Hottest Tattoos

Barbara is a fan of Ornamental and floral tattoos, a mother, and a digital content creator. A skeleton as her main subject for her backpiece linked with her childhood In this interview, she shares her mission related to tattooing: ‘I love sharing my daily life as a tattooed mom, being myself, and happily breaking stereotypes around heavily tattooed women.”

Barbara, welcome to Tattoo Life! Shall we start our chat with an introduction?
Hey, my name is Barbara Crane. I’m a proud tattooed mom and I work at Stories & Ink, a tattoo skincare brand. I love sharing snippets of my life as a heavily tattooed woman.

You are a digital content creator. Can you tell me more about your specialization?
I started a long time ago, wanting to create nice pictures for myself—both of me and my surroundings. I enjoyed planning and getting creative, exploring and finding my style. I didn’t expect so many people to appreciate it too, and that’s how my following grew.

Right now, I love sharing my daily life as a tattooed mom, being myself, and happily breaking stereotypes around heavily tattooed women.

When did your passion for tattooing start?
When I was about 6 years old, I learned what a tattoo was, and I was fascinated by the idea of having drawings on skin. I knew then that I would decorate myself with art. I got my first tattoo at 17—a beautiful peony on the inside of my left arm, and I still love it. The rest is history!

Did you choose the ornamental style from the beginning? How come?
No, my tattoo journey started without a clear direction. I knew I wanted most of my tattoos in black and grey, although I did end up getting a couple of color tattoos on my legs. I loved flowers (especially peonies) and mandalas, which became the main elements of my tattoos.

I was drawn to the art style of my current tattoo artist, Emils Salmins. The way he draws flowers and ornaments really speaks to me—so timeless and bold. I wanted all of that on my skin. I love how I can have different imagery (like the skeleton on my back) but its surroundings are decorated with ornaments and flowers, helping to connect the rest of my tattoos.

May I ask about your choice of having a skeleton as the theme for your back piece?
I was born on Halloween, and as a kid, my parents threw Halloween-themed birthday parties for me each year. Halloween wasn’t a big thing in my country back then, so I felt very special. We had carved pumpkins, fake spider webs, and all kinds of decorations.

One year, I received a skeleton balloon that I became attached to. Since then, I’ve loved skeletons.

I had toy skeletons, and I adored the music video for the Chemical Brothers’ “Hey Boy, Hey Girl.” When I couldn’t decide what to have on my back, I shared some ideas with my artist and let him run with it. He knew I liked skeletons, so he added one in the center of my back piece, and I loved it! It now represents my love for skeletons, my birthday, and even death. I feel like he’s ‘got my back,’ haha.

What other subjects have you chosen with a specific meanings?
I have a crane tattooed on my left arm because that’s my last name. I also have a piece of a mandala on my left arm, which is part of a drawing my mom did for me when I was a kid. I have an entire sleeve dedicated to Halloween-themed bits to honor my birthday.

Do you prefer to work with different tattoo artists or just one? Who?
The top half of my body is all done by Emils Salmins. I do have a few tattoos by other artists and would like to get more from them, but Emils’s art and style spoke to me in a unique way. I ended up wanting just that. I love how cohesive the top half of my body looks since it’s all done by him.

What do you enjoy in life? Any hobbies or special interests? I saw that you’re the mother of a beautiful baby boy!
Yes, thank you! I love being a mother! It’s the most important, beautiful, challenging, and fulfilling thing I’ve ever done. It currently consumes my time, and I embrace it because I know my son will grow up fast. I spend all my free time with him and my family. Outside of motherhood, I used to do a lot of art—video art, graphic design, photography, painting, drawing—you name it! Now, I don’t have as much time for it, but I’d love to do some painting or drawing when I get the chance.

The post The mission of the beautiful tattooed mum Barbara Crane appeared first on Tattoo Life.

As she faces life with a smile while listening to rapper Mac Miller’s ‘Best Day Ever’, permanent make-up artist Nicky opens up about her ink and tattoo plans.

Nicky, would you like to introduce yourself to the readers of TattooLife.com? I know that in life you do permanent makeup and tooth gems. Have you been doing this for several years?
Hello, I’m Nicky from Austria. I’m fairly new to the game and just opened my own permanent makeup and tooth gem studio one year ago (more info here @nyx.pmu and here @toothfairy.nyx).

My ambition is driving me to move to Germany because my hometown is just too small for bigger dreams.

When did your love for tattoos “blossom” in you?
Since I was a young teenager I wanted to be tattooed, just fully tattooed. Thank God I was broke and couldn’t afford all the tattoos I wanted, otherwise I would have needed a few cover-ups by now! I attached importance to good quality tattoos early on and then took it slow.

How to describe the style of tattoos that appear on your arms, legs, neck etc?
I’m really a lettering addict. I’ve always loved everything about lyrics, letters and graffiti. So most of my tattoos are lettering and the rest is a mix of Realistic and Ornamental that fit together really nicely.

What do you mainly look for in a tattoo? The aesthetics, the message, the skill of the artist who is doing it etc?
I think if you do something with passion, you do it good – and that’s how I choose my artists!

Do you have a trusted tattoo artist who you often turn to?
My ink definitely belongs to multiple great hands! But I love Dustin (IG: @dustin_tattooism) the founder of the ‘Klammheimlich Kollektiv’ in Hamburg (IG: @kollektiv_klammheimlich).

Will you get tattoos again in the next future?
Yes, at the moment I’m really focused on finishing my neck and chest this year. But it’s better I don’t start talking about all the open projects I would like to start…

Tell me something about yourself: do you have a favorite song that can describe you?
People who know me, know I would have many songs, especially lyrics, in stock. (smiles) If I should choose just one it would be ‘Best Day Ever’ from American rapper Mac Miller (IG: @macmiller) because no matter where life takes me, it finds me with a smile.

And your last famous words are… ?
What doesn’t kill you makes you wish you were dead… Just kidding, of course: be nice to each other. Peace!

The post Nicky, the lettering addict appeared first on Tattoo Life.

She loves her dog Chief but also tattoo art as she has always seen his emotions as something to be translated into artistic expressions. Let’s get to know her closer…

Hi Ivy, can you tell us when your “relationship” with tattoo art was first born? And how it then evolved.
I’ve always gravitated toward expressing my emotions and experiences in artistic ways. Tattoos became a big part of that and before I knew it my life story was outlined on my body.

You are tattooed mostly along your hips, thighs, back and feet. Not your arms. How come?
I enjoy the feeling and aesthetic of having rib and silhouette ink. It gave me the freedom of larger tattoos as well. I love symmetry and have a counter tattoo for each tattoo. Like the ones on my earlobes. But the arms are definitely next.

Am I wrong or you have a quote from a song by rapper Wiz Khalifa tattooed on your back?
The Wiz Khalifa (IG: @wizkhalifa) quote is for my little brother that passed away. I’ve lost two siblings and they are tributed by my Ivy tattoo that wraps around their names. They are always with me.

On your right thigh you have a flashy dream catcher with a skull inside. Who is the tattoo artist and is there a “message” behind that tattoo?
The message behind the dream catcher skull is my belief that dreams rule our brain. In the conscious and unconscious world.

Many of my tattoos are tied to mental health and things people fail to understand.

The artist name is Chase from ‘Lucid Illusions Tattoo & Piercing’ (FB: @lucidillusionstattoo) in Watertown, SD.

What’s the name of that cute dog that often appears in your photos on Instagram?
My beautiful boy’s name is Chief. He wears his giant ears like a proud headdress. He’s part of everything I do. He’s my shotgun rider!

And your last famous words are… ?
“You get back what you put in”.

The post Ivy, tattoos for mental health appeared first on Tattoo Life.

Welcome to the world of the model and tattoo artist Anaïs Chabane, where life shines pink as in her shooting for Tattoo Life, for which she was the cover girl in the latest issue.

I’ve always been really into girly things, pink is obviously my favourite colour and I’m clearly mad about Barbie. I collect vintage Barbies in my wardrobe and it’s something that makes me happy.

I’ve loved Barbie ever since I was a little girl and never lost interest in these dolls.

I find the Barbie universe truly magical and my dream is some day to create a tattooist or tattooed Barbie.

I come from Paris and moved to Los Angeles almost five years ago. I left France for the United States because on my first visit to Los Angeles, back in 2014, I fell in love and so I decided to come and live here.

I also wanted to scale things up a bit: the United States are a great opportunity in artistic terms and I wanted to raise my profile as a tattooist.

Most of the tattoos I have are black though I have some in colour, including one on my legs and right wrist. Most of them are black because I find it more aesthetically pleasing but I actually really like coloured pieces on other people!

I like to make ornamental jewels for the body, it’s the only style I do, and my favourite for over ten years now. What I like about this style is how you can adorn the body with tattoos that look like jewels, my inspiration comes from my travels in India and Marocco…

The post In the wonderful world of Anaïs Chabane appeared first on Tattoo Life.

Tattoo artist and former owner of a tattoo shop in Las Vegas. This is Staci’s past. As for the future and her “mystic” projects, you will have to read the next lines…

Hi Staci, I know you’re a Southern girl who lived a period of your life in Las Vegas and your nickname is “Gypsy Rose”. What’s next?
I actually live in the Netherlands now. I owned a small tattoo shop in Las Vegas for a few years and modeled. I used my tattoo shop and model money to pay for my education.

I now have a BA in Psychology and a MS in Biological Science. I am a teacher now and also opened a small artisan business in 2022 called ‘Mystic Hollow Emporium’, which I am now expanding to Europe.

Is anyone helping you with this new project of yours?
My two children and I create home decor, jewelry, paintings, sell crystals, oils and make small terrariums. My daughter, aged 18, is an extremely talented artist and owns this business with me and another one.

I am teaching her to tattoo as well. My son is 8 years old and already creates many things as well.

So the next chapter is my business, my work as a teacher, educating myself further in my PhD research on anthrozoology and exploring our beautiful new country!

How did your “relationship” with tattoo art begin, continue and how is it going?
I have always loved art in any form and being able to show art on my body was a fascination from a young age. I started with temporary tattoos as a child so when I became of age, getting a real tattoo was one of the first things I did.

Your body seems like a nice mix of styles: you have Japanese subjects, NeoTrad, portraits, letterings, colored pieces, Black and Grey pieces etc. So, am I wrong or do you like everything about tattoo art?
Yeah I love and appreciate all styles of tattoo art!

I noticed that on your right thigh you have a beautiful black and grey portrait of Edgar Allan Poe. Is he your favorite writer?
He is, I also have the poem ‘Dream Within a Dream’ written down my left arm and hand, that I tattooed myself.

Why that ‘Beautiful Darkness’ lettering written along your left arm? Is this a quote from something?
It’s the title of a book (a fantasy novel written in 2010 by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Ed). I loved it because I have always seen the beauty in darkness.

Do you have any trusted tattoo artists you would like to mention to us?
I actually did a lot of my ink myself. I had a bad experience with an artist and decided that I could do it myself. I bought the equipment and taught myself practicing on pigskin first and after using my own body as practice.

I tattooed anywhere I could reach.

Were you immediately attracted to tattoo art?
Sure! It came naturally to me. Most of my legs were done by myself and I did most of it upside down! I then found an apprenticeship, worked on others within months and owned my own shop within a year.

Let’s also talk about your other passions. Can you tell me your favorite book, your favorite film, the TV series you followed from start to finish and the most exciting concert you attended?
My passions are art in any form. I enjoy museums and festivals but mostly I enjoy working with my two children and creating our own art to sell at our shop. My favorite book would be the series ‘Crave’ by Tracy Wolff. I enjoy Harry Potter and Percy Jackson both books and movies, anything with magic and fantasy really!

I am also a med nerd so all the Doctor shows such as ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘The Good Doctor’. The most exciting concert I attended was Rob Zombie and Marylin Manson tour. They were amazing and I was right there in front!

And your last famous words are…?
Morticia Addams, of the iconic Addams Family, once said, “Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” This Morticia quote is also tattooed on my left arm near ‘Beautiful Darkness’ and ‘Dream Within a Dream Poem’. I believe everyone sees things differently, even the same event, so it is really important people remember to gain a different perspective in life and try to see things from others eyes.

The post Staci Fuller, always find beauty within darkness appeared first on Tattoo Life.

Camilla is a make-up artist from Milan who has so far collected many elegant tattoos in an absolutely random way. Let’s find out how…

Camilla, a make up artist like you should also be intrigued by the world of tattoo art, right?
No, having been part of this industry for many years now, I don’t think that the two passions necessarily have to go hand in hand. On the contrary! In my case, however, I first fell in love with tattoos and then with make-up.

You are tattooed on almost every part of your body, but your front is still clean. Will you dedicate yourself to it in the future or do you prefer to leave it like this?
I think it will stay like this: clean. I don’t think I’d love having my chest tattooed and I’m too afraid to get my belly tattooed…

Yet I said the same thing about my legs or back years ago! So, who can tell? I might even contradict myself! (smiles)

Do you think there’s a sort of “fil rouge” in all those Black ‘n’ Gray pieces that adorn your body? Or you just like to get tattooed randomly?
I started completely random and I will continue that way. The only constant, for me, is trying to collect moments and memories.

By the way: why Black ‘n’ Grey tattoos?
I actually have some color tattoos too: only three, for the record, and they date back to when I first started getting tattooed. The choice of Black ‘n’ Grey, however, was spontaneous. I just love how it “shows off” on me.

Can you show us the subjects that decorate your back?
On my back I have a random composition. I started with a crying spider woman made by Tttristesse (IG: @tttristesse) and later on I added a sacred heart plus a butterfly by Max Brain Tattoo (IG: @maxbraintattoo) a dragon by Tha Hanged and the little stars by Giulia Puntini (IG: @sailormakoto). In the end I closed that piece with another Tttristesse butterfly.

Does applying make-up on a tattooed person (even in key points such as the neck or the face) involve a different working methodology?
A tattooed person is identical to all the others and the products used are the same as are the various steps. I simply don’t like covering up tattoos so I always keep a very natural and transparent base, just the way I like it.

Do you have a reference tattoo artist (or even more than one) who has followed you so far in your search for ink?
I have known Max Brain (IG: @maxbraintattoo) for many years and I greatly respect his work and his evolution; his philosophy of life and his continuous research and desire to discover. He works in Varese at ‘Colors Shop Tattoo’ (IG: @colorstattooshop).

Do you have a still unexpressed desire related to tattoo art?
I don’t want to say it too loud but I’d really like to travel and converse with the artists I like most in Italy and around the world. I have so many curiosities and a lot of questions to ask them.

And your famous last words are… ?
I would say that we should all have more faith in ourselves and consequently in the universe. Life is really incredible.

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