support your local.

Tattoo Artist.

FIVE TATTOO ARTISTS WERE HANDED A PAIR OF GRIFTER SCOUNDREL GLOVES TO CUSTOMISE IN WHICHEVER WAY THEY PLEASE.

During Melbourne's lockdown of July 2020 we teamed up with five local tattooists & the legends over at Grifter to bring you this exclusive collaboration & raffle giveaway.

All the money raised went directly to the artist or charity of their choice.

ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED.

Anna
May.

Heretic Tattoo. Fitzroy

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TATTOOING, WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE GETTING INTO THIS CAREER?

I've been tattooing for just over 3 years, and making art for most of my life. In my late teens I became fascinated with tattooing and started getting tattooed regularly in my early twenties. Being in tattoo shops always gave me so much inspiration to work harder and make more art. I had never in my life been exposed to such dedicated practicing artists as I was when I started getting tattooed. In my early adulthood, I turned to nightlife and performing as a DJ as an easy fix to gratify my creative impulses, but I knew that was a means to an end and definitely not a sustainable lifestyle for an introvert like me. When I discovered tattooing, I felt like I had found my people and I wanted to break free from the chaotic lifestyle of the Melbourne club scene. I put my head down and made more art than ever. It was a very isolating and sobering time in my life. I had several conversations with Eugene, an artist I was getting tattooed by regularly, about starting my own career as a tattooer, and eventually he reached out to me when Heretic was looking to take on a new apprentice. I didn't even get an interview the first time I applied, but a few months later I applied again and was taken on board. Having Eugene and also Lilli as friends on the inside definitely helped me get to where I am today. 

WHAT'S YOUR PREFERRED STYLE?

I don't know what I would call my style. Blackwork folk surrealism? I have so many influences and I can't really pinpoint an exact style that I identify with. I can never tattoo enough birds. 

I feel my best work is bold lined, with high contrast and strong use of negative space. Before tattooing I could never pinpoint an exact style in my art. In my first year or two tattooing I would tattoo a bit of everything. Only in the past 6 months I'd say I have found my groove in one style, but only through tattooing many different styles. Slowly my designs have evolved based off of what I enjoy doing the most. But I still feel as though my style will continue to evolve and grow as I do. 

WHAT ARE THE MAIN INFLUENCES & INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR ARTWORK?

There are so many. I feel like my most referenced styles of art are Ukiyo-e era Japanese compositions (Hokusai, Hiroshige), American traditional tattooing styles, 1800s era wildlife illustration and botanical art, Art Nouveau (in particular Erté, Beardsley etc.) and of course I am inspired by many tattoo artists, some who still tattoo today and some who I only know by legacy. I have said before that I am inspired by tattooing as a medium in general. When I am designing a tattoo or flash design, it is important for me to ask myself: "Is this tattoo for everybody? Can I see this design working on all bodies and all skin tones? Will this tattoo be recognisable and visible from across the room?".

get in touch with anna

I have been working at Heretic Tattoo in Fitzroy for almost four years. I did my apprenticeship at Heretic and have been tattooing full time for a little over 3 years. I am currently fully booked until the beginning of October and my books are closed. I will be opening my books for new appointments in October-December hopefully in mid-September. If you want to stay updated on when I will be taking bookings again, you can follow me on Instagram (@acmayc). However, if you wish to make a booking at Heretic, there are so many talented artists in our team who are taking appointments in the more immediate future!

HONEY
TRIPPER.

Heretic Tattoo. Fitzroy

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TATTOOING, WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE GETTING INTO THIS CAREER?

I’ve been tattooing for 4 years now. I’ve been so lucky to work alongside incredible artists from the get go, my experience in the industry has been amazing.

WHAT'S YOUR PREFERRED STYLE?

I work in black, dot work style. I love making large-scale freehand botanicals and animal pieces. The bigger the better.

WHAT'S THE MAIN INFLUENCES & INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR ARTWORK?

My influences are constantly shifting. I take inspiration from nature, music, my friends and family, as well as other artists. 

EAGLE & DRAGON.

In the making

GET IN TOUCH with Honey

Heretic Tattoo Studio is currently closed and I won’t be taking bookings for a while, but stay tuned on my IG account @honeytrippertattoo for booking updates and info!

For commission artwork email:honeytrippertattoo@gmail.com

meighan
mary.

Lucky 13 Tattoo, Burwood.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TATTOOING, WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE GETTING INTO THIS CAREER?

I have been tattooing for 14 years. The industry was very different when I started, it took a lot of hard work, persistence and a lot of getting tattooed before you were allowed to ask any questions. 

WHAT'S YOUR PREFERRED STYLE & THE MAIN INFLUENCES BEHIND YOUR WORK?

Ive always worked in street shops so i will do any style of tattoo, though my preferred style would be American traditional. Lately I’ve been doing a lot of fine line too, that’s pretty hip at the moment. 

What was the process behind your gloves?

The influences for the gloves really come from my love of vintage western leather belts and vintage motorcycle accessories. The jewelled an pattern studs give that vibe. I didn’t want to make them overly flashy with paint so i went with a simple snake design on the tops. I painted sigils of control and protection on the palms which will bring the owner good luck while riding.

GET IN TOUCH WITH MEIGHAN

I work at Lucky 13 Tattoo in Burwood VIC. The best way to contact me for appointments is via instagram dms @meighanmary or emailing the shop at Lucky13tattoo.melbourne@gmail.com

Monica
Halliday.

Heretic Tattoo. Fitzroy

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TATTOOING, WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE GETTING INTO THIS CAREER?

I’ve been tattooing for around 4 years now. I started my apprenticeship in 2014 but it had been an on and off kind of gig throughout the first few years while I was caring for my mum. I always wanted to be a tattoo artist but I don’t think I had the confidence back then to do anything about it. I then became friends with an artist who could see how much I wanted to do it, so he inspired me to get into and helped me the job as an apprentice where he was working. So I’m pretty grateful it happened that way as i don’t know where I’d be now if it wasn’t for him.

WHAT'S YOUR PREFERRED STYLE & THE MAIN INFLUENCES BEHIND YOUR WORK?

I love blackwork. Dot work. A mixture of styles I think. I mainly love doing a lot of botanical style tattoos. And pretty keen to do more larger scale freehand botanicals. I also love BDSM erotic fetish art for eg: Shibari girls (girls tried up in rope). Along with many of things.

WHAT'S THE MAIN INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR ARTWORK?

Not only are there many artists that inspire me such as @Sad_amish_tattooer, for their blackwork fine-line BDSM bondage erotic illustrative look and Honey Tripper for her amazing freehand botanicals, along with so many other artist right here in Melbourne (too many to name).
I also get so much inspiration from nature and walking in nature, also my friends in the kink community.. such as riggers and their bunnies working with rope and creating beautiful rope art on the human body.

Black Widow.

In the making.

Get in touch with Monica

Monica is working at Heretic: Lv 1, 175 Brunswick Street Fitzroy.

Monica is currently accepting commission artwork.
Reach out to her on Instagram 
@moksha_tattooer or via email mhtattooer@gmail.com 

Sera
Helen.

Crucible Tattoo Co. Kensington.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TATTOOING, WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE GETTING INTO THIS CAREER?

I have been tattooing around 9 years. I had a helping hand getting my foot in the door from Clyde Peri and ever since ive found alot of like minded peers in the industry that have become good friends over the years. 

What is your preferred style?

I work in Black and Grey using fine lines to bring together soft, intricate details with more bold, hard and sharp elements in the hopes of imbuing this feeling of beauty and strength in people who wear my artwork.

What are the main influences behind your artwork?

Im pretty nostalgic about tattoo history and currently enjoy looking at tattoos from the 80s and 90s for inspiration. I am always excited and inspired by people that make bold expressive statements with their body adornment that maybe signifies personal growth or transformation from within, people who say 'fuck it, this is me!'  As we become accustomed to certain ideas and placements i enjoy trying to imagine and attempt what that next risque tattoo might look like.

Get in touch with sera

I work at Crucible Tattoo in Kensington, Melbourne.
Best way to make an appointment is to email 
serahelen.tattoo@gmail.com