BAW: What made  you want to become a Tattoo Artist? 

Artist: I turned down my first apprenticeship offer at the age of 19, thinking it would be a boring job of doing panthers and roses all day. I continued to try and get what I considered a :real art job", sending samples into everyone I could think of. I received a lot of form letters, several response that varied from praise to almost insults, but no work. I did artwork for everything from underground bands, to fanzines, political cartoons, etcetera, I even paid to put myself through art school. I appeared in galleries but worked minimum wage jobs to pay rent. I finally moved to NYC, interviewed with DC Comics (twice) and Penguin Books, went to portfolio days, received plenty of compliments, but no work. In the meantime, I had a friend of my brother named Chad Divel, a tattoo artist of 8 years who also painted, telling me I should really tattoo, and he would teach me. By this time I had received quite a few tattoos, saw the work Chad was doing, and realized that tattooing had far more to offer than I had originally thought. I jumped in, and have been through the ups and downs, including working at 8 different shops in 3 states, but I'm still enjoying the experience.

 BAW: Who are your  influences? 

Artist: Well, unlike some I've encountered in this industry, I think art has a huge influence on tattooing (it seems obvious to many, but I've had plenty of tattoo artists argue that this is just a craft, like a plumber).
With that in mind, I would have to say the artists I really admire in tattooing are Robert Hernandez (my personal favorite), Guy Aitchison, Tom Renshaw, Aaron Cain, and plenty more who have at least some technique or area that catches my eye. The list of good tattooers is huge now Artists I really admire are Frank Frazetta, John Totleben, Bernie Wrightson, and way too many others to name. Some of my favorites are on my website.

 BAW: What is your  favorite style of work? 

Artist: I refer realism, I hate using an outline unless I have to. I especially enjoy horror, it has way more feel than many other elements, at least to me, and works especially well as a tattoo.

 BAW: Tell us  about your first Tattoo experience? 

Artist: The first tattoo I got was a design I drew myself, on my upper arm. It took 3 hours, and left me wanting more. I got my next one maybe a week later! I always wanted to be covered, I remember seeing Mike Ness of Social Distortion as a kid and wanting to be covered like him. Only time and money have stopped me so far!

 BAW: What is your  favorite piece you own? 

Artist: I have a huge, realistic reptile eye covering the back of my neck. It's done from a painting by Michael Wheeler that appeared on an H.P. Lovecraft book.

 BAW: What is your  most memorable Tattoo given and why? 

Artist: I have many, many tattoo stories, especially from when I worked on St. Marks in downtown NYC, but all my favorite tattoos were done in relative calm on people who are regular clients of mine. One of the funniest, is I tattooed "Momma's Boy", inside a chrome heart, on a guy's ass. I tattooed the same guys name, on all his girls, none of whom knew of each other. I've finished tattoos that another artist in the shop got angry, insulted the customer, and left half done.

 BAW: Is there a  part of the body you won't Tattoo and why? 

 

Artist: Not really, there are definitely bad areas, but if you offer me enough money, and I warn you about all the problems but it is no deterrent, I'll tattoo the sole of your foot. I've had guys say they want their cock tattooed, I tell them it is a $450 handling fee, plus the price of the tattoo, but no one has been willing to spend that much money. I won't tattoo someone for the first time on the neck or face, they must have several tattoos, and I turned down a guy who wanted a teardrop on his cheek. I told him what that means, but he insisted "well, I don't want it to mean that".

 BAW: How do you  feel about female Tattoo Artists? 

Artist: My wife is a tattoo artist! She rocks!

 BAW: Do you  support supply co. that sells to the public? 

Artist: You know, I really don't care. If it is good equipment, I'll buy it. The worst work I've seen has come out of other shops, and if you suck, it doesn't matter how good your equipment is.

BAW: Do you feel  there now should be mandatory schooling for soon to be 
tattoo  artists? 

Artist: No, definitely not. Most of the best artist I know started on their own, or because some scumbag, in-between riding his bike and snorting meth, taught them. In no other commercial art area is your diploma important, it is all a matter of your portfolio, or good word of mouth. Who wants a small minded cliquish bureaucracy determining who gets to be a tattoo artist? We already have enough of that in the tattoo scene, why institutionalize it?

 BAW: Do you feel  Tattooing has changed over the years, and if so why? 

Artist: It is constantly evolving for the better. Look at tattoos even 10 years ago, and look at them now? It has gone from obscure folk art to the huge cultural icon it is now!

 BAW: Do you think  it is important to do as many conventions and shows as possible? 

Artist: I think conventions help get your name out there, and can be a social get-together for tattoo artists, but I always find I build more clients and make more money just doing good tattoos at my home shop. It is a good break, almost a tattoo vacation, but the people locally (even a few towns away) are what pay your rent.

 BAW: What advise  can you give to someone who is starting or 
looking to get  into the tattoo business?

 Artist: Get tattooed! Draw a lot, take a look at museums and commercial art for inspiration, and don't listen to the hordes of old school artists who tell you that everything needs an outline and you can't pull off painterly effects on skin! They'll still be bitter and talking trash, while they watch you do sleeves and back pieces, constantly grumbling that if it isn't a Sailor jerry design it doesn't look like a tattoo.

  BAW: What could  you say to someone who has had a bad first experience? 

Artist: Never give up! That is a rule for life, and if you let a bad experience chase you away, when you can see all the great things it is capable of, you have a weak mind and shouldn't get a tattoo. You'll want something different in a week anyways.

 BAW: Since you  have started what changes have you seen in the industry? 

Artist: I constantly see more and more amazing work, not too mention that now that I appreciate all the technical skill that is put into it, it can be astounding. People are demonstrating better skill than the majority of illustrators doing book and magazine covers! I have clients automatically assuming all tattoo artists went to art school! It has come a long way from the marine logo and the hula girl!

 BAW: How do you  feel about apprenticeships? 

Artist: I don't see anything wrong with a tattoo artist seeing potential in someone, and teaching them. All to often, it is about who is friends with who, how much money was paid (one guy I worked with charged $10,000, he would teach anyone with the money), or the need for someone to scrub tubes and mop the floor. Personally, I don't do them. It's like raising a kid, if you don't want to dedicate the time, do everyone a favor and stay out of it.

 BAW: Where do you  think the Tattoo Industry is going today?  

Artist: I think it is getting bigger, even people that 10 years ago shunned tattoos are getting them now. That can be good for the business, as people get very artistic, well received pieces, and it can be bad, as people stupid little trinkets that they regret in the coming years, often poorly done or badly thought out, and it creates a negative image to everyone that sees them. I don't think doing big, good work will lose it's client base, but maybe those cheap, flash tattoos will. Then again, that might not be such a bad thing. Do you think it is getting  better or worse? I see more astounding artists in the field every day, and even the people who were good years ago are blown away by the new crop coming into the limelight. That can only be a good thing. 
 
BAW: Please share  any other comments or views or questions to the public you 
might  have. 

Artist: Check out my website, www.danhenk.com  !

I enjoy tattooing, I get excited about cool subject matters, and tend to make regulars out of all my horror tattoo clients, but it's not all I do. I paint, I'm constantly in galleries, and I have art coming out in two new books (see my website for details), and I strongly believe that all the influences feed into one another. That vacation you had or that trip to the mountains you took, or that drawing you finished for some client, all  makes you excited to do the next art project, whether it is a painting or a tattoo.
Whatever you do, remember it is for you, no one else.