Many people have asked me, “why tattoo your body, and what do they all mean?” I usually dismiss the attention and ponder the idea of which tattoo I will add to my arm collection next. For me, I’m infatuated with the idea of being drawn on and essentially becoming a human canvas. It’s all about expressing yourself with visual artwork, which happens to be on my skin. The traditional art of tattooing and social perceptions that come with it has changed over time, now some seeing it as fashionable. I had the amazing opportunity to meet with Lydia Sticks, a Savannah-based tattoo artist specializing in hand poke and machine tattooing. Lydia studied Illustration at SCAD and graduated in 2015 – they have been tattooing ever since. They are currently employed at Riverside Tattoo Parlor, a female-owned business right here in Savannah! We met and talked about their work and the world of tattooing.
When did you start getting into your work? How long did it take for you to learn the skill of tattooing?
I’ve been interested in tattooing since high school but personally didn’t start getting tattooed until I was in college. Pretty much, I worked some restaurant gigs for a bit, and that slowly transitioned into tattooing. I probably spent a year and a half apprenticing before I was taking on clients.
What does the creative process for a tattoo artist entail? Where do you source your inspiration?
I get inspiration from a lot of different places. Art has always been a helpful tool for me to process certain emotions or feelings. Sometimes it’s a social concept I’m trying to portray; sometimes, it’s a feeling or something funny. I like to capture some sort of emotional response.
You have tattooed many people around savannah and have also traveled for clientele work. What is that personal reward you get from being a tattoo artist?
I love collaborating with people; it’s always interesting to see the different projects people bring to me and what that means for them. Everyone has various reasons for getting tattoos; sometimes it’s a way of healing from trauma, sometimes it’s to make them feel comfortable in their own body. I enjoy that connection with people I get from doing what I do.
The art of tattooing has always been quite controversial. Even now, the question of art or self-destruction appears. What is one common misconception people have about tattooing that you personally see?
I think people do make certain assumptions about people with tattoos – especially the more visible they are. People feel that if you have tattoos, they’re somehow entitled to touch your body without your consent or ask you inappropriate questions about them. It’s interesting to see the boundaries that people will cross because they see that you have tattoos. People get them for all sorts of reasons. Tattoos used to be only for criminals and the military. But now it’s becoming spread out through all different kinds of people. It’s finally becoming common.
Having graduated from SCAD, what were some important lessons you’ve learned from within your illustration major that now translates into your work today?
There are many aspects that filter into what I do and how I approach art. You never know what will walk in that door, so any kind of experience is handy. When they are having trouble describing what they want and having the vocabulary to pull the information out of them of what they’re looking for can be helpful. And drawing, of course, the wider my experience is, the more projects I’m able to take on. I’m always down for a challenge.
Riverside is a female-run business that leads to one day bridge the intersectional gaps that have existed in the world of tattooing. How does working in a parlor that is all female-oriented empower you and your work?
It feels like a very safe space for my clients and me. It’s not the typical tattoo experience that a lot of people have had and maybe have not felt comfortable in. So being able to offer a space for people who don’t usually have that is special. You can see how people can feel comfortable here, and myself is great. Tattoo shops can be intimidating. There’s a lot of ego that comes with that territory, and we really try our best not to feed into that.
Special thanks to Lydia Sticks and Riverside Tattoo Parlor for having me!
Words by Joe Tankersley
Interview conducted by Joe Tankersley
Photos by Joe Tankersley