George
Yashka Steiner, tattoo artist based in Switzerland on the Geneva side, explains the different issues of the cover, an inked practice that requires delicacy and precision!
What was the ugliest tattoo you had to cover?
"I do not allow myself to make a judgment on the tattoos of people, I am not in their place. Often, I see that the economic aspect was decisive in a bad decision-making or an error of judgment (a tattoo too small for example). "
What type of tattoo is relatively easy to cover?
"Tattoos that can be considered bad bills are easier to cover because usually they are not very dark and with relatively few colors. Then it takes two to three sessions to completely disappear an old tattoo, especially if there is color in the equation. Depending on the condition of the skin, the area to cover, healing may be slower. Moreover, you should avoid covering a fresh tattoo knowing that the complete healing cycle takes about a year. "
People are covered most often what types of patterns?
"The first names are often the hardest to assume or else very old pieces that have become difficult to read. "
On all your customers, the cover is about how many people, you could give me a percentage?
"We can say that once in five I go over an old tattoo! "
Different stages of a cover
Are tattoo artists only known for cover?
"Yes, there is, after I do not see who, but I know it exists! For example, in 2015, at the Portland WorldWideTattoo Conference, I had the pleasure of attending the workshop of Guy Aitchison specifically focused on his cover technique and I was really impressed! "
Before doing the tattoo that will cover the old, how does it go?
"There may be several sessions to clearly understand the essence of the project, but first I will ensure the motivation of the person. If I feel that there is hesitation or that the person is not open-minded, I avoid wasting time and does not enter the matter so that it finds happiness elsewhere. The tattoo is a game whose only rule is mutual agreement and trust. "
Do a cover represent what challenge for you?
"I love doing tattoo extensions, continuing the work of someone else, I find in this form of collaboration" offline "a positive way to make sense of our work, and the piece that this person will carry for life. "
What is your approach to the cover?
"My last pieces are essentially works of art started by other people, I love to juxtapose, play with shapes, respond to surfaces with effects of structures or frames, I'm always very excited by this kind of challenge and I must say that it's good to hang on to some constraints, it forces to be inventive and to find solutions. It's a bit of a game. "
The simplest is to redo a new piece over the old tattoo?
"There is never anything simple about tattooing! By its positioning, even if you completely cover a tattoo, it remains the original intention of the previous tattooer since you have no choice of location. By cons, as in design, I always tend to give the appearance of simplicity. Even a flat black "simplistic" aspect can be a real challenge depending on what is to be covered. "
(*): The photographs do not show the work of Yashka who answers our questions.
