When did you know that you wanted to be a tattoo artist and what
were the first steps you took to learn the craft?
Actually, I loved tattoos when I was a little boy, but there was not a
professional tattoo shop in China at that time. It wasn’t until the end
of 1998 that I started to think about opening my own tattoo studio.
The reason I chose to do this is because I didn’t like the lifestyle of
traditional society. I wanted to use my hands to make my art become a
reality, which makes me feel fulfilled.
Can you tell us more about the shop you work at, what it’s like
working there, and what a typical day is like there?
Right now, I have two shops - one in Los Angeles, California and
one in China. My wife, Gloria and I live in Los Angeles now so we
spend most of our time tattooing in L.A. The shop there is still new
so we are slowly building up a following and developing our clientele.
The pressure of opening a new studio is considerable, having to pay
rent without a large customer base. It would be nice to have as many
customers in L.A. as I have in China, but I am sure that will come in
time. If I am not busy, I like to read and draw to kill time. No matter
how busy I am in China, I force myself to find a quiet place to draw for
two or three hours, I’ve never stopped in 10 years. I have more time in
America, but I tend to do less drawing and more reading.
Describe how you go about creating a tattoo from concept to
finished design and how you try to put your own unique touch on
your tattoos?
Generally, I sit down with each customer before we begin and communicate with them on what their needs and desires are as far as a
design is concerned. After I get a clear idea from them, I have to tailor
each design to fit the customer’s body. Each person is different as far
as bone structure, muscle tone, skin type, et cetera, and I try to understand a bit of their personality as well. A strong customer will need
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