I feel like i’m beggining to sound monotonous when introducing the feature artist of the week, in that i am always saying how blown away i am by their art, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, i am totally blown away by Miss Hel’s work, particularly her water colours – Damn!
Miss Hel has only been tattooing for two and a half years and is definitely making waves!
Check the interview and see for yourself!
Thank you for your time dude, what’s been happening?
Nothing much, lost my art mojo for awhile but think I have just about found it again behind the sofa.
For those who don’t know, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Well, I am a pretty quiet girl, who keeps herself to herself. When I’m not tattooing I spend most of my time drawing something or another , watching far too many movies, and generally spending most of what should be my wild days, being a hermit.
You’ve only been tattooing for two years, and let’s be honest, you’re damn good at what you do, is it something that came naturally to you?
Aw, that is very kind of you, although I still have a very long way to go yet! I guess at first it did come quite naturally to an extent, in that it felt right having a machine in my hand and the way I draw and go about creating an image translates really well into tattoos, especially the more traditional stuff. I guess that’s why tattooing appealed to me in the first place as I felt my drawing style finally had a place to fit in. It will always be frustrating as hell though, as I’m a complete perfectionist by nature and like everything you’re trying to learn, you always feel like you’re taking one step forward and twenty steps back!
You’re also an amazing fine artist, how long have you been drawing and creating art, when did you decide to persue art and/or tattooing as a career?
I have been drawing, like most people that do it, ever since I was a kid. It wasn’t until I worked long shitty hours in boring jobs that I decided to get more serious about it. The tattooing, well it’s kind of a long story, so the short ish version is. I wasted a few years studying fashion design at university, dropped out and ended up working in some sex shops selling porn and various other amusing items. I then went onto working for a rubber clothing company, with the best bosses in the world, who were really encouraging of me pursuing tattooing (maybe I was crap at my job with them haha!) During which time I started to build up a portfolio of art work so that I could eventually try and pursue an apprenticeship in tattooing as I felt this was the right thing for me to be doing, as I already had an ever growing passion for everything tattoo. I used to go out on the Goth scene a lot and my now close friend Rhi, was in the particular group I hung out with and told me to get my arse in to visit the shop she worked at and show the boss my portfolio. I only really went to get a bit of advice on it, not really planning on an apprenticeship so soon, however Cilla asked me to come back a few days later and I’ve been there ever since!
Who taught you to tattoo, and how have they had any effect on your style today?
I was taught to tattoo by Cilla, who owns Original Skin and has been tattooing now for over 21 years. It’s kind of a strange one, as her style and mine are completely different, and she is from the generation of tattooists that hate the resurgence of the old school style. The reason being that back when they started that was the only thing around, and so they wanted to move forward from it. She draws and favours Japanese and realistic styled stuff, which I completely suck at as my natural way of drawing is very stylistic. I think it has been a good thing though, as I have learned from her to look at things in a different light which has definitely strengthened my own work.
I guess you could say Tattoo’s have become accepted in today’s society, possibly even expected, obviously there being more people for you to tattoo is a good thing, but do you think there is a downside to it?
Nothing is ever perfect, so there will always be problems and a downside to something that grows and becomes so popular. With tattooing, it is so much more main stream now that it has kind of lost the ‘magic’ it once had, where tattoos were predominantly only worn by those on the outskirts of society. Now, I see people from all walks of life coming for one which is a great thing as they shouldn’t be exclusive. However more often than not we get a lot of very young people, with no other tattoos coming in to get their hands and necks tattooed just because the latest celebrity has it. They don’t seem to realise the permanence of them and treat them more like a fashion accessory, which has resulted in a lot of very bad tattoos walking around on very public body parts, which is quite a sad thing to see.
How do you think certain “reality” tattoo shows on TV have effected tattooing on a broad scale?
This is always going to be a double edged sword. On one side of the coin, it’s great as it shows a wider audience what is possible with tattoos and anything that promotes the industry in this way can only be good for the tattooist and ultimately the wearer, getting the best piece they can. However I think certain shows have given tattooing a slightly tarnished name and promoted it as this rock n roll lifestyle, thus resulting in even more thinking it would be a ‘cool’ job and getting into it for what I would consider the wrong reasons, i.e., money, fame etc. There have always been scratchers and kitchen wizards, but the amount I have seen since the shows is reaching new heights.
I guess you could describe your artistic style as being, “dark”. Where do you draw the inspiration for your artwork from?
Mainly stuff I like. I love traditional and old school style tattoos but unless a customer requests it, I tend to stay away from more traditional imagery and designs as so many people are doing them right now, that are also doing them much better than I could. I try to keep my paintings very separate from my tattoo work as painting for me has always been a way to chill out and it acts as a kind of release, so I will always just paint whatever is floating in my head at that time. My main influences are my personal taste and lifestyle, so gothic imagery mixed with stuff I am interested in such as anything of an occult and esoteric nature, animals, macabre and religious art. I also collect far too much random stuff, such as taxidermy, religious statuary, and Mexicana. The taxidermy, I have been into from an early age due to seeing various bits in my grandparent’s houses as a kid. It’s great as it means I have a home surrounded by real reference instead of just using the normal resources. Although I don’t do realistic work, I always use photos of real objects and things as a starting point to anything I do. I also love old fashioned, crumply antique things so that is a main influence to the feel of my work.
What’s been pumping through your speakers lately?
A very eclectic mix of Electric wizard, Lacuna Coil, Skinny Puppy, Cult of Luna, Nick Cave and The God Machine.
Greatest accomplishment as an artist/ tattooist?
To be able to actually look forward to going to work, as I hate getting out of bed in the morning! Also to have people trust me with their skin and get excited about my art work, as I am probably my worst critic when it comes to that.
No doubt you have seen some pretty fucked tattoo’s in your time, what is the worst tattoo you’ve ever seen?
Oh dear god, unfortunately I see quite a few on a weekly basis so I couldn’t really think of one in particular!
Favourite place to kick it?
The cemetery taking loads of photos! Haha! If I am in a bad mood, then going to my favourite bookshop Threadwells and staring in the window at Get Stuffed (taxidermy heaven in Islington London) really helps! Being by the sea, curling up on the sofa at home with the fella and my cat watching crap on the tv!
What was your first tattoo, and who did it?
It was a drawing I did inspired by a piece of comic art from Roman Dirge’s ‘Noogies’ by an artist called Xu Mal. It was tattooed by Kev Shercliffe at Derby State of the art convention back in 2001.
What’s in your pockets right now?
Hopefully the answers to the universe, but more than probably a big lump of cat fluff.
What are your views/opinions on the World and Society today?
Pretty fucked to be honest. There is a lot wrong with the world today, but I think you can get so bogged down with all the negativity that I try to not focus on it and just get on with my life. If you can make your small corner of the world good, be a considerate and polite person, look out for the environment as much as you can, then that is all you can do. The world is full of arseholes, so don’t let them get you down. Concentrate on looking after yourself and your loved ones the best you can.
Name 5 things you couldn’t live without.
My lovely other half
My kitty
Pizza
Tattoos
Black clothing
Advice to aspiring artists/tattooists?
Hmmm, don’t give up, keep drawing and don’t get a tattoo kit and tattoo your mates from home! If your meant to tattoo you will, so don’t throw your toys out the pram if you don’t get it straight away, keep going. Also draw stuff you are into, don’t just rip off other peoples work directly. Being inspired by something is completely different from just drawing a poorer version of someone else’s art. For art, let nothing hold you back. Nothing has to be a masterpiece, you should always paint or draw or make stuff for you and no one else. Enjoy it, don’t let it become a chore!
Anything in the mix or coming up that we should know about?
Actually yes! I am one of many that are involved in a new and exciting project called the Sugar Project. It involves painting a skull and then it will be auctioned off on eBay and all the money raised will be going to the Woking Hospice. There are some absolutely awesome artists involved so not only could you own an amazing piece of art (and a skull…everyone loves skulls!) but you also get to help a good cause in the process! Find out more here… http://www.myspace.com/the-sugar-project
I also did a piece of art for the Artist Tuesday ‘Rose Project’ which was another charity project, the book is now out which you can get from the fine folks at Thou Art http://www.myspace.com/artisttuesdaybooks
Yet another book and art project is the Gobu Book started by Sway of Northside Tattooz. It is a collection of sleeve designs that will be published in the coming year and again has some amazing artists involved. You can have a sneak peek and find out more info here http://www.myspace.com/sleavebook
I think that is enough pimping for now, haha! Hopefully I would like to do a convention next year so if anyone in the UK wants to get tattooed then hit me up! ;)
Word association, you know the deal, say whatever comes to your mind when you read the word.
Australia – fucking awesome sharks!
Kevin Rudd – shamefully had to google
England – wet
The Queen – heritage
Religion – generally makes things worse, but has some beautiful imagery
Time – never enough
Greed – gives you a food baby
Humanity- is cruelty
Peace - silence
Freedom - precious
Tattooing – good times
Art – subjective
Life - interesting and complex
Happiness – more important than earning lots of money
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