Local artist profile: Ashleigh Farrow

THIS week we chat with local tattoo artist Ashleigh Farrow from Silver Tongue Bendigo.

What initially motivated you to become a tattoo artist?

I moved to Bendigo to study the visual arts course at La Trobe, and on completion I wanted to be an art teacher.

I realised kids are a bit terrifying, so I really wanted to pursue something else in the arts field and I kind of just fell into tattooing. As I continued, I fell in love with the practice and the clients and my passion grew from there.

There’s a pretty complicated machine used in the process. Can you please describe how that works?

There are two main types – a coil machine and a rotary machine, and there are many variations of these machines. I use a rotary and sometimes a coil. I will use my coil if I want nice thick lines and bold colour, but I mainly use my rotary. It is easier to set up and I can use a cartridge system in it, so I can easily change my needle sizing and it’s a bit quieter and lighter on my hand. I mainly use eternal and dynamic inks.

You seem to have a bit of an anime, Disney-esque kind of style. How did that style come about?

I have always loved anything that is vibrant and happy, and having two children, our thing is to watch Disney and anime movies. I love that it’s our bonding thing that I have been able to take into my work.

Which other tattoo artists inspire you and why?

I generally love any artist who does pop culture or really bright, vibrant tattoos. There are so many who I love, but if I have to name one, at the moment I’m really loving Laura Anunnaki. Her work is super cute!

What are some highlights you have from your tattooing career so far?

I think my biggest highlight is watching people take power over their own bodies and trauma through tattoos. For instance, someone who has escaped a domestic violence situation getting a quote to remind them that they are strong, or someone who has been self-harming get their scars covered with something beautiful to take away from that painful time in their life, or someone who has lost a loved one get something sentimental to them to remember that person.

How has your practice been affected by COVID?

We have definitely been affected by COVID in a negative way. Stopping and starting took a massive toll on the general routine. It was definitely harder to get back into the swing of things after having such an immense time away.

Having to close and not being able to tattoo meant when we did come back to work, we then had to catch up on appointments that were pushed back, as well as new appointments, and of course a lot of people turned 18 and wanted their first tattoos. So that added onto the strain of keeping up with bookings to the point of us having to close our books or turn people away.

How can people check out your work and, most importantly, make an appointment?

I have an Instagram page – @ashfarrowtattoos – and a Facebook page – Ash Farrow Tattoo Artist. Messaging me on Instagram to make an appointment is the best way as I tend to reply more so on that platform.