interview with tattoo artist Mads Hansen
Hello Mads
Hansen! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. It really
means a lot having you here. Please start by telling us something
about yourself, how it all started?
Well, getting into tattooing was the easy part, I guess. When I was
sixteen, I was at the local bar in my hometown of Løgstør, Denmark
and was offered to buy one of those shitty suitcases with some cheap
china machines and shitty colors. So I bought it, and I got a great
deal on it, like 1600.- DKK (230$). It had all I needed to start
tattooing. So I did, that very same night at a friends house party.
There were two super cool machines in the suitcase, one where the
frame was a dragon! I knew a bit about setting up the machine from
when I got my first tattoo done at age 14, when I lived in Spain,
and from the tattoo artists on YouTube, of course. I talked my good
friend Kristian Tang into getting a Tuborg Beer logo on his right
buttcheek, which seemed like a great idea at the time. Later that
night I got to do a tiny heart on an asian girls ass. Since that
night, I was all about tattooing! I got my "studio" set up in my
room, at my moms house and all the local guys started coming to my
room for tattoos... Which was awkward, since my mom was downstairs
most of the time. Quickly, the little business I had started from my
room had grown. I started to invest in better machines, colors,
needles and all the other supplies. Soon I had two Micky Scharp
machines, Intenze colors (from China) and plastic wrap on almost
everything I came in contact with while tattooing. So in my own head
I was doing ok, which I can see now that I was not. After a year or
so I decided to look for an apprenticeship in the closest big city
of Aalborg. But I was turned down from the studios I went in to. So
I moved to Copenhagen and quickly found a biker shop that was ready
to let me hang around and clean the shop. One day I came to work at
the shop and the boss had packed all my stuff and told me that It
didn't work out with me. I guess I was too soft for this type of
studio.
Later after trying a lot of different shops in Copenhagen, I found
another apprentice shop in Bad Boys Tattoo, where I'm still working
now. So that is pretty much how I got into tattooing, a lot of
turndowns!
Q: How long have you been tattooing?
A: I'm 25 years old now, so if you count from when I first did a
tattoo, that makes 9 years now. But I prefer to count from when my
apprenticeship started in February 2011.
The most challenging part was to find and finish my apprenticeship.
But I would say, I was very lucky to have mentors that were old
school and helped me to shape into a better person and tattooer. One
of my mentors used to say that without pressure a diamond is just
coal. For me there was no other way to learn tattooing.
Q: Many say that having talent and good drawing skills are
crucial for success in this business, do you agree?
A: I guess you need to be able to draw a little or just imagine an
image in your head, before you start tattooing. But I think the most
important thing is to be dedicated to learning and put every hour in
to it. Everything has to come second to tattooing, friends, family,
girlfriends. If you are able to put everything in to it, I think
it's possible to become a good tattooist.
The time before tattooing was mostly drawing little
paintings. I tried to get a real education when I finished school. As
a construction painter, but that was only something
to fall back on if tattooing didn't work out for me. I decided that
if I had a safety net, I would go all in. The things I learned in
the short time as a painter, I learned a lot that I could use later
in tattooing, like color theory and getting a good color
combination. After painting I started another education in serigrafi.
This tough me how to use Photoshop and other digital ways to work
with images. Which has helped me a lot later in tattooing.
Q: You have impressive
portfolio, It's like you can do almost any tattoo style. Do you have
a favorite?
A: In the beginning I really wanted to find my own style and
only do that one thing, but every client wants something
different, so I decided to be open for everything. Because it's
all tattooing, no matter how easy or hard it may be. I
can't really say that I have a favorite style now. Maybe it's
because I get bored if I do the same style for more then a week.
But if I had to pick one, I would go with new school! This is
always super fun to do. Because you still need to know and use
the same principles of other styles, like how light works and
how it shapes things. But I wouldn't be one of the
tattooers who only knows how to make one style, never.
Q: Knowing that you can do many styles, it's like
there's something for everyone. Do you draw for
each customer?
A: That's always a mystery to me. I never prepare or draw before
the appointment. Last minute panic, I guess. Of course,
sometimes where I have to do something before the client is in
the shop. But most of my tattoos are made on the spot.
It gives me peace to not worry about tomorrows client. Back in
the day, I would always prepare the tattoo, and put many hours
in to it. But after getting to know that most clients change
their mind a lot, I stopped preparing. I'm not saying it's the
best way to work, but it works for me at this point in my life.
Q: Do you accept refference images?
A:
Most the clients I have in the shop come in wanting the same
thing as the guy from yesterday, so I have to tell the same
story in a new way most of the time. I worked in the sales
sector for some time, so I learned to sell another idea to the
client. Otherwise I would do the same thing.
Q: Talking about sketches, I
think you can make a beautiful collection! Have you ever thought to sell some prints or
just do an expo?
A: I wish there was more of that... But the truth is, I'm not so
productive. I've had a few drawings on expos and made some
prints, sold a few.. But it's not my strong side. I'm way more
comfortable with just tattooing and doing stupid drawings that
are just for myself. Every time I open my instagram I see all
these crazy guys like Jamie Pis, Kenni Puke and others, and they
all do so much cool stuff on paper, but there is no way I could
be that productive on paper. Not at this time. I hope the time
will come soon!
Q: Big projects such as sleeves and back tattoos are
always a challenge for the artists, even clients who have to go
through the "pain" and many session to finally see the outcome. How long does it take to complete a big piece?
A: It's all different for each client, some takes the pain really easy, and some have very hard time getting through
the session. Every tattoo I do, is made to connect with the
next one. So if you get a forearm done, you can always come back
if you decide to get the full sleeve done. There is always a
flow that allows me to build more to the tattoo. I think the
fastest sleeve I have done was 3 sessions, so around 18 hours,
and it was done in new school black n' gray, 3 days straight. If
it was in color it would have been 5-6 session. But most sleeves
are 5-6 session. Depending on the style and amount of detail of
course... it's really hard to give a precise answer.
Q: WOW, the longest?
A:
The longest, is 17 hours. First I did a normal session, but I
had a drawing of a honey bear I really wanted to do, so my
apprentice jumped in the chair and we finished at 05:30. I felt
like I had been partying all night after.
Q: I bet beautiful Denmark is so
inspiring for many artists! Stunning architecture
and breathtaking landscapes... so much history!
How is the Danish tattoo scene, do you see progress?
A: I think it depends on when you got into tattooing. If you are
one of the old farts, you have seen the industry go from a shady
bars backroom in Nyhavn Copenhagen, to a famous TV show with
rockstars getting tattooed by famous tattooists. I was lucky to
get in when it all took a turn for the better (in my opinion). A
lot of new young tattooers came in and took another perspective
on the industry. Machines got easier to use, photoshop became an
every day tool and all the young ones who were good, shared
their knowledge. So the quality of work and the numbers of
styles exploded. More and more people got tattooed and now it's
not "special" to be tattooed anymore. So it's for everybody and
that is great! Clients from all classes comes into our shops and
get tattooed. Not just tribals and Beckham
sleeves. So I think we Danes have a very open mind when it comes
to tattoos, and it's only going to get better.
Q: Do you go to tattoo conventions, seminars etc?
A:
Out of the conventions I've been to, only two have been so cozy
and well organized that I come back every year. Aarhus Art
Convention and Stockholm Ink Bash. But the best memories I have
from a convection was the first one I did with my buddy Kenni
Poke, it was a Danish one in Frederikshavn. I have so many good
experiences from all conventions, it would be a very long night
to write them all now.
Q: Your advice for the new artists?
A: Well... Some of the best tattooers I know and met, all
started the same way. With a shitty tattoo kit and some friends
who trusted them. Including me. I think once you made a few
tattoos on your buddies and you realize that it's not as easy as
it looks, most of them will quit and never pick up again. But
a few will keep going and even fewer will learn how to do a
decent job and get an apprenticeship. But of course getting an
apprenticeship is the smartest way if you want to get into it.
So if you do it, do it good!