Skinworks

AU caught up with Tommy and Donal of Belfast Skinworks to hear about their background and experiences as professional tattoo artists, and their views on the ever-changing world of tattoos as art.

How did you get involved and how long have you been doing it for?
Tommy: I’ve been doing it for 11 years now. I was an artist first. But then I moved onto tattoos.

Any advice for people who want to become tattoo artists?
Tommy: Don’t! Haha. No A lot of people think “Oh yeah I’ll be a tattoo artist” but not everyone’s suited to it. It’s hard graft. You won’t make money from it for the first 3 or 4 years.
Donal: Have a back-up plan. Of course, get an apprenticeship somewhere, but be prepared to have another job. We were both doing our apprenticeships but working a second job. There are loads of parlours around the place that will take you on for an apprenticeship.

How long has Skinworks been open for?
Donal: It’s been open for 19 years now. We’ve changed location a few times and it has changed ownership too. Its now Tommy Gunns Skinworks. We don’t just do tattoos though. We all paint canvases inspired by our work, and t-shirts as well. We’re not just a tattoo parlour.

Is there much competition between the different artists and parlours in Belfast?
Donal: No there’s not much competition at all. Maybe a few years ago but now there is just a general camaraderie. We get on well with the people in the likes of Skullduggery. Which is good. There are a lot of good artists in Belfast. Some bad ones too though.

How do you feel about programmes like Miami Ink and do you feel tattoos have a negative image?
Tommy: No I don’t think they do. Well it depends. Maybe older people don’t get them.
Donal: Programmes like Miami Ink are raising the image and profile of tattoos. We have people coming to us right now saying I didn’t realise you could get so many colours and that they didn’t realise you could get nice pictures and portraits and things. Though you have to be careful making stars out of tattoo artists. I guess like making a star out of anyone.

What’s the weirdest tattoo you have ever done and how many do you reckon you have done?
Tommy: It’s more weird people than weird tattoos. Like you have girls getting ice-cream cones and things. But I reckon I must have done at least 10,000 tattoos now at this stage.
Donal: I reckon it could be closer to 30,000. We do maybe six a day, but like Tommy said its more weird people than weird tattoos. There was one guy who got the logo of the company he works for on the back of his head. The company make packaging, so the logo was just an empty box. We also had one guy get a Crunchie bar tattooed because his nickname was Crunchie.

Do you ever discourage people from getting a tattoo done?
Donal: We discourage people getting names, especially of girlfriends and boyfriends. We had one girl a while back who already had two names of ex-boyfriends and she wanted to get another one. We try to talk to people first. Get to know them a bit. We can do really good custom designs, there is no point just getting something that’s in fashion.

What were your first tattoos?
Tommy: I got my name. I’ve had it covered up since though.
Donal: My first was a tribal band. Just as they were becoming popular. I think you maybe always do regret your first tattoo. Or maybe not. It depends I guess.

Issue #48 - O RLY?

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