work- which is still insane to me . She ’ d already had most of her tattoos done by Bang Bang , and had asked that he and I both collaborate on her . I added to a piece she already had on her hand . She wanted her hand tattoo to be more of a henna style piece so henna was the whole inspiration for the tattoo . The session involved traveling to the Dominican Republic which was where she was staying so I had the amazing opportunity of tattooing her in one of the most beautiful places I ’ ve ever seen . It was super nerve racking but I ’ m so grateful for the experience and opportunity , I know that it opened a lot of doors for me and I ’ ll never forget it , that ’ s for sure .
You mentioned a number of people who helped you start off your career . Are there any artists , current or previously , who are influential to you or who have inspired you at some point in your career ? I ’ ve been really lucky . I feel like I ’ ve had a lot of negativity when I was becoming known in tattooing . There were a lot of tattoo artists that frowned upon my being on Instagram . The whole thing was stupid . But there were a lot of people who saw potential in me and who really wanted to help me . Tim Hendricks was one of the first people , many years ago now . He approached me just from my drawings and I had just started apprenticing . I had one tattoo machine that I was borrowing from my mentor . Tim wanted to buy one of my drawings from me . I didn ’ t want to take money from him . He was someone I really looked up to . He said “ Well why don ’ t we trade and I ’ ll build you a machine ?” I was like “ Wow , that would be amazing .” I didn ’ t have a machine . He built me the most stunningly beautiful tattoo machine you ’ ve ever seen in your life . He was one of the first people who I really felt had some faith in me and saw potential . I ’ m always really grateful to him . Chuey Quintanar is always massively helpful to me . He ’ s so supportive and always helping me out . He ’ s always got my back . He ’ s an amazing artist . Franco Vescovi , who owns Bishop , has sent me some really major ma-
work- which is still insane to me . She ’ d already had most of her tattoos done by Bang Bang , and had asked that he and I both collaborate on her . I added to a piece she already had on her hand . She wanted her hand tattoo to be more of a henna style piece so henna was the whole inspiration for the tattoo . The session involved traveling to the Dominican Republic which was where she was staying so I had the amazing opportunity of tattooing her in one of the most beautiful places I ’ ve ever seen . It was super nerve racking but I ’ m so grateful for the experience and opportunity , I know that it opened a lot of doors for me and I ’ ll never forget it , that ’ s for sure .
You mentioned a number of people who helped you start off your career . Are there any artists , current or previously , who are influential to you or who have inspired you at some point in your career ? I ’ ve been really lucky . I feel like I ’ ve had a lot of negativity when I was becoming known in tattooing . There were a lot of tattoo artists that frowned upon my being on Instagram . The whole thing was stupid . But there were a lot of people who saw potential in me and who really wanted to help me . Tim Hendricks was one of the first people , many years ago now . He approached me just from my drawings and I had just started apprenticing . I had one tattoo machine that I was borrowing from my mentor . Tim wanted to buy one of my drawings from me . I didn ’ t want to take money from him . He was someone I really looked up to . He said “ Well why don ’ t we trade and I ’ ll build you a machine ?” I was like “ Wow , that would be amazing .” I didn ’ t have a machine . He built me the most stunningly beautiful tattoo machine you ’ ve ever seen in your life . He was one of the first people who I really felt had some faith in me and saw potential . I ’ m always really grateful to him . Chuey Quintanar is always massively helpful to me . He ’ s so supportive and always helping me out . He ’ s always got my back . He ’ s an amazing artist . Franco Vescovi , who owns Bishop , has sent me some really major ma-