Debbie

What made you want to become a Tattoo Artist?
In the beginning I didn’t really start out by wanting to become a tattoo artist. I was in my 4th year in an art university and was so focused in school but at the same time I needed a part time job as well. So i was searching for a part time job and I found out that hontattoo was looking for an apprentice and i thought it would be a good part time job since it relates with art

Where or who do you turn to for inspiration?
For sure our boss Shark. I’m not saying this because he is my boss but i have worked in many places but working with Shark for 2 years together, he not only taught me about the Tattoo industry but also about social life and business.

Tell us about your experience training as a Tattoo Artist?
For sure it can be rough. I would say being a Tattoo Artist is one of the toughest careers that one can choose. I will be explaining more in depth in the last question but it is worth it. I would say all artist and managers have really impacted my artistic progress since they consistently encouraged me to improve and work harder.

How many Tattoos do you have & which is your favourite?
I have 10 tattoos in total. I would say my favorite tattoo is the tiger on my back shoulder. It is not complete yet but it was done by one of my favorite Artists.

What do you find yourself doing after a long day at the studio?
Relaxing and chilling with my friends. Even though at work, socializing takes a huge part but chilling and socializing with friends who have known me for a long time helps me relax mentally.

Which artists do you look up to?
Master Shark, Charles Saucier from Imperial tattoo and bran.d tattoo.

How do you stay on top of new trends?
I always look at the new posts with my favorite Artists on instagram.

Do you have a favourite Tattoo Piece you worked on? If so, why does it stand out to you?
Micro joker tattoo on a forearm. It required a lot more attention and focus to capture all the little details but also needed to focus on the skin – not to overwork the skin.

What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?
Advice that I would give is that in the Tattoo industry, you can’t really survive in this field without a huge passion for it. Tattooing requires many different skills. From the basic – drawing, understanding the skin, or understanding all the Tattoo related supplies. Then to the complication – understanding and communicating with the clients properly, always building up your skills, or how to sell your work using social media. Tattooing in general is very mentally and physically exhausting but if you have the passion for it, it will keep you going.

Chris Lee

What made you want to become a Tattoo Artist?
A coworker I used to work with recommended a tattoo, so I got pulled into this business without much knowledge of what it was.

Where or who do you turn to for inspiration?
I take daily feeds from instagram/pinterest posts for inspiration.

Tell us about your experience training as a Tattoo Artist? Who made the largest impact on your artistic progress?
It was very strange and new but it got better. Shark helps new artists to get better so he’s the one.

How many Tattoos do you have & which is your favourite?
I have a palm sized face of an eagle on my leg, that’s the only one so far, I will get more eventually to find out.

What do you find yourself doing after a long day at the studio?
I usually just go and work on the next project but I do watch/read informative content online whenever I have the chance.

Do you have any mentors you look up to?
I have Shark and coworkers as mentors.

How do you stay on top of new trends?
I take inspirations from popular instagram posts of artists/influencers.

Do you have a favourite Tattoo Piece you worked on? If so, why does it stand out to you?
I like the recent hand tattoo I did recently, it’s just very different compared to other stuff I did so it was a unique experience.

What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?
It’s not as fancy as what most people would expect these days, there’s tons of responsibility and efforts that you can’t just simply ignore. But sometimes it’s rewarding and feels like it’s worth having this experience