From the Source: Interview with a Tattoo Artist
- Katherine Arkady
- Mar 5
- 9 min read
Updated: Mar 6
Introduction
Years ago, while working on a second manuscript, I had the idea of creating a tattoo artist character. At this point, I was sans tattoos, didn’t have any intention of getting a tattoo, and didn’t know the first thing about the process of getting a tattoo.
I know, great premise for writing an authentic character.
My friend Gabriel, however, was loaded with tattoos and was scheduled to get another on his bicep. An anime character whose name I couldn’t even begin to remember. Furthermore, I think the tattoo artist’s name was Alexis, or Alicia, or something with an A. And the tattoo shop was definitely in Dearborn…with “star” in its name?
See, the thing is, I was young and dumb in this phase of being a writer. I took notes but not great notes. I didn’t have a plan as I was a self-described “pantser” where I would let the world find me. I didn’t remember to put dates on anything and I didn’t remember to document the name of the artist or the name of the tattoo shop.
I’ll remember it, I told myself.
Narrator: She did not remember.
In fact, I ended up cutting the tattoo artist from the second manuscript. Toby still exists—now in a novella side project—but this interview was forgotten over the years. I was only able to pull it from the archived section of my memory banks when I was working on a new blog series.
So, behold friends, the premier of the blog series “From the Source.”
It’s intention is not to be the end all be all of research for your characters—I only used a few pieces of this interview to create Toby. The intention is to show you that professionals in their field are very likely to open up and chat about their passions.
You, the writer and researcher, just have to know what to ask and how to ask it and learn how to follow-up and follow the good nuggets of information that spark an idea for your story. AND DOCUMENT IT ALL <3
Did I do that in this interview? No. But I got better at it. And you will too.
The Interview with a Tattoo Artist
What is considered a full day for you?
I like doing one big piece a day or two small ones. I don't like to sacrifice my artwork. Some tattooers will go all day and fill it up but it's exhausting and kind of fucks with my mental health. It's anxiety that my artwork goes on people's skin forever. There's a lot of burnout.
We have complete control over our schedule and that's great for some but it can result in overbooking to accommodate others.
What is considered a slow day for you?
When I have a cancellation. I get sad if I have too many cancellations.
What is the standard cancellation range?
I mean some things can't be planned. Just so long as I know right when you know so I can arrange my schedule.
No call no show sucks.
Do you have slow seasons?
February is our slowest month. That's because it's before tax season. Tax season is our busiest time of year.
This also depends on my demographic. My 18-24 clients are away at college so most of my appointments come in the summer.
What do you do in those slow seasons?
I was learning new forms of art. I wasn't sure when I was going to tattoo again so I found a new plan doing wood burning.
A lot of tattooers ride motorcycles and travel. Dating makes things difficult because tattooers are always on their own schedule and could potentially be booked out for the next three months.
Booked out?
Booked out is what everyone wants to be with a full schedule and clients wanting to come in.
Depends on the person, it's February and I'm booked through April. I still have some on the waitlist.
How long was your apprenticeship?
Six months. That's on the short end. Most are for a year. It's kind of based on skill level. You're at the will of the shop you go to. Whomever runs the place is who controls it.
I was working for free at the shop so I worked delivery jobs when I wasn't working there to make up for the money I wasn't making. I worked eighteen hour days.
What is your least favorite type of client?
Karens. Very particular types that know what they like and will abuse me into feeling my ten years of tattooing is worth nothing.
Or off the street people that want a type of tattoo now. Like I can't just draw it, my priorities are elsewhere and you don't want a rushed tattoo.
If you had a nickel for every time you heard (Blank), you would be rich. What is that thing?
Can you make it any smaller? How small can you go?
Does your hand cramp?
Oh yeah, all the time. You don't realize how much it messes up your hand until you go a full-time week of tattoos.
My back, arms and legs were sore too. From sitting! I don't have that much tape around the handle because it's a more comfortable rotary handle.
Do you have exercises for your hand or wrists to manage this work?
Yoga is helpful. Good stretches.
Are people allergic to ink?
Not extremely and not to black. One reacted to a specific color. Symptoms can include heavy bleeding, blisters, hives…and you could get a nasty infection with poor aftercare even if your body doesn’t reject the ink.
Are all-natural inks a thing? I ask because of the green inks in particular having malachite copper salts in them for pigment. This as opposed to some synthetic pigments.
They have vegan and cruelty-free ink. Safe for the environment.
How quickly does skin react to the stabbing? What is a sign the skin is showing too much trauma? Is blood bad?
Some skin can take a whole sleeve before it shows trauma. Some do it after three lines.
No matter what, the skin will bleed. It's an open wound. If there's too much blood, I have called things off for a second session. It will bleed more if you overwork the area.
It's natural to have risen and red skin.
Is tattoo ink, in a pinch, usable for writing on paper? Does paper accept it? Does it dry?
Oh yeah no problem.
What would make a tattoo a multiple session project?
Difficult skin. The size if it's big or if it's in a difficult spot. If the client needs to take multiple breaks.
What do you do if the client leaves it unfinished?
Thankfully it hadn't happened yet, but clients have tried to skip out. I've had to keep client's guests in the shop as collateral while the client got money.
I've had people try to bargain with me.
What do you do when a client has a really dumb idea?
I try to explain it to them like hey you might want to rethink this. Like an influencer name.
I also try to pride myself on being able to give the client what they want.
Is there a tattoo you won't do?
Political tattoos. "I really like tattooing you, Barry, but I have to be honest with you that I don't agree with this particular concept, and it might be better to find somebody else."
A significant other's tattoos. I feel it immediately curses the relationship and it quickly ends.
Is there a body part you just prefer not to tattoo?
Back of the neck is rubbery and frustrating.
Close to the face. just a personal preference getting really close to them. Collarbones are the same way. If I can smell your breath the entire six hours I'm inking into it, I don't enjoy that.
Places around joints as they'll get a little twitchy with how much it hurts.
Do you tattoo friends?
Sure! All of them, myself, some significant others. Nothing personal onto the boyfriends but something cool. I was an apprentice with this one guy who let me tattoo a whole sleeve on him.
When tattooing people near some usually covered parts (like breasts, pelvic areas) do you ever get nervous or feel a little blushy over it? Or is it just another area of skin?
I just get nervous because I don't want people to feel uncomfortable.
I could see that being the case especially for men. Being close to a woman's anything is a good time to practice boundaries and asking that they're okay with where he's resting his arms and whatnot. The client's comfort is foremost.
What do you do if people don't like their tattoo?
I let them know that this was their decision and that this is a permanent decision. One guy spelled his own child's name wrong. I asked him like 30 times. I can't change it.
Which machine do you use?
A rotary machine is quieter, the coil machine is louder. Rotary is good for dainty things. Like a chill stylus pen. I feel I have more control. Coil is good for American style. Some have two machines, some are comfortable with the ones they use the most.
I run my machine hot for the lines, but it's still not as high a voltage as a coil. That's what I did my apprenticeship on so I feel I could switch but don't want to.
What goes into opening a shop?
Extra taxes and the things I don't want to give energy towards.
The shop makes 40% of what I make and 30% goes to taxes.
Tattoo transfer paper: Is it always purple?
There is also green that works for darker skin tones.
Is one piece one use or can you use the remaining print for a second go?
It's reusable up to five or six times before the detail starts to go.
What are your thoughts on sternum?
They're cute but hard to do. I've done them before so I kind of know how that skin reacts. It's different based on the boobage of each girl. Some have more and whatnot.
Do you feel this job has given you a big grasp on human anatomy?
Yes! I know the difference between a forearm and a bicep and other muscle groupings. I learned how nerves are affected. Seeing how each person reacts differently. There's a spot on the leg right above the pit of the knee. That will make everybody twitch when I go over it with a needle.
As an artist, when looking at somebody else's tattoo, do you ever think about how you would have done it differently?
Excessively. I'll keep it to myself but I wonder if some people were just mauled by a needle.
Can you spot mistakes in aftercare or going over a spot too many times in healed tattoos?
If they go too hard it looks muddled and yucky. This also depends on how well they care for it after.
What is it like being a tattoo artist in the wild?
I can tell when people only want to know me for getting free tattoos. I prefer to surprise them with a tattoo, you know? That's a business and I came here for pleasure.
Do you fuck with coverups?
I do. I don't advertise for it but I'll do it if people ask. I don't really want to do them but I like being able to fix something on people.
What have you tattooed onto yourself?
I tattoo anything I can reach. My entire forearm I did myself. That's how I learned.
How does marijuana affect a tattoo?
It affects the client's sensitivity. If somebody is anemic, it makes them more likely to pass out.
How bad of an idea would it be to split a joint with a client and get to tattooing?
I can tattoo high but I'm one of those people where it needs to be perfect and I don't want to affect my art.
In Conclusion
Final note about this interview and how not to do your interview:
Professionals and experts are there to do a job. In the same way you wouldn’t ask a firefighter interview questions while he puts out a housefire, don’t spring an interview on a person.
Gabriel knew I was researching a character. He reached out to the artist beforehand to see if it would be okay for me to be there asking questions. She graciously said yes–but it wouldn’t have been a problem if she said no because people are allowed to talk to who they want to. I heavily tipped her for her time, because mind you, she was tattooing Gabriel the entire time I was asking questions.
Furthermore, think deeper about the questions you want to ask. I did not think deep at the point and time I conducted this interview. Most of the above questions are Google-able. You should know the base-level information about a person/profession/belief/hobby/etc. before talking to somebody about it. Otherwise, you'll look like a fool when asking a firefighter, "How fast does water come out of a firehose?" (100 to 500 gallons of water per minute—and I know this because I Googled it)
I'm not going to say they were dumb questions. It's just that if I have somebody who knows their stuff in front of me, I want to respect them with good questions.
Research isn’t just about gathering information—it’s about building trust and treating people with respect. You’re a writer. Not a celebrity. Nobody has to talk to you. Say thank you 983740918374 times during the process and be respectful of their time.
Do that, and you’ll find that many professionals want to share their experiences with you. Be patient, be kind, and, above all, remember: their time is just as valuable as the knowledge they’re giving you.
Document everything or it didn't happen,
Katherine Arkady
Magnificent questions.