Interview with an awesome tattoists couple from London: Thomas and Isabella

Hey guys J  this weekend I went to a party on my birthday and randomly met a couple of Tattooists:
 

The first one was Thomas, he was 28 and Isabella was 25 and they both came from London. Thomas has already worked in the tattoo industry for over 10 years, he finished high school and afterwards began his career by taking an apprenticeship with an experienced tattoo artist at a studio. He’s success led him to become the owner of his own studio. On the other hand, Isabella finished her bachelor in Arts and Graphic Design, after which she took up work in a tattoo studio, which coincidentally belonged to Thomas. I’ve gained a lot of insight on the subject of tattooing from Isabella and Thomas, and over the next couple of posts I would like to share with you bit by bit the stories I’ve heard from my new friends. Tomorrow I will start off and tell how Thomas and Isabella are perceived in society outside their friends and tattoo friendly environment.

Thomas had numerous visible tattoos especially on his arms and neck, as well as a nose piercing and an eyebrow piercing. The conversation started off by talking about how he is perceived by the society because of his looks. He told me it depends on the social circle he is in, for example his friends, family or strangers. Thomas was always very artistic and creative; he started designing his own tattoos at the age of 15. However, when he decided to get some tattoos of his own, his parents did not like that idea at all. His father considered getting a tattoos as destroying the body. This caused much tention in the family once Thomas started getting tattoos. The situation only worsened when Thomas announced that after high school he wants to beome a tattoo artist himself. His parents stopped supporting him finacially and forced him to move out, and Thomas then began his career with a paid apprenticeship at a tattoo studio. On the other hand, Thomas’s friends love his tattoo’s, and have some on their own. To them,his tattos as well as piercings only improve his looks. Because of them, and the way that they supported Thomas on his journey, he decided to turn his back on the ones that did not approve of the way he looked and simply not take in account their opinions.  However, Thomas still recalled the times where when he got arms and neck tattooed very visibly, people would stare and pass judgemental looks at his appearance. Quote: ‘It wasn’t always so easy, even though I am accepted in the society, does not mean that I fit in the society’.