The tattoo will forever be associated with romantic images of Hollywood rebels, Cry Baby-esque criminals and a sense of nostalgic unchecked youth, but also, inescapably, with bad decisions, clichéd sayings, and comically misspelled words.
It’s hard to remember that not only is tattoo artistry an incredibly disciplined profession, but also, perhaps, one of the most expressive art forms.
“There are some people that think if they just buy a tattoo machine, and just tattoo people, that’s it they’re a tattoo artist”, says Steph Owens, 19. Steph is an apprentice at Rock’n’Roll Tattoo in Glasgow, and has been learning the trade for two months now. “They don’t really bother,” she adds, “they don’t know what it’s all about, they don’t try. That’s not being a tattoo artist, that’s just being stupid!”
Steph is very polite and soft spoken, but her future career as a tattoo artist really fits. She has an effortless, untaught style, kind of boho-chic with a grunge edge, which on someone without her natural flair would look try-hard.
“I’ve always loved drawing,” she says, “and it clicked for me, ‘why can I not do that for a living?’ I love tattoo artistry, it suits the kind of style I do.”
Steph specialises in Dotwork and Mehndi, and her artwork is very reminiscent of the Henna style. She comments, “I love Buddhism, I love everything to do with that spiritual feel.”
She will not be tattooing anyone until after the New Year, and her first couple of tattoos will be free (“because they’ll be letting me tattoo them!”). Until then, she has some words of parting wisdom for those entertaining the idea of getting a tattoo “Don’t hesitate on it, if you love it when you first see it I recommend you just get it. But if you’re like ‘I dunno, maybe’ then definitely don’t do it!”
