artem on Instagram for more awesome avant-garde tattoos.