The collectors: Erica, 23, USA

Erica is a collector in the purest definition of the word. The list of artists that have tattooed her is impressive, and she has one of the most beautifully put together collections I've ever seen. Also, in this interview she gives some really nice insights about what it is like to be a tattooed lady.

"Like most angsty teenagers approaching 18, I thought tattoos were a way for me to express my individuality. I used Tumblr a lot back then, and really only followed crappy tattoo blogs. I remember checking FuckYeahTattoos every day, thinking it was the best stuff! After I got my first couple tattoos (yikes) is when I actually began to appreciate tattooing as an art form. I started following hundreds of tattooers and just looking at the work they did. 

My first tattoo is pretty bad. It’s a bird coming out of a birdcage upside down on my wrist (cringe). I got it a few weeks before my 18th birthday. My mom actually went with me and got her first tattoo as well! The whole thing was a mess. We went to a shop that my mom’s friend suggested because they would give us a “really good deal”. That should have been my first warning. My second warning should have been the leaking AC unit and cigarette smoke everywhere. The guy who did my tattoo wanted me to draw it for him (bad idea) and then tattooed it straight on from there, wonky lines and all. While he was tattooing me, he kept complaining about how my skin was too soft and the ink was falling out. He told me to come back in a few days for a touch up (people who assume you’re going to need a touch up immediately after tattooing you…not a good sign). He ended up tattooing me again five days later over my scabs. Ouch!

Erica's first tattoo // Tattoo by Alice Carrier

I never really thought about the idea of a collection until recently. After my first horrific tattoo experience, I got another mildly regretful tattoo on my back. That was really the transition from getting tattoos that really “meant” something to me and getting tattoos because I liked them, found them aesthetically pleasing, and reminded me of experiences (traveling for example). My third tattoo I got from Alice Carrier while visiting Portland. 

That was when I really started following tattooers and their work and curating a list of people I wanted to be tattooed by. Even then, I never really considered the idea of collecting tattoos.  I didn’t know collecting was even a thing until I was in tattoo shops and people would say “nice collection”. To me, it was just my body and these tattoos I thought were cool by tattooers I thought were good. I never anticipated others appreciating it as well.

Gorgeous artwork on Erica's legs // Bird by H.B. Nielsen

I’ve let most of my tattoos happen organically without much planning. I usually choose the tattooer first, based largely on opportunity. Like X tattooer is coming into a city that I might be in around the same time. Then I’ll book the appointment and get a feel for what area on my body I want it on, like arms or legs. But mostly it just happens in the moment while I’m talking with the tattooer. For example, I set up an appointment with H.B. Nielsen in New York in April because I thought I’d be there around the same time. I wanted something on my arm, an idea I later narrowed down to a bird. When I got there, he said it would be difficult to fit all the detail in such a small space on my arm. So I said just put it on my ribs! Definitely one of the most spur-of-the-moment decisions I’ve made.

I've got works from Guy Le Tatooer, Jenn Small, Marco Tafuri, Hillary Fisher White, Ashley Love, Josh Stephens, Matt Cooley, Rachel Hauer, Mike Adams, Cassandra Frances, Chris Hold, Dusty Neal, Alice Carrier, Frank Grimes, Alex Zampirri, Jason Monroe, Jack Goks Pearce, Scott Move, Florian Santus, Bastien Jean and H.B. Nielsen. Whew!

Guy Le Tatooer working on Erica's thigh piece // Tattoo by Guy Le Tatooer

I’ve gone out of my way to Richmond, VA, Columbus, OH, and to NYC specifically to get tattooed a couple of times. When I got my thigh piece from Guy Le Tatooer, I dove eight hours to New York, got tattooed for five, then drove five hours back home and slept in my car at a rest stop, without even stopping to eat! But for the most part no, getting tattooed is just one part of a larger trip to see and explore a new place. It’s my “souvenir” of sorts. I’ve been tattooed in seven countries so far and I think it’s a great way to remember the trip.

I went on a trip to Paris and London and I was like, oh I should get tattooed! Then I almost booked like 14 appointments not thinking, because there are so many amazing tattooers in Britain and France! I was spoiled for choice. I narrowed it down to 6 appointments in 8 days, including an all day session with Jack Goks in London. I got tattooed for 8 hours. It was insane. But at the time I was like, why not. Before we began he asked how much I wanted to get done that day, and since I was leaving the next day, I had to do all of it! Very unpleasant plane ride back home.

Tattoos Erica got in London by Scott Move and Matt Cooley

Huntress by Jack Goks Pearce done in an 8-hour session

I’ve never worried about if my tattoos look cohesive or not. I’ve had certain feelings, like I want my left arm to be all grey and black and my other arm all color, but beyond that I’ve never thought about my body as one piece. I always joke with my friends that I didn’t realize I had a lot of tattoos until one day it just hit me! Because I see myself as getting one tattoo here, a couple there, maybe two more next month. But it never really occurred to me that I was filling up my skin. Tattoos are very personal to me, so I never stepped outside my body and saw myself as others see me- which is a heavily tattooed lady. Instead I have been getting whatever I want wherever I want. I think it helps that the tattooers I like the most all have similar, complementary styles.

My newest tattoo is always my favorite! But my floral piece by Rachel Hauer on my arm and my thigh piece by Guy Le Tatooer will always have a special place in my heart.

Tattoo by Rachel Hauer

Book by Alex Zampirri // Eagle by Marco Tafuri

Maxime Buchi, Austin Maples, Philip Yarnell, Levi Rivoire and Myra Oh are top of the list of artists I want to be tattooed by. I’ve emailed Maxime about possibly tattooing my butt/lower back while he is visiting Portland in October. I just moved to Oregon so I’m pretty pumped to visit some west coast tattooers.

So far being a tattooed lady hasn’t had too much impact on my daily life. I’m a student in the social sciences and all my tattoos can be hidden with a long sleeve shirt and pants if need be. The main thing is that I get stared at constantly and I get complimented frequently. About 95% of comments are from sweet, genuine people. That always brightens my day. But sometimes people aren’t so nice (particularly the elderly) and make rude comments or touch me inappropriately (mainly by men). That’s when it’s most bothersome. Especially when I get asked the same questions each day, like did it hurt, how much did that cost, how many do you have, etc. It’s exhausting. I think people have a hard time understanding that my tattoos are practically invisible to me, they’re my skin, and so I really don’t think about them until someone brings it up. Though most people mean well, it’s just like, can I please just have my donut without being interrogated? And many questions don’t have an easy answer like my favorite one: “what do they mean?” If I say “nothing,” people get genuinely confused. It has become really easy for me to tell the difference between those who are genuinely interested in tattoos (whom I love to talk to!) and those who are just nosy. With the latter, I just try to be nice and leave as quickly as I can.

The scariest part is when strangers get physical. I’ve had men pull down the back of my dress and grab my arm to roll up my sleeves to get a closer look at my tattoos. Mostly it’s harmless, without ill intentions, but it is always very scary. It’s a bizarre phenomenon that getting tattoos has all but eliminated my privacy in public, where now my body is public space for people to gawk at. My go-to technique is to stare directly back at people until they realize they’ve been staring at me. That usually does the trick.

Tattoos have definitely improved my self esteem. It’s not just about the compliments I get, even though I appreciate them. Getting tattooed has really brought me closer to what I imagine myself as, if that makes sense. The process of tattooing as a whole has also made me think of myself as a stronger woman. Having your skin punctured over and over for hours has cultivated a resolve and inner strength that I never would have had otherwise. Tattooing is equal parts mental and physical for me--yes it’s painful, but it takes more mental strength to continue on and not get off the table and run! After a certain point, once the endorphins and excitement wear off, I really have to go deep inside myself to keep on. That’s something that tattooing has given to me. It also has given me this incredible community of fellow tattooed women to look up to! That has been an incredible source of support and positivity. Being connected with women across the country who have cool tattoos and who think my tattoos are cool has been an incredible and unexpected joy. I really can’t imagine myself without tattoos. I just wouldn’t be me!"

Follow Erica on Instagram @ericaag3 for much more of her ever growing collection.

The collectors: Ruth, 21, UK

For my first interview, I invited Ruth, a sweet British girl who has the most amazing tattoos by the great Sway and Jemma Jones. I hope you enjoy reading what Ruth says about her collection as much as I enjoyed it.

"I come from a very small town in North Yorkshire where tattoos aren't something you see everyday. As a child I was fascinated by them, and when I started to grow up, I researched more into them.

I knew for my first tattoos I wanted swallows and roses on my chest. I had this idea for about a year, then it got put into place when I turned 18. I met a boy at college who was then my boyfriend (now ex) who introduced me to Sway at Sacred Electric [in Leeds]. I went there with my ex quite a few times. I wasn't old enough to get tattooed as I was 17, but I loved the shop and how amazing Sway's work was. I'm insanely lucky. If it wasn't for that situation and time in my life, I wouldn't have the amazing work I have today.

I booked my first tattoo with Sway four days after my 18th birthday. I'm pretty sure my appointment was at 12pm, and back then it was just Sway tattooing at the shop. I got two swallows and roses on my chest. I remember sitting well but it burning a lot. I remember being insanely nervous, and my mum's reaction at the size of them, and the smell of disinfectant and coughing when Sway put the stencil on. Three years on and they have stayed in perfectly and I still adore them. 

My parents massively disapprove tattoos, and I really didn't think I would be back--especially not every month. I had quite big breaks when I started getting tattooed, but for the past two years I've been going to the shop to get tattooed at least once a month.

I have been a loyal customer at Sacred for three years now and just love it there. Everyone is so humble and it's such an amazing shop.

 Ruth's sleeve by Sway

Tattoo by Sway // Sway tattooing Ruth

I mainly come up with ideas from old flash, like Bowery flash or Bert Grimm redraws. I am insanely in love with the full bodysuits Bert Grimm and Sailor Jerry did back in the day. They are amazing and show such dedication to the trade. I constantly get inspiration from flash and tattoos on Instagram, but mainly think of my own ideas. Every piece I have has been a custom piece and with that it gives the tattooer a lot of freedom. The only tattoo I spent a long time planning and thinking about was my backpiece, which extends onto my bum and the back of my thighs. I knew I wanted a mendhi bodysuit, but there's not a chance any of my ideas would be as amazing as what Sway drew for me and tattooed.

My bodysuit is my all time favourite, which took four intense sessions. I also love the lovers on my arm (also by Sway) and the baby pram on my shin (by Jemma Jones).

Most of my tattoos are by Sway, but I also have works by Jemma Jones, Joe Ellis and Hannah Pixie Sykes. 

I like to stay loyal to Sway and Jemma, as they have been tattooing me for a number of years now and know what I like, and I can trust them fully. However, in the future I would love to get tatooed by Philip Yarnell, Max Kuhn, Rich Hadley and Bert Krak. That's just a few of many. I hope to one day travel around the world getting tattooed. I would love to go to Smith St. Tattoo in Brooklyn.

 Ruth's backpiece by Sway // Baby pram by Jemma Jones

Moth by Hannah Snowdon // Lady head by Joe Ellis

I currently have a booking in September with Sway for gap fillers to finish one of my arms, then both will be gap free and totally finished. I also have an appointment with Jemma Jones in October for a Virgin Mary piece on the side of my thigh. I'm trying to fill up my legs, as I've been neglecting them for a long time.

My parents don't like tattoos at all, and it's been the hardest thing about me becoming heavily tattooed. We have had a lot of arguments over the years, which still continue now. They can't understand why I've got so many. That's the hardest part for me, but I'll be moving out of home next year, which will make things easier for them and me, and hopefully one day they may understand.

I'm a catering supervisor for a catering company. Everyone there accepts and loves my tattoos, and my boss is a very open minded person. Even for my birthday the girls I work with bought me an insane tattoo cake because they know how much I love them.

Tattoos by Jemma Jones

Being a tattoed girl, I get two types of attention: positive and negative. A lot of people are nosey and some are fascinated. Wherever you go, if you have a lot of tattoos, people will look at you, but it's worse if you're a woman. I get stared at a lot because I have a fair few now and I think girls who have a lot of coverage do shock people. Living in a small town I do get some abuse about my tattoos. I once had an elderly man at the bus stop stare at me and say I was looking for trouble. I have also being spat at once by another elderly man. But that was a long time ago. I'm pretty thick skinned and know that this world creates narrow minded people. The issue is with them not me. Apart from that, I get a lot of questions on if they hurt and who did them, and to be fair, a lot of positive comments about how well they are done and how good people think they look.  

When I was younger I had no confidence and suffered with depression. Putting everything I had into getting tattooed and falling in love with everything about it helped that. I am proud of my body and the work I have, and I love adding to my collection and planning what I'm going to get next. When I got my bodysuit finished, some people said I had an ugly ass etc. I personally just laugh it off and understand it's someone behind a phone or a computer, it's not real. No one would say it to my face. And I sat through those sessions, took the pain. I have stayed very committed to getting tattooed.

Devil by Sway // Works on Ruth's legs by Sway and Jemma

I try to be kind to others on the Internet. Some younger people have come to me with questions about tattoos and I've always responded. I just think people should be kind and humble and encourage others to be kind too.

I would say to girls at 18 that there's no rush to get fully covered. Have fun with it. Skin will be there forever. And don't copy what others are doing because you want to be like them. Get the tattoos for you, not for anyone else, because they are a life mark. Do your research on the artists and even ask tattooers or look for healed photos of the artist's work.

If anyone reading this wants to know where to look for information about tattooers, watch the videos on Vice's channel on YouTube. They have some great ones on Valerie Vargas, Mike Rubendall and Freddy Corbin. I would also recon Ed Hardy 'Tattoo the world' as not many people are aware what he did for tattooing."

Thank you so much, Ruth!

If you wanna see more of the artwork on Ruth, follow her on Instagram @turdfishxoxo 

My tattoos: rose by Joe Ellis

Such a classic, I love rose tattoos. I could have many roses tattooed on my body and I bet it wouldn’t ever get boring. But for now I only have this one by Joe Ellis, which I had the opportunity to get when I went to the UK in November 2014.

An introduction

This is a blog about tattoos and the girls who collect them. This a is blog about my own tattoo collection and its progress, but mostly it is about the ladies who inspire me.

I wanted to start this project because I see girls who have gorgeous collections and I want to know more about them. I want to learn more about these ladies who invest their time and money, who endure a good deal of pain, all in order to decorate their bodies with amazing artwork. And I figured other people would be interested in it too, so why not share it in a blog?

I’ll interview girls who collect tattoos and publish them here. Please let me know what you think about the interview and give me suggestions of girls you’d like to see on the blog.