What techniques do you use to deliver a meaningful experience for your clients?

Since I don’t draw anything in advance, I take measurements of my client's anatomy and scan them into the computer. Then I design everything based on those exact measurements, especially if they have existing tattoos. I’ll create a mold of the body part by wrapping an arm, for example, in saran wrap—then scan it section by section before starting the design process. Once I’ve spoken with the client, we’ll dive into what they want. Even if they just say, ‘Do your thing,’ I like to ensure there's a personal element in the design. For example, if you want something to represent your family, let’s talk about it. We can make it subtle—maybe your birthday is in October, so I’ll work a 10-pointed mandala into the piece. It’s all about meaningful symbolism while ensuring the piece looks amazing.

I’ve been doing this long enough that I can avoid potential obstacles. Even if I don’t know exactly what the design for the top of an arm will be, I ensure there’s space to build on. I’m booked a year out, and sometimes clients change their ideas on the day they come in, so I like to give them options and a great experience.

When it comes to intricate designs like this, too much detail and information can crowd the overall look. My goal is to balance the story and symbolism, even if it’s abstract, while ensuring the tattoo looks amazing.

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What tooling and tattoo techniques do you use?

I use rotary machines and a variety of different needles. I’m always experimenting because there are so many companies pushing the boundaries with new needle designs. With an abstract style, you can really get creative. There are countless needle groupings, and the innovations are exciting—it opens up possibilities for things I’ve never tried before.

For instance, with dotwork or patterns, you can create different effects or textures. I often use bug pin liners, which leave a bunch of individual dots. Or sometimes, I’ll slow down the machine to do a shading technique that leaves a trail of dots, giving a smoother texture. I even combine those techniques to get a unique look.