Posted on April 15 2020
I'm a 24 y/o tattoo artist living and working in Copenhagen, Denmark.
I work in a tattoo shop called The Sailors Grave.
I work in a tattoo shop called The Sailors Grave.
IG: @thesailorsgravecopenhagen
When I'm not tattooing or drawing I spend my time playing music, writing (which I'm definitely not doing enough of these days), reading, eating cruelty free stuff and trying my best not to be an asshole. I've tattooed professionally for two years this January.
Have you always been a tattoo artist/ How did you get into it?
I've always been into mayan mythology, which triggered my interest for tattoos back in the day. After flirting with the idea of becoming a tattooer and doing machine tattooing for a short while, some personal complications arose and I left to live in Australia for two years. I spent 1 year living in a tent, with no running water, no internet, no toilet, but most importantly, no power. - This was when the whole "machine free" tattooing idea came about. The idea of being able to tattoo without the aid of electricity, (like the mayans) was the main igniter to my tattoo career.
What was it like the first time you put needle and ink to skin?
Can't remember, but most likely nerve wrecking :)
Do you have any memorable/ funny stories you can tell?
Heaps man! But people would have to come and get tattooed, I'm way more of a in-person storyteller.
Why do you prefer hand-poking to machine tattooing?
I really like the idea of taking an old technique and using it to perfect modern tattoo designs. (or western, if you like)
What would you recommend to someone who wanted to start tattooing?
If you want to be a tattoo artist, you HAVE to be sitting in a tattoo shop.
There's so many things that the old dogs can teach that no youtube, "friend with alot of tats", google or other "expert-media" can. So please, for the sake of the tattoo society - get either an apprenticeship or a mentor of some sort in a tattoo shop if you're planning on doing this for a living.
Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to hand-poke tattooing?
Patience, red wine and black metal. Might I add patience one more time - that's key. Trial and error and patience.
So Single Needle Tattoo Kits, I believe that home tattooing is inherently risky, but people have, and will continue to tattoo themselves, therefore making a safe and affordable kit is the way forward... What's your take on this?
This is a very debated subject - I think you're right about that people will continue to tattoo themselves at home, and to be frank, I'd probably done the same, not as a business, but the good ol' punk tats. The thing is though; you can live with an ugly tattoo - you can't so easily with hep C or aids. Cross contamination is the big deal in this one.
Instagram: Lucifero.tattoo - it's the only platform I use, that way I can still detach myself from the online world and be present in the real one.
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