A Short Interview With Glenn
How long have you been tattooing?
13 years.
What was your first tattoo?
A tribal ring on my kneecap, I was told it really hurt to get a tattoo on the kneecap so I thought I would try it first time.
What was your last tattoo?
A prison style throat piece of my baby girl's name.
What led you to get into tattooing?
From my first tattoo I knew which side of the gun I wanted to be on so I sent away for a gun and started learning how to do it. If you look across the bodies of my friends and family you can see demonstrations of my work getting better.
What is your favourite style of tattoo?
I really like the traditional Japanese style, there is so much diversity across the board if you look at the symbolic designs like Koi and Dragons to the Yakuza masks. You can just do so much with all the different styles from basic outlines, to the really detailed black and grey designs up to the full colour body suits. When someone comes in with a really nice Japanese design I just know I am going to enjoy doing it.
Where do you like to look for designs/inspiration?
I don't like to just take a piece of flash from the wall and do it for a customer, I always want to try and give them something a bit personalised so they don't see their tattoo on other people. Sometimes I will get a brainwave while doing the tattoo and stop what I'm doing saying "You know what would look pretty cool!" Most of the time designs tend to hit me at random points, I will be in bed and just wake up at 3 in the morning with a flash of inspiration for a customers design.
What question do you most commonly get asked about tattooing?
Does it hurt?
What is your answer?
Nothing you wouldn't walk away from.
What tattoo are you most proud of?
I once did a spider web inside a guy's ear, it only took about a half hour to do but the guy had to keep bending his ear for me to be able to do the work. I couldn't stop and start it either so I had to try and do each line in one movement. It turned out really well when it was done and its one of the designs I keep on my phone to show people. I also did a really large piece of the Archangel Michael in black and grey that took 3-4 sittings but I really took my time over it and its one of those tattoos that every time I look at it I feel really proud of the piece.
How long have you been tattooing?
13 years.
What was your first tattoo?
A tribal ring on my kneecap, I was told it really hurt to get a tattoo on the kneecap so I thought I would try it first time.
What was your last tattoo?
A prison style throat piece of my baby girl's name.
What led you to get into tattooing?
From my first tattoo I knew which side of the gun I wanted to be on so I sent away for a gun and started learning how to do it. If you look across the bodies of my friends and family you can see demonstrations of my work getting better.
What is your favourite style of tattoo?
I really like the traditional Japanese style, there is so much diversity across the board if you look at the symbolic designs like Koi and Dragons to the Yakuza masks. You can just do so much with all the different styles from basic outlines, to the really detailed black and grey designs up to the full colour body suits. When someone comes in with a really nice Japanese design I just know I am going to enjoy doing it.
Where do you like to look for designs/inspiration?
I don't like to just take a piece of flash from the wall and do it for a customer, I always want to try and give them something a bit personalised so they don't see their tattoo on other people. Sometimes I will get a brainwave while doing the tattoo and stop what I'm doing saying "You know what would look pretty cool!" Most of the time designs tend to hit me at random points, I will be in bed and just wake up at 3 in the morning with a flash of inspiration for a customers design.
What question do you most commonly get asked about tattooing?
Does it hurt?
What is your answer?
Nothing you wouldn't walk away from.
What tattoo are you most proud of?
I once did a spider web inside a guy's ear, it only took about a half hour to do but the guy had to keep bending his ear for me to be able to do the work. I couldn't stop and start it either so I had to try and do each line in one movement. It turned out really well when it was done and its one of the designs I keep on my phone to show people. I also did a really large piece of the Archangel Michael in black and grey that took 3-4 sittings but I really took my time over it and its one of those tattoos that every time I look at it I feel really proud of the piece.