![]() ![]() I had a 1966 Buick Riviera, and a friend of mine was rebuilding the engine. I met my husband 15 years ago, and he wanted to get tattooed from me. Myles: Maybe my favorite tattoo I've ever done would be the one that hooked me up with my husband. ![]() Green: What is your favorite tattoo that you've ever done? You have these tattooers that do stuff that looks like it could have been done in jail. The weirdest thing that I've seen recently is people getting very crude tattoos done: They want it to look like it was a tattoo their grandpa had that might not be well executed, or might even be done. People were really into having all that history and referencing all those old designs and artists and everything.Īlso there were all these highly skilled tattooers working with super-hyper-realism or watercolor tattooing. There was this rejection of that look, like people would say, "I don't want it to look like something my grandpa had." Then, traditional tattoos became really popular, where that was all people were getting. I've been tattooing for 25 years, and when I first started tattooing in the ‘90s, people didn't want to get traditional tattoos. Myles: I would say I'm very influenced by traditional American tattooing: bold outlines, bright colors, and shading. Green: Have you noticed any kind of trends in tattooing? It’s pushed the aesthetic along quite a bit. Artists improve so fast now, because they’re looking at all of this other work. ![]() You just used your private reference library. When I started tattooing, we didn't have Google or anything like that. Now, with social media, everybody's got tremendous resources to look at for reference and inspiration. As far as types of people go, literally everyone has tattoos now.Īlso it's changed quite a bit technically, as far as the types of artists that are in the industry. Even if you go to more conservative areas, they get the same tattoo reality-TV shows, and are much more aware of the industry. Now, no matter where you go, people are exposed to it. You didn't even really see that many people that were heavily tattooed. It wasn't acceptable, especially for women. Myles: Tattooing was just such an outsider thing when I first started. How have you seen the industry grow and change now that tattooing is mainstream? Green: You mention that when you first started tattooing, it was kind of hush-hush. I try to fit in time to take care of the business of the shop, because I own it. Myles: Usually, in the mornings, I sketch whatever I have to do for the day, and then I go to work. Green: What is an average day like for you as a tattoo artist? It was more like a health-code violation. You didn't advertise that you were tattooing, and there was no sign outside people would have to call up to be let in, but at the same time, the ban wasn't enforced. Everybody knew who was tattooing in the city, and there used to be these underground meetings called the Tattoo Society. I feel very fortunate that I was able to work before the ban was lifted, because it was such a completely different sort of community back then. ![]() Myles: It took me a little bit longer to get good based on it being illegal, because you get better by working in a shop and having artists around you. Green: What was it like to try to hone your skills while it was still illegal in New York City? There are definitely more women in the industry now, but it's still a guys’-club system. In the long run, it's something that has helped me stand out. When I started tattooing, people maybe took me less seriously as a woman tattooer. In 1997, when tattooing was legalized, I opened up my shop with my business partner. At some point around 1989, I had a friend who got a starter kit to start tattooing, and I was like, "Oh, maybe I could try doing this too." It wasn't common for women to be tattooing, and there were no traditional apprenticeships available because tattooing was illegal in New York until 1997, so I kind of stumbled along for the first couple of years. I started getting tattooed when I was in high school whenever I got a chance, if I had any extra money, I'd get another tattoo. Tattooing is so much a part of who I am on so many levels, even literally. Michelle Myles: I've always been an artist, and I came to New York to go to art school at Parsons School of Design. Michelle Myles tattooing (Michelle Myles) ![]()
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