Tag: Tattoo artist

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Interview with tattoo artist Nicola Asura

Nicola Asura creates surreal blackwork tattoos at Lightbearer Tattoo in Graz, Austria. We chat to the artist to find out more about the process behind his large scale pieces, what inspires his work and future plans…

How long have you been a tattoo artist and how did you get into the industry? I’ve been tattooing for around five years now. I made my first contact with tattooing culture when I got into the post/hardcore music scene 10 years ago. Seeing all those band members covered in ink sparked my interest in tattooing as an art form.

Do you have a background in art? Coming from a very creative family, both my parents were architects, I grew up with a pen in my hand. I always enjoyed doodling on everything I could find, although I would say that there is a big difference in doodling and really mindfully learning how to actually draw.

A year into tattooing (four years ago) I made the decision to see art and drawing as a full time job. I made the move to become the artist I imagined myself to be.

Instead of just doodling mindlessly I made a plan to get better at drawing which included:

  • Choosing a specific topic (birds at that time)
  • Limiting myself to only draw that topic.
  • Learning everything about the topic through books, videos and studying how they move, their anatomy etc.
  • Drawing and sketching mindfully 6-8 hours every day, at least five days a week

Very quickly I started to see progress. Soon I wasn’t only getting better at drawing birds, but also other things, because I grasped the concept of learning how to get better at drawing. For me, this system worked.

Why did you want to become a tattooist? Before I got into tattoos my dream was to become a concept artist for Blizzard (Video Game Company) and draw orcs and other creatures for a living.

When I got into tattooing I realised that there were artists that came up with their own creature designs to decorate the body and naturally I was more drawn to that, than the video game direction.

How would you describe your style of work? Surreal creature elements cast on skin in a bioorganic way so it complements and works well with individual body shapes. Or just blackwork, for the more broader term.

How has your work evolved since you started tattooing? My style, if I can call it that, currently evolves at a very rapid pace. Back when I started out my tattoos were more stiff, stickeresque and bold.

Nowadays the priority of all my design processes is aligning the concept on skin with the body shape to create a certain flow. My work is definitely more fluid and open than a few years ago.

Can you tell us about the process behind your large scale pieces? Every client of mine, when I am not on a guestspot, has to come in for a consultation before we meet for the first tattoo session.

During that consultation the client will tell me their idea, placement and size. Then I know if I am up for the motif and idea, I can tell them how I envision the idea in my head and how that will or won’t work with their idea of placement and size. It’s a very important dialogue that has to be had in person. That way my client and myself, can speak our minds and figure out a baseline for our future project.

After making sure we are on the same page regarding the concept I’ll take pictures of the body part. Either I print out the picture, or trace it with paper from my iPad. I always start out drawing traditionally with graphite and tracing paper which I can have multiple layers of.

Once I have a concept on paper that I feel completely satisfied with I then take a picture and import it into the procreate app. This allows me to very quickly experiment with changing shapes and sizes of certain parts in the drawing.

As I, most of the time, work freehand (no stencil, drawing on skin), I don’t need to make a stencil so having this concept visualised is already more than enough for me to work with. On the day of the tattoo I’ll show my client the rough concept which I then draw on skin, layering it with multiple coloured pens.

This allows me to really work with body lines and shapes making sure I can make the most out of every project with my knowledge at that moment in time.

What’s your favourite subject to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? The themes that I always love to dive into are fantasy, creature design, surrealism and flora / fauna.

Usually I just take something from each theme and mush it into one design concept, it always depends on my client’s idea!

What’s the tattoo scene like where you are? Currently I am located in my hometown Graz, in Austria. There are few contemporary tattoo studios, it is definitely more on the quiet side concerning tattoos compared to other cities.

Do you have any guest spots or travel planned? For now I am quite cosy in my resident studio, maybe some trips to Berlin this year!

Can you tell us about your own tattoo collection? Are you a collector and do you have any future tattoo plans? I did collect a lot of tattoos from artists I admire. Anrijs Straume (UK), Stefan Halbwachs (AT) and Gara (KR) for example. Gerhard Wiesbeck (DE) and I started my bodysuit to cover/blastover lots of older tattoos, so that is still ongoing and takes a lot of time.

What’s been your proudest moment in your career so far? The proudest and best moments are always meeting other likeminded passionate (possibly even obsessed) tattoo artists and delving into tattoo techniques, machines and ways we can shape the body together.

These talks are precious to me as I love to get lost in those topics and have long conversations where our eyes light up as we’re sharing knowledge and learning more from and about each other.

What do you do when you’re not tattooing? Drawing and preparing for tattoos. Also being out in nature with my dog Aslan, bouldering (indoors/outdoors) and playing video games.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Hopefully doing bodysuits. I’d love to work on full body concepts, creating surreal creature landscapes on skin that you can see and make out from further away.

Follow @nicolaasura for more fantasty tattoos and large scale pieces.

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Interview with tattoo artist: Dino

Tattooist @dino_oriental creates striking blackwork tattoos with red constrasts at @10kf_Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA. We chatted to the artist about his recognisable style, journey into the industry and plans for the future…

How long have you been a tattoo artist, how did you get into the industry and why did you want to become one? I have been making tattoos for about eight years. I was a professional Korean soccer player before I became a tattoo artist.

Unfortunately, I had to have six surgeries on my left ankle which meant I couldn’t play soccer any more. I should have had a back up career ready but I found my second career a little later.

I have liked getting tattooed since I was young and my favourite soccer player, who played for Liverpool in the English Premier League, became a tattoo artist. Seeing this I became motivated to emulate his life and career, I then chose a job as a tattoo artist for my second life. So, I studied, watched YouTube videos, searched the internet, bought machines and supplies, and started my second life as a tattoo artist.

How would you describe your style of work? All of my designs are based on the traditional Japanese painting ‘Ukiyo-e’. Many of these traditional paintings resemble and feature legends and historical stories, which is why I get a lot of my inspiration from these traditional paintings.

I also like pictures that have a strong contrast. That’s why I usually use red colour ink to create a strong contrast between the black and red. I try to create a beautiful and strong atmosphere by using brush lines accompanied by many other lines. This helps to create a classic yet sophisticated feeling in my work.

Does your Korean heritage influence your art? I mainly do traditional Japanese style tattoos, but I get a lot of inspiration from Korean history and paintings. Japan and Korea have a similar history. Sometimes I get some of my ideas from traditional Korean paintings and study how the paint works.

When I lived in Korea I visited Korean temples; each temple has various traditional murals and I found inspiration in them. As I said above, most of my designs are based on the traditional Japanese painting Ukiyo-e, but I can also get a lot of inspiration and ideas from Korean heritage.

You typically tattoo in black and red ink, can you tell us more about this? I like art to have astrong contrast. A few years ago I went to the London Tattoo Convention to study the work of other artists. Looking at the body suit contest I spotted one model in particular who was tattooed in a style I liked the most and wanted to create. The tattoo had a very strong contrast, and it was very clear and intense even from a distance.

So, I tried to find a way that I could make this kind of contrast my tattooing style. I wanted to make it beautiful so choose red as I think it’s a beautiful and intense colour. I also like using the red to create a strong contrast, intensity and beauty when it harmonises with black.

What’s your favourite subject to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? I like to tattoo dragons the most. Although sometimes when I tattoo the dragon’s shadow the scales drive me crazy or I feel bored as I have to make hundreds of scales. But the sense of accomplishment and the look of the design is ultimately really cool and beautiful.

Also dragons are interesting to learn about, I like finding different styles of dragons. They’re mythical, legendary animals whose appearance is individual to the East or West or even each artist. I want to make my own style of dragon to feature on murals, bowls, clothes etc.

What’s the tattoo scene like in LA? I’m living a very satisfying life here, making tattoos for now. There are so many artists and special and unique people in LA. As such, there are a lot of tattoo shops, and there are great artists in various tattooing categories. Everyone likes to enjoy the tattooed life, it allows them to express their indivulaity and capture precious moments and things on their bodies.

There are people from different countries here which makes for fun tattoo projects. While talking to them, I learn their country’s culture and I can make tattoos that resemble their meanings for them. A project that starts with new people and people who like my work, always makes me excited and happy.

Do you have any guest spots or travelling planned? My plans start with the Philadelphia Convention in January. I then have plans to tour Asia in March, New York in May and Europe in July and September. I’ll be at conventions and doing guest spots.

I haven’t been able to travel as much as I would have liked, so I’m keen to get travelling again. It’s a good challenge in my career and allows me to create interesting prjects with lots of different people.

Can you tell us about your own tattoo collection? Are you a collector and do you have any future tattoo plans? I have tattoos almost all over my body, but I got most of my tattoos from my tattoo artist friends, my wife and I did some myself. 

My legs have a lot of cover-up tattoos because while I was learning to tattoo I tried various designs on myself. I also have a lot of blackwork on my upper body as I did blackwork style tattoos being I did traditional Japanese tattooing.

I have got a lot of my tattoos from my Korean friends and friends I have met while travelling. They’re all precious to me. In fact, I’ve forgotten the names of some of the tattooers who have tattooed me, but I still like to look at those tattoos and reminisce. I’ll continue to travel round the world and get tattoos from my good friends and artists.

What’s been your proudest moment in your career so far? My happiest and proudest moment was when I won first prize at the Taiwan Tattoo Convention. Amazing artists from all over the world attended and I was very happy that my efforts were rewarded when I won first place in the contest.

Some artists may not like these events, but for me, conventions motivate me and allow me to set goals to move towards. Looking at the works of countless great artists helps me see the differences between our works. I find my shortcomings, get ideas and things to try in my next tattoo. I feel like I can gradually find my own style.

What do you do when you’re not tattooing? When I don’t get tattoos, I enjoy doing things that inspire me or exercising. I play golf, go mountain climbing or exhibitions with my wife. I also like to talk with her and organise my thoughts. Because she’s also a tattoo artist, we understand each other, give advice, and have many conversations and hobbies together.

Also, due to the nature of my job, I have to sit down and work for a long time, so exercise is essential to me and it gives me a lot of energy. I am always organising my thoughts and making plans so that I can move forward with my goals.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I’ll probably have my own shop in LA and keep working on tattoos. I want to collaborate with the artists that I like and respect not just tattooing but other artistic outlets. My small goal is to not stop moving forward, not just in tattooing but in language studios and painting. I want to keep attending conventions and travelling the world. I’m sure in five years time I will be more developed and mature in all my abilities.

Follow @dino_oriental for more incredible tattoos and travel plans.

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Tattoo artist interview: Bazhen Nikitin

Bazhen Nikitin, creates medieval inspired etching tattoos in Ufa city in Russia. We chat to the tattooist about his style, journey into the tattoo world and flash designs…

How long have you been tattooing and how did you get started in the industry? I have been tattooing for eight years. When I was 18, I got my first tattoo and I instantly fell in love with it.

After that I chose to pursue a career in tattooing and I began to study how to tattoo. Around a year later after lots of learning and practice I completed my first tattoo. I haven’t stopped tattooing since then.

What inspired you to become an artist? Do you have a background in art? I have always enjoyed drawing, and I began consistently drawing when I was 13 years old. I used to like drawing anything and everything, and could spend hours doing it. After completing high school, I enrolled at a design university, where I studied for about two years.

At the same time I was really enjoying my job as a tattoo artist, it exceeded my expectations. Tattooing was already providing me with a substantial income, so I dropped out of college to focus on my profession.

What inspires your designs? I am very obsessed with old medieval engravings and etchings. Many of them look a bit odd, even so I find them to be rather beautiful.

What do you like to tattoo and what would you like to do more of? I enjoy creating unique-looking creatures of my own design. I have developed my own style of tattooing. There is nothing else I would like to do more of, as I am already exclusively working on my own projects.

I want to feel unrestrained when I am developing new designs, so I don’t do custom designs because they consume my creativity. All of my customers just choose from designs inspired by my own creativity.

Can you tell us about the process behind your tattoos? Everything is based primarily on the design. Discussing details with the client is, in my opinion, the most critical step in designing and applying body art. Then, it is essential to set up the station so that both I and my client are comfortable during the potentially lengthy session. I have my own way of arranging my station so that everything is easily accessible. After the tattoo is completed, I clean it, take pictures and apply aftercare.

How do you see your tattoos evolving in the future? Artists with distinctive styles will be in high demand and personal branding will undoubtedly be a major trend in the world of tattooing. People will seek out tattoo artists whose style is distinguishable and recognisable.

I have already accomplished a great deal in this industry due to my unique style and my large customer base, so, I feel confident in my future as a tattoo artist.

What was your first tattoo and do you still like it? How has your tattoo collection grown since then? My very first tattoo was a flash design created by a local artist. I can’t say I enjoy looking at it, but I have no regrets regarding the tattoos I have.

Now that I know many outstanding tattoo artists from all over the world, I get tattooed by them. The majority of my body is already covered in tattoos, but I don’t think I’ll stop until I’m completely covered.

Where has been your favourite place to travel and tattoo? I frequently visit Saint Petersburg. It is a truly special city populated by a large number of open-minded individuals who make it a joy to collaborate with on a daily basis.

Do you have any travels or guest spots planned? In the past five years, I have spent a significant amount of time traveling to various locations and tattooing. I appreciate working with individuals from other countries, but at this stage in my life, I want to settle down for a while and have greater stability.

Therefore, I currently have no guest spots planned. In the future, I may continue traveling and working as a guesting tattoo artist because I do enjoy it.

What’s the tattoo scene like where you are? When I first began tattooing eight years ago, it was significantly worse than it is now. In my hometown at the time, there were only three well-known tattoo artists, so the options were limited. Starting out as a tattoo artist was filled with many challenges. Nevertheless, I did not give up.

I’ve traveled to various places and countries, and I communicate and exchange tattooing techniques with numerous renowned tattoo artists. I became more powerful and excellent as a result of mastering a variety of tattoo techniques and incorporating great tattoo elements into my design.

Now that I have extensive tattooing experience, I am a well-known and recognised tattoo artist in my country. I’ve also seen that each year, a growing number of new tattoo artists choose this profession. I am delighted by the expansion of the tattoo industry and I am willing to impart my expertise of tattoos to future generations. I’ve taught numerous apprentices in the tattoo industry, it’s a fantastic opportunity to grow and improve the tattoo industry.

What do you do when you’re not tattooing/drawing? I spend most of my time drawing and tattooing, but in my free time I enjoy walking through nearby parks. This refreshes and inspires me.

What moment in your career are you most proud of? I am proud of how I’ve developed my own distinct style. I believe that an exceptional tattoo artist is able to maintain his or her unique style. I’m delighted that so many people appreciate my style and seek me out for tattoos. I am also very pleased to be tattooing only the patterns and designs that I am willing to create.

I was invited to take part in ArtStation II International 2021 as one of the tattoo masters in 2021. It was and is a worldwide interactive exhibition in which many renowned tattoo artists and professionals from countries such as Russia, the United States, and Europe, among others, participated. To reach this stage in my career has required great dedication and effort.

Follow Bazhen Nikitin for more etched creatures and tattoos.

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Tattoo Smarter: Kezz Richardson

Burnout, working all hours, undercharging for tattoos. Does this sound familiar? Kerry-Anne Richardson (Kezz) is an autistic tattooer of 15 years and owner of Cock A Snook Tattoo Parlour who’s here to help you find that sweet spot when it comes to the tattooer’s work life balance. Read on to find out how Tattoo Smarter can change your life…

What is Tattoo Smarter? Ooof, where do I start, I guess superficially you could say it’s a brand (brand?! Who the fuck do I think I am!) I created to help other tattooers, but to be honest it’s deeper than that.  I wanted a way to make a positive impact in the industry that goes beyond making tattoos. 

I guess Tattoo Smarter is a way to channel my love for tattooing into a practical form. Problem solving and sharing are my love language/traits of my autistic brain. 

Why did you launch Tattoo Smarter? Short version: I was fucking sick of seeing tattooers drown in toxic bullshit and treating each other poorly. Long version: I struggled myself. A LOT and I’ve seen so many other tattooers struggle a lot too…but nobody wants to talk about it.

As much as I love tattooing and the beautiful life it’s provided me, it’s been a fucking hard slog and I’m not ashamed to admit it. There’s an ingrained opinion in tattooing that we should ‘put up and shut up’. Part of why I struggled is the toxic messaging that’s so deep rooted in the industry. What’s accepted as normal isn’t fucking normal. It’s HARMFUL.

Work every hour you have? Hate other studios? Don’t complain!? Don’t charge more than other tattooers? Do every tattoo that comes through the door? Be your client’s therapist? WTF?! No thanks tattooing hun, we can do better. 

So, I guess to summarise – I was fed up of being a ‘good girl’ one that’s expected to parrot something like “I turned my passion into a job so I’ll never worked a day in my life”. We need to ditch that narrative asap and start being more authentic. 

Tattooing is a hard job and if we don’t look after ourselves it’s a recipe for misery WHEN IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.  I made Tattoo Smarter to connect with other tattooers that feel this way too. Others that want better for themselves and each other. 

How long have you been running it? Not long at all! I drew the logo at the beginning of May this year and launched my first course, albeit quietly a few months ago. It’s been like a whirlwind. I never expected as much support or traction as I’ve had. Not complaining, it just further cements that’s I’m doing the right thing.

I know your priority is helping tattooers with their self care and boundaries – what are the things that happened in your own life to make you think this was needed? Burnout on repeat. (And I know I’m not alone in this).

I towed the line and tried to do everything the same as other tattooers and I just couldn’t, I had no idea I was autistic and kept having to take breaks from tattooing because I was so overwhelmed all the time. 

When I recently came back to tattooing after a break, I had a fresh perspective on advocating for myself. I knew the changes I needed to make to keep myself safe. My systems and processes have been born out of necessity and I realised these processes could help so many other tattooers too. 

Why do you think the tattoo industry doesn’t have more regulation and guidance? Because there are still a metric fucktonne of people who directly benefit from their privilege and it being unregulated/under the radar. There are so many people learning from people who don’t know any better and loads of people treating tattooing like it’s a hobby and their clients as friends.

It’s where we get our income so we need to treat it as our business. We need more boundaries between our personal and professional.

The community is fractured and as of yet we’ve not had everyone pulling in the same direction. We’ve also got a lot of non-tattoo people coming into our industry to make money. This dilutes our craft massively and blurs the lines even more. 

Why is now the time for change? Not my quote but if not now? When?? Maybe add a ‘fucking’ in there to make it sound like me!

What are the things you personally would like to see change in the industry? Holy fuck where do I start? Racism, misogyny, ableism, gate-keeping, the unprofessionalism, hustle harm (that’s my term for it) the cliqueness, glamourising the grind, the insane undercharging for tattoos?!

Parts of it are akin to a minging car crash I’ve seen happening in slow motion. I don’t want anyone to think tattooing isn’t mint, because it is. But I don’t want to change the good stuff – just the shit that makes it shady and not inclusive. I want tattooers to be healthy and happy (not shells of humans surviving off Monsters and cocaine) with more money in their fucking pockets. I’m not trying to be the fun police, but the most fun is feeling safe and secure in your job. 

Do you think covid has changed the way the industry runs? The way the general public book tattoos and also how artists feel right now post pandemic? It has changed a lot. Firstly, over the pandemic so many self-employed and studio owners were let down and not supported financially by our (corrupt as fuck) government. Lots of people are still recovering from that lack of support. 

Secondly, it created a bubble, lots and lots of artists suddenly went from booking two weeks in advance to booking out three months. This was because lots of employed people on furlough ended up having spare cash and because nobody did any tattoos for ages, it created an inflated demand.

Unfortunately that bubble is bursting for many and as we head into a recession not dissimilar to 2008/9 on top of the (intentional) energy crisis lots of tattooers/studios won’t be prepared for this or even expect it. Clients are even more so than before expecting much cheaper tattoos because tattooers are undercutting each other and driving all the money out of tattooing. Tattoos are too cheap and they have been for ages – I want to change this.  

Ok give us the solid ways that tattooers can connect with you right now and what can they access on tattoo smarter? Both free and paid for resources? I do lots of Q&As in my Instagram (@tattoosmarter) stories where tattooers and piercers can ask me stuff confidentially and I share anonymously. I also get lots of messages through DM, don’t worry I’ve got boundaries with this – I encourage tattooers not to use DMs but this isn’t the same as tattoo clients I promise! 

Tattooers can join our Tattoo Smarter community slack chat, it’s completely free and essentially, it’s full of like-minded people in a group you can access on your phone etc. The ethos of this group is to be a decent fucking human, so lots of sharing, supporting and solidarity.  I’m really proud of it! 

I’ve free resources on why we need enquiry forms and how to make a form better. There’s also a free mini mindset course on boundaries

Paid stuff – a self-employed handbook that includes a checklist. So many Tattooers feel like they are winging it, and to be honest so many fucking are (I’ve been here too by the way). I made this so tattooers and piercers can atleast nail the basics- no more waking up at 2am in cold sweats –  it’s only £10.50 ‘n’ all. 

Your new course sounds brilliant and you’re right we’re at a point where we’re all moaning about Instagram and have gotten to a point where we rely too much on it. Is this what the course is about? Thank you! Well chuffed! Ok, so since these questions were written I’ve released another course, I told you I was excited! 

My ‘protect your Insta income course’ you’re referring to teaches tattooers how to connect directly to their clients without having to be a bloody mime act in the hope the algorithm will ‘pick them’.

So many tattooers just don’t have the time or the will to be fannying around making reels. Letting a social media platform control our income is soul destroying/unsustainable and I see in real time how much it is corroding our mental health. But, we have the ability to take control instead of gambling on likes and engagement. So that’s what the course is: two fingers up to Insta I guess.

But my new course? Oh maaaaannn, this is the one I’m most excited for. I pretty much start vibrating every time I talk about it. 

My ‘Get Booked, Bells n Whistles Booking‘ is me teaching tattooers my own personal booking process. Tried and tested and tattooer (me) developed. It does EVERYTHING bar cooking your tea when you get home…

  • It takes deposits
  • It sends reminders 
  • It covers all your cancellation policies and pre tattoo info 
  • It stops you undercharging
  • It fucking organises everything so you feel calm and look like a stone cold professional for your clients. I mean not just look it – become MORE profesh. Being professional adds to your value, more value means you can charge more. 
  • It stops all the time wasting with emails back and forth, I can literally do 20 requests in an hour. 

I don’t want to use the word magic but I dunno how I managed before this process. And I’m not a tech person either (I’m a tech-nanna). I’m a tattoo person so any issues and struggles you have had, I’ve made this with those in mind. 

My first intake is discounted at £199 for the course to say thank you to those who have supported what I’m trying to do, it starts in November. After that it will be £350 (I know some people think that’s expensive but it’s the same price as some tattoo machines). It’s an investment. The time and stress it saves is INVALUABLE and will make you just as much as a new tattyzapper ever will. Also send me any questions you have  via DM if you need more info!

What are some of the ways you protect and look after your own mental health? Having boundaries and being kind to myself. Mycology, I bloody love hunting and categorising mushrooms and writing lists of my finds. Lots and lots of alone time, I need non-verbal days, days without demands and lots of quiet. Not the easiest with having my own studio granted. But having efficient work systems has been one of the biggest changing points in my mental health. Not wasting time and energy on stuff has changed my outlook entirely. I’m so excited by it I just want to share it with anyone who will listen.

We’ve talked about the boys’ club before haven’t we, and how hard it can be trying to cut through that. Can you explain a little more about this part of the industry that the general public might not understand? I guess the boys’ club stuff happens in all industries to be honest as it’s still cis white men as the majority and at the top of everything. So I think most people who don’t identify as this will understand to some extent. Many marginalised tattooers and ones who want to be allys are scared to speak up because it goes against the grain. Big name tattooers and organisers have the ability to end someone’s career just as much as make it, then others follow suit so they “get picked”.

Unfortunately the misogyny in our industry is perpetuated by lots of the women too. This patriarchal bullshit hurts EVERYBODY in the long run.

What’s next for Tattoo Smarter and what’s next for Kezz? Some stuff in the pipeline regarding training that everyone should have, but doesn’t. There’s loads of stuff I wanna do but right now the courses I have will keep me busy. Also I’m in the middle of buying a house.

Is there anything else you want to say about what you do that we haven’t asked you about? I just wanted to tell people to start believing in themselves and to stop comparing themselves to other tattooers as everyone’s tattoo journey is different. The best way to help ourselves is to be proactive and if we are regularly complaining or unhappy we need to realise we have the power to do something about it.

Tattooing can be better if we all pull together. I’m here to help.

Make sure to follow @tattoosmarter for more advice and resources.

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Interview with tattoo artist SOP

Tattooist SOP works in Yeonhui-dong, Seoul where he creates beautifully delicate linework and handwritten tattoos. We chat to the artist about his style and life as a tattooer in South Korea…

How long have you been a tattoo artist? It’s already been six years since I started working as a tattoo artist. Without taking a break, I started this job right after I completed my mandatory military service.

Why did you want to become a tattoo artist? Do you have a background in art? I have studied art since middle school. I majored in sculpture, after I studied art in high school and chose to do the same major in college.

I knew about tattooing before I did fine art, but I never considered it for a career. During high school we had a career counselling day, especially for fine art students, run by the vice principal. He told me that tattooing existed as a job and after that I became interested in tattoo artists. I’m still grateful to the vice principal for giving me that advice.

How would you describe your work? I hope my tattoos look like an accessory rather than a typical tattoo. They’re not noticeable because they’re thin and small, but that makes them more precious and special.

As we wear our favourite accessories all over our bodies, my tattoos are the one and only accessory that’s for the rest of our life.

This is my attitude towards tattooing and I will continue to work with this belief. In addition I think my delicate work is so attractive, so much so that it can have a positive effect on people even if they think tattoos are scary.

You create a lot of script tattoos, what can you tell us about these? The lettering tattoo designs that I make are with my own handwriting, which my clients choose to get tattooed with. I have loved handwriting since I was a kid, so when I started as a tattoo artist, I began making designs using my handwriting.

There are a lot of tattoo artists that work with existing typefaces or ones that aren’t their own, so I feel especially proud of my handwritten tattoos.

What drew you to linework rather than colour? Has your background influenced your style at all? I think black is the most basic and simple colour, and it can be seen for a long time without anyone getting tired of it. That’s why I was fascinated by black in the first place, and started to use only black ink.

As I mentioned earlier, I studied sculpture in art high school. However, during my school life, I enjoyed drawing small pictures, scribbling and handwriting rather than making sculptures. I have always liked the neatness of a black line drawing rather than drawings with colour.

I started tattooing by taking advantage of my strengths, and now I am very happy to be able to work with the things I have enjoyed since I was young.

Your tattoos are super delicate, what’s the process behind these? I think delicate tattoo designs are related to my personality – I enjoy organising and cleaning. People often think I’m a woman because of my work style, but I’m actually a man!

I’ve always admired works like dioramas and miniatures and I’m attracted to small and detailed things – I like to find the details when I look at things.

My tattoos are very thin which makes them special, unlike other tattooists I always use single needles so my work looks delicate and smooth.

It cheers me when my client gets one of my tattoos and says: “I’ve never seen such a thin tattoo before and I love it because it’s so thin.”

What inspires your tattoos and what do you like to create? My work is inspired by the details of things and is a result of me reinterpreting what I see. For example; paintings on signs, small designs on candy wrappers and patterns on clothes. I’m inspired by all of this and connect this with my tattoo designs.

As I like small and delicate things, I also like to make small sculptures or objects out of clay or assemble Lego. I also like to practise my handwriting by writing my favourite phrases. This helps me to evolve my handwriting into something new, especially if I’m tattooing the same words a lot – I think it’s very special.

What’s the tattoo culture like in South Korea? In Korea, older generations perceive tattoos in a negative way – they’re recognised as a part of the gangster culture. These perceptions are changing over time, and I think my cute little delicate work can have a positive impact. In fact, people from older generations have seen my tattoos and now have a better awareness and experience of tattoos. This opportunity makes me feel proud.

Do you have a tattoo experience that sticks out in your mind? I had a client who was a big fan of the legendary guitarist and austronomer Brian May, and at an astronomy lecture in Switzerland he autographed her arm. She wanted to get it tattooed, so she perfectly preserved it as she travelled back to Korea. I was able to tattoo his signature on her arm which was a very special and precious experience.

What’s been your proudest and happiest moment in your career so far? I studied art from middle school to high school and entered college as a sculpture major. But I dropped out of school after a year because I wanted to be a tattoo artist.

When I dropped out of college and told my parents that I would become a tattoo artist, they worried a lot. But now, my parents are more proud of me than anyone else and they show off my Instagram to their friends.

I’m very happy that I turned my parents’ worries into pride.

What do you do when you’re not tattooing/drawing? I like to go camping as I get a lot of inspiration from nature. While I’m quietly meditating complicated things get organised inside my head. Absorbing the sound of nature helps me get myself together especially while I’m working on tattoo designs.

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