My tattoos that I have done tell the story of the intense focus of attention to detail
With every line in the tattoo showing the time, patience, and passion I put into the design. Even the process of making the design, I put 110% effort into the shading to convey the importance of taking time to depth and light that comes in every tattoo.
I transform clients' ideas by asking the backstory or meaning they want to convey in their tattoos
Even if I have clients that don’t really have meaning behind their tattoo, I do my absolute best to have my clients happy and proud of the tattoo they are about to receive. I take time to input every element they want into the tattoo and make it visually pleasing for them and for the world to see.
What’s the most unusual or meaningful inspiration you’ve ever drawn upon for a tattoo?
Unfortunately, I haven’t had an unusual inspiration for a tattoo yet, but a lot of tattoos that I have done have been for family members that have passed away or someone’s siblings or children. Family is always going to be a meaningful part of people's lives, so to convey that on somebody’s skin to always remember their family and how much they mean to them is very fulfilling.
Which tattoo style feels the most like ‘you,’ and why does it resonate with your soul?
I really enjoy doing black and grey illustration because it gives me the artistic freedom for shading and shows off my linework skills. Doing unique shading to convey light or darkness in a tattoo is the most exciting and creative part to me. Making the tattoo look like it has depth even though it’s on a flat surface resonates with me because, on the surface, when meeting me, you wouldn’t expect me to have so many different layers and interests besides just tattooing.
What has been your most unforgettable moment as a tattoo artist so far?
My most unforgettable moment as a tattoo artist so far has been my first Friday the 13th. Even though I wasn’t actually tattooing yet because I was an apprentice, it really helped me build up stamina and be attentive to clients no matter how long and tiring the day was. At the end of the day, it is always worth it because seeing the amount of clients that came in and were able to leave happy is always a pleasure. Also, helping and being a part of such an amazing event that happens only a few times a year, if we’re lucky, was incredible. Really seeing what people pick as their tattoo, what common trends of flash they’re choosing, and how I can incorporate those into my later designs was inspiring.
How do you blend your personal creativity with a client’s vision to create something unique?
I blend my personal creativity with our clients' ideas by putting my own style into every tattoo I do. I would say my style is black illustration, so adding some form of black and gray to convey light and depth brings creativity and longevity into the tattoos to make something unique. Even if they want color, you can always use different darker colors to create shadows and depth. Also, providing elements like flowers or specifically different types of line weight and line work to create some depth in the shape is always something I like to incorporate.
If you could tattoo one design for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
It would be anything that has to do with nature. I love designing anything with flowers, bugs, or thorns. Flora and fauna have always played a big part in my art journey just because they’re always around us. Even though it’s easy to overlook the nature surrounding us with everything going on in our lives, it’s a forever beautiful pastime that will never get old to see or be inspired by.
ZAR SKILLS
