A Tattoo Artist Shares His Story

So let’s talk briefly about careers. When growing up, our parents influence our choice in the type of friends we make, our future husband/wife, and even careers later on in life. Typical parents would love for their sons or daughters to pursue the career of doctors or nurses, lawyers, politicians, or dentists. But the truth is, we will never know where we’ll end up until the day comes. One thing is for sure though; we are in charge of what becomes of our future. For those that follow the goals and dreams set out for them since the very first day they were born, they have things a bit easier knowing what lies ahead; but for other daring individuals out there that pursue a career in the artistic field, their dreams are unsure and discouraging at times. Artists, painters, professional sports player, and many others have to be prepared for success and failure when they chose that career path.

Business owners have to worry about their business being slow and not making profit. Singer and songwriters worry about whether people will like their music. Fashion designers worry about their designs not appealing to the fashion industry. It’s a risky job when you chose to follow the path of an artist. The career I’m going to talk about is being not only an artist, but an artist on skin. The choice to become a tattoo artist calls for a very unsteady income. Their income is based solely on the people and their desire for art. The artists still have to come in to work even if no one wants a tattoo. It just means they won’t get paid that day. Eight to nine hour shifts and not one penny to bring home. You never know when someone will walk in and get a five hundred dollar tattoo or a eighty dollar one. I’ll be interviewing Jerome Noveras about tattooing in today’s industry and his journey towards becoming a tattooer. 

The Interview with Jerome Noveras

Michelle:  So to start things off, tell me a little about yourself.

Jerome: My name is Jerome Noveras, I’m 21 years old and I’m currently tattooing at Royalty Tattoo Collective in Burlingame, California.

M: How did you decide that you wanted be a tattoo artist?

J: Well it started when I was young. I thought that all these people with tattoos were all “tough guys” and I wanted to be one of them. As I grew, so did my interest in tattoos not only because of the whole “tough guy” persona but the craftsmanship and the art. I always doodled in class and got in trouble a lot with it. Maybe it was in the 6^th or 7^th grade that I saw that I might actually have some drawing skills and I started to work with charcoal, oil paints, acrylics and whatever was at my disposal. When I was in high school I started to get into the punk rock scene and the graffiti scene, and that was where I started to see all the different styles of tattooing and I began seeing the intricacies of all these different tattoos and thinking to myself, “how the f*** did they do that?” from then on I was obsessed.

M: After your punk rock scene, when did you actually start tattooing? Did you actually use a tattoo machine or what did you use to imitate the machines?

J: Well I think I did my first tattoo when I was about sixteen and it was a stick and poke tattoo (the ones where you just get a needle, dip it in some ink and poke a design on your friend). I thought to myself that this was fun as sh*t! I did a few stick and pokes here and there but it wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I set out to look for an apprenticeship. That road was long and difficult to say the least (living in San Francisco the tattoo scene is very competitive). After spending most of my free time hanging out at tattoo shops and asking for apprenticeships pretty much everywhere and getting turned down, I decided that I would try to learn the best way I could, learn by trial and error. It was really hard at first but with a lot of patience I began tattooing (myself). The first tattoo I did was on my thigh and it wasn’t a complete disaster but I wasn’t a Horiyoshi III right away. Luckily I had some friends that were willing to let me practice on them, and what’s even luckier is that they’re still some of my best friends! They haven’t hated me yet for being my guinea pigs.

M: Let’s hear more about your journey. Like where you worked and how were those places like and how you got to where you are at now.

J: All of it has just been amazing and I’ve met a lot of amazing people on the way that helped me get to where I am today. At first I was just tattooing at home, trying to keep everything sanitary was hard though (so I don’t recommend tattooing out of your home). I used word of mouth to find new clients and at times it was slow and sometimes it was insane! Then in January of 2010 I started work at my first shop, The Artful Tattoo on Geary in the Richmond District of San Francisco. It was a little hole in the wall tattoo shop. It was a really good experience for me because I had to learn how to draw quickly and how to deal with customers. Then a couple of months later I found another shop that was hiring over in El Cerrito called Eclectic Tattoo. This shop was cool and all but I didn’t really like the environment plus the 35mins to an hour commute there just wasn’t what I was looking for. Recently, I’d say 2 weeks or so ago, I started work at the shop I am at now, Royalty Tattoo Collective. The owners are super chill and the environment was pretty much what I’ve been looking for. I found what was lacking at Eclectic over at Royalty. It’s a new shop and everyone is doing things as it goes along but it’s been great so far. I’m only in the beginning of my journey and I hope that I have many more years to come.

M: What is it like working at the shop? Tell me about the goods and bads of being an artist.

J: First off, we don’t get paid the same way as a minimum wage or a salary paying job. We don’t get paid vacation time or get any time off unless necessary. Every day is a business day and missing one day can be crucial; whether it was a big client or a small one, we try to accommodate all because they’re the ones that determine our income. Working at a shop, we have to treat every one that walks in as a customer and some days, there will be multiple artists working so if someone is tattooing already, the client can be for the artists that is free; unless the customer request the other artists based on the art style he/she is more experienced in tattooing. Most shops have a shop minimum, that is, no matter what size the customer wants, they will have to pay a minimum of say $80. Then the artist builds on to that eighty bucks and charges the customer the amount they believe the tattoo is worth. The shop then receives about 60% of the whole total and the artists gets only 40%. On good days, I can make about $500 just for 4 hours of tattoo. But then you have the slow days where no one comes in and no money is being made. I guess it somewhat balances out, although it’d be cool if I can make money every day!

The $500 tattoo he did. A buff man with a buff tattoo.

M: Now what is it like tattooing in today’s industry?

J: It can get hectic but all in all it’s so much fun. There are a lot of what we in the industry call “scratchers”. “Scratchers” is a term that refers to the people who are in the tattoo industry strictly for the money with barely to no experience. Tattooing is a life style and a lot of friends of mine that also tattoo, have dedicated their whole lives to the art of tattooing. You occasionally get those people who come into your shop and ask you for a quote and when you give it to them they’re all like “DAMN that’s a lot! I know a guy that can do it for like 1/3 of the price.” Whenever that happens, I either tell them to go to the other guy or I explain to them that tattoos aren’t like shoes that you can throw away when you’re tired of them. Another thing is that there is a lot more competition and a hell of a lot more tattoo shops than there were just ten years ago. I think that tattooing in today’s industry is also much easier because we have the internet, an almost unlimited source for references and an easier way to connect with other tattoo artists. 

 As you can see, this is considered a "scratcher" tattoo.

M: Who are some of the people who inspire you?

J: Horiyoshi the third, Shigenori Iwasaki (aka Shige), Bert Krak, Megan Wilson, Clifton Carter, Daryl Rodriguez just to name a few! When I first started tattooing I would go to the Japantown book store and read the Horiyoshi books they have there. It’s the one place I am able to find actual books on him. But there are so many great artists out there, and so many sources of inspiration that it’s crazy!

M: Is there anything you would like to say to the readers, and to the readers that might want to become tattoo artists themselves?

J: When choosing someone to do your tattoo, DO YOUR RESEARCH and find someone with a style that matches what you want to get done. Look at their portfolios and talk to them, tattooer’s aren’t a bunch of thugs, they’re really nice people. When looking at a certain tattoo shop, look around and see if they’re clean (also a good thing to do is check their bathroom for cleanliness). And for those of you who want to become tattoo artists, look for an apprenticeship! I didn’t take that route but I sure as hell wish that I could’ve found someone to teach me the right way from the get go. Tattooing isn’t for everyone and you should leave it to the professionals. You also have to remember that if you do want to become a tattoo artist, you’re going to be dealing with a bunch of knuckleheads, a**holes, and lowballers. It ain’t for the faint of heart they say.

            So I don’t know if you can tell but this is the stuff that intrigues me about the tattoo industry. Everything about it from the hardship an artist goes through just to make their dreams come true to making bank in less than 4 hours. I have to work over 50 hours in order to make five hundred dollars. This also goes to show that if you are passionate about something, go ahead and do it! You’ll be more willing and enjoy it more than being forced to sit in a little office or cubical doing things that are lifeless and boring! Until next post, stay put for more tattoo fun!

As if my post isn't ridiculously long enough, here are some tattoos done by Jerome. 

 

Lastly, the work in progress of my leg piece. The upside of having a boyfriend that tattoos, I don't need to pay for my tattoos since from the amount of work done on just the outline and some shading of this bottom lotus, I would have to pay over $200 dollars!

 

Japan: A Love and Hate Story

Japan has a love-hate relationship with tattoos. Tattoos were worn as a status symbol and also identified criminals.  The insertion of ink is known as “Irezumi” and it often has negative connotations associated with this word because of its use with punishing criminals. The definition of Irezumi is “the insertion of ink”.  The tattoos that are associated with the criminal aspect of tattooing were bands around the arms or legs and also certain characters. Tattooing the face was also common for criminals, usually the Japanese character for dog was used. This association with criminals was deeply cemented when the yakuza clan (a criminal empire much like mobsters) decorated their bodies with intricate designs that went from head to toe. Just by simply rolling up their sleeves, these gangsters would strike fear into anyone who saw even a small portion of their tattoos.  Because of this stigma, even in the modern age, tattoos are frowned upon in Japan. Many bath houses in Japan will not let you use their facilities if you have a tattoo, even though you might not be Japanese. Irezumi is a traditional Japanese art. Oukoshisei regards tattooing as an art form, expressing the greatness and the beauty of tattoos.

                              Tattoos used by the government to brand criminals.

Despite the negativity associated with tattoos in the Japanese culture, a lot of people still get tattooed. In Japan you never know who is tattooed and who is not, because the way the tattoos are on their bodies. Businessmen and thugs alike get tattooed, enduring hours upon hours of pain only to keep them covered up. I think this has to do with the Japanese way of aesthetics, for example the fine suits that are made in Japan have a silk lining that is almost never exposed but so much detail and attention is put into it, they are just beautiful. Designs of deities, mythological creatures, mythical heroes and flowers are the main focal point of Japanese tattooing. Oukoshisei is the term used to describe tattooing as a form of art, many artists in Japan have strived to make tattooing in Japan more acceptable. Horiyoshi III is in the frontlines of trying to make tattooing more acceptable in today’s world. He is a world renowned artist who has broken into the fashion world as well. He is a prime example of a master of the arts. 

Just recently in Japan there has been a surge of “American” style tattoo shops. Tattoos were usually done in a quiet one on one environment and usually no signs were hung that even indicated that the place housed a master tattooer. In contrast the American style tattoo shops have big signs, usually has music blaring in the background and people come and go. The new tattoo shops are run by a generation who embraces individuality and style (going against the “traditional” ways of Japanese living).  Even though there is such a strong stigma attached to tattoos, I believe that in time tattoos will gain even more acceptance.  In my next blog I will touch on the subject of a tattoo artist in the Bay Area and the struggles of being a new artist in today’s world.

               

The Price You Pay

Have you ever wondered why tattoos are so pricey? Well I think the most important thing to remember the next time you get a quote on a tattoo is that it’s PERMANENT.  Tattoo shop prices range anywhere from $100-$200 an hour. Ever think to yourself, “Man that’s expensive!”? Think of it this way, you spend a hundred dollars on a pair of shoes and they last you a couple of months. You go to get a tattoo done and you get quoted for three hundred dollars, and of course you’ll try to talk to guy down but the thing you have to remember is that this will be on you forever. Sure you can go to the guy who will do it for a fraction of the price but will you get the same quality of work? That doesn’t mean that all tattooers that you’ll find outside of shops will do bad work, but more than likely you’ll run into what is known in the tattoo industry as a “scratcher”. A scratcher is a person that tattoos without any kind of training from a “master” tattooer, only interested in making money and tattoos from out of a shop. 

 Many tattoos done by Kat Von D are portraits.

Many tattooers also have a minimum that you have to pay to get tattooed by them. Clifton Carter from Living Ghost Tattoo in Arizona charges a minimum of five hundred dollars. Grime from Skull and Sword Tattoo in San Francisco charges two hundred an hour. And if you want to talk about the tattoo artists from reality shows like “LA Ink” and “New York Ink”, the artists have anywhere from a five hundred to eight hundred minimum. When you look at the work that some of these artists produce, it’s as clear as day and night why they command such a price for their tattoos. On the other hand when you look on craigslist to find a “tattoo artist” it’s also easy to tell why they’re only charging a fraction of what the more talented artists charge. 

A phoenix piece done by Clifton Carter of Living Ghost Tattoo.

When you get a quote on a tattoo and you’re unhappy with the price, the rudest thing you can say to the artist is “Why is it this price? I can get it cheaper from the other guy.” It’s a waste of their time and also a waste of yours’ so don’t bother. Most of the times when this happens and you go to the guy who charges less, you end up with a tattoo you’ll regret. If this happens and you want to get the tattoo removed or covered up, this will end up costing you more money and more pain than if you would have paid to get it done right the first time around. So the next time you’re looking to get a tattoo, do your research, save your money, and get it done right the first time around! Next blog I’ll be taking a closer look at tattoos and their acceptance in Japan, a place where tattoos have a long history but are also somewhat of a taboo despite the rise of popularity.

Different styles of tattoos

As we all know, tattoos are permanent. Once inked, we have to either like and accept it or hate and regret it. Getting a tattoo requires a lot of thought put into it. The location of the tattoo on your body is important and needs to be put into consideration. Then you need to determine the size, color, and most importantly, what tattoo design you want to permanently mark onto your skin. Many people that want tattoos know what they want and tend to search for a tattoo artist that has a certain style that matches the piece of art they want. Most tattoo artists are able to tattoo many different styles of art but there is always that one style that sets apart that tattoo artists’ work from everyone else’s. There are many styles of tattooing out there such as the old school traditional Americana style, New school, tribal, and Japanese, just to name a few. These styles are the ones most people know about and seek out reputable artists to ink such pieces of art.

 Old school traditional Americana tattoos feature really bold outlines, a lot of black shading and minimal color (usually only up to four colors). Norman Keith Collins who is also known as the famous “Sailor Jerry”, is well known for his “old school” tattoos. Another well known artist specializing in the “old school” tattoos is Bert Krak from Smith Street Tattoo in New York City.

 New school tattoos are much more vibrant and have a more illustrative look to them than the traditional Americana style of tattooing. Salem632 of Ocean Avenue Tattoo in San Francisco is a prime example of this style.

 Tribal tattoos have been around for thousands of years. In the old days, people from different tribes would have their own different markings to distinguish social standing and most importantly what tribe you were from. These tattoos determined life or death for some people. Now a day’s tribal tattoos are more of a fashion statement than anything else. Orly Lacquio of Humble Beginnings Tattoo in San Jose is considered one of best modern Polynesian Tribal tattoo artists. He even practices the tapping method of tattooing where he has two sticks, one with needles and the other to tap with. The word tattoo is thought to have come from the word tatau which means “to tap”. 

 Japanese style tattoos are often full-body masterpieces that often include mystical animals and demons. In Japan there is a strong tie between tattoos and criminals (the Yakuza). In the old days of Japan, criminals would get tattooed by city officials as a mark of disgrace. To cover these tattoos up, the criminals would get more intricate and elaborate designs tattooed around and would usually end up covering their whole bodies. One of the masters of Japanese style of tattooing is Horiyoshi III a.k.a. Yoshito Nakano. Horiyoshi tattoos like they did in the ancient days of Japan known as “tebori” where he hand pokes the pigment into the skin. 

 So the next time you decide on a tattoo, think about the different styles and do a bit of research on different artists before you commit. When you have chosen the style, you shouldn’t skimp on the price of your next tattoo because in this case, you really do get what you pay for! More about that on my next post.