THE WAVE: AUGUST 2017

How long have you been a tattoo artist?
ALMOST 7 YEARS.
Do you remember the first tattoo that you ever done?
A SMALL BUTTERFLY CANCER RIBBON.
How would you describe your tattooing style?
BLACK AND GREY PHOTO REALIASM AND POR-
TRAITS. COLOURFILTER.
What is the secret to achieving such detail in your
tattoos?
MUSIC. REDBULL. THE DRIVE TO GET BETTER.
Where is the most difficult place for you to tattoo
someone?
NECKS AND KNEE CAPS. THEY BOTH HURT
AND NO ONE SITS GOOD FOR THEM.
How may tattoos do you currently have?
EVERYTHING I HAVE IS LARGE AND TOUCH-
ING. YOU COULD SAY ITS ALL GOING TO
BECOME ONE BIG MASTER CANVAS. I HAVE
ABOUT 250 HOURS UNDER THE NEEDLE.
Did you do any of them yourself?
IVE TOUCH SMALL STUFF UP HERE AND THERE
BUT I ENJOY COLLECTING TATTOOS FROM
FRIENDS AND TALENTED ARTISTS.
Do your friends let you tatt them up for practice?
NOT SO MUCH FOR PRACTICE BUT THERE IS
ALWAYS PEOPLE OPEN TO ME JUST DOING
WHAT I WANT OR EXPERIMENTING. CLIENTS
ARE REALLY OPEN AND JUST STOKED FOR
COOL PIECES NOW.
Should drunk people get inked?
NO. 1. WHEN IT CATCHES UP THEY WILL BLEED.
2. DRUNK PEOPLE PROBABLY DONT SIT GOOD.
3. I DONT WANNA DEAL WITH THEM. 4. THERES
ALWAYS JUST POOR CHOICES THEY WILL RE-
GRET LATER. I DONT NEED THAT CLIENTELE
AND I’M GLAD IT’S NOT AN ISSUE.
What tattoo artists, if any, do you draw inspiration
from?
WITH SO MANY AMAZING ARTIST AND SO
MANY AVENUES IT’S HARD TO PIN POINT IT.
THERES ALOT OF EPIC ARTISTS. I SEE SO MUCH
IMSPIRING WORK AND SADLY I COULDNT TELL
YOU MOST OF THERE NAMES.
What’s the secret to being a great tattoo artist?
PUT IN THE WORK. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
Who is your favorite tattoo artist?
BOB TYRRELL. PAUL ACHOR. YOUGI BARETTE.
TIMMY B. ALL VERY DIFFERENT ARTISTS BUT
SOME OF MY FAVORITES.
For a first timer, where should they not get a tattoo if
they do not like a lot of pain?
PAIN IS TEMPORARY. I ALWAYS TRY TO TELL MY
CLIENTS TO NOT STESS ABOUT THE PAIN OR
THINK ABOUT IT TO MUCH AND JUST GET THE
TATTOO WHERE THEY SEE IT AND WANT IT
MOST. AS FOR EASY... OUTSIDE UP YOUR UPPER
ARM.
Words of advice for anyone that wants to become a
tattoo artist?
DONT UNLESS IT’S YOUR HONEST DREAM AND
YOU WILL DO ANYTHING FOR IT. THERE ARE
TO MANY ARTISTS ALREADY. THE INDUSTRY
DOESNT NEED MORE PEOPLE THAT JUST WANT
A KICK ASS JOB. IF YOUR 100% THEN FIND A
GREAT SHOP AND DO A REAL APPRENTICESHIP.
LEARN LEARN LEARN. ARTISTS ARE CRAZY
GOOD NOW AND YOU WILL NEED TO PUT THE
WORK IN.
Where can we get inked by you and see more of your
work?
YOU CAN FOLLOW MY WORK ON: FACEBOOK
& INSTAGRAM UNDER: INKBYSMINK OR EMAIL
ME AT INKBYSMINK@GMAIL.COM OR GIVE THE
SHOP A CALL AT 519-926-1855 TO BOOK.
What is the most bizarre tattoo you have ever put on
someone?
WHERE'S WALDO POPING OUT OF AN ASS
CRACK.
Will Smink
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