Gigi, a 35-year-old native of Seoul, enrolled at Suwon University to study apparel and textiles but left after the first year to become a fitness instructor and then a tattooist. With only three years of professional tattooing experience and a strong desire to learn, she has received plenty of advice from skilled Korean tattooers. Her […]
Tag: Micro Tattoos
Sop’s Single-Needle Tattoos
Sop, a native of Seoul, has been tattooing since 2016 and has a private studio in the South Korean city. His delicate line-art technique depicts his inner kid with whimsical, flowing lines. Sop aspires to be as proficient with line drawing as the renowned French cartoonist Jean-Jacques Sempé (1932–2022), known for many children’s books. Using […]
Q&As with Yeono about Photorealistic Tattoos
When Yeono was 17 years old, her mother decided she wanted a tattoo and sought her assistance in locating an artist. She was awestruck by the precision and artistry of Japanese tattoos (especially the extraordinary backpieces). Yeono quickly connected with tattooing and realized it would be her lifelong passion and profession. She investigated the possibility of following the […]
The Line Drawing Tattoos of Joojoo
Joojoo often represents flora and fauna in her tattoos, which she conceptualizes on an iPad using the Procreate application by sketching until she finds the perfect fit for her clients. The artwork consists of line drawings with color accents that resemble crayon or paintbrush smudges. Her purpose is to create simple, organic line work. In […]
EQ: From Art Teacher to Tattooer
EQ was an art teacher before becoming a tattooer in 2019. Friends and others encouraged her to explore tattooing because of her talent and excitement for drawing. Initially self-taught, she eventually attended Sol’s Tattoo Academy in Seoul. EQ plans to challenge age and cultural role expectations by working hard to achieve professional success despite being […]
Stippling Tattoos by Choi Yun
Choi Yun, 27, is not a fan of the term “dotwork.” Instead, she employs precise stippling to achieve intense gradient shading and reduce tattoo machine impression marks. She has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Chugye University, and her parents have always encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a tattooist right out […]
From Ceramics to Castles: The Work of Ovenlee
Ovenlee was born in 1995 in Chuncheon, the capital city of Gangwon Province in South Korea. She attended university in 2014 and studied ceramics and textiles before opting to pursue a career as a tattooer in 2018. Fascinated by the countryside’s natural beauty, she depicts it in vivid color in her tattoos. She creates fantastical […]
Eastern Asian Cultures Influence Daldam’s Tattoos
Daldam is a 29-year-old tattooer who draws inspiration from Chinese art, Japanese mythology, and Korean culture. She travels back in time to the period of porcelain vases and goblin legends to delicately tattoo these themes on her clients’ bodies. Peonies, massive waves, and tigers all have significant meaning in the East, which she is aware […]
Solar’s Tattoo Jewelry is Inspired by Kings and Queens
Some people regard tattoos as purely decorative. Solar recreates antique European jewels and royal artifacts using the fine-line tattooing technique popular in South Korea. Solar is all about the details, from brooches to crowns, curlicues, and bling! She is currently working with 30 other colleagues at Sol Tattoo studio in Seoul. She prefers working there […]
Hansan’s Tattoo Remakes of Famous Paintings
Hansan is a tattooist based in Seoul, South Korea. She lives with three cats which she regards as more than family; they are soul-mate creatures who provide her joy and health. And inspire her to tattoo cats, dogs, and other animals on the skins of her customers. While this is one of her primary themes, […]