Local artist profile: Damon Myers

THIS week we chat with tattoo artist Damon Myers from the Gallery Tattoo Studio.

 

What initially motivated you to take the path of a tattoo artist?

I have always had a passion for art. I was doing pet and human portraits, oil on canvas for about three years.

My wife thought it would be a great medium for me as I love doing realism and have the ability to do other styles.

 

As well as the artistic side, there’s a pretty complicated machine used in the tattooing process. Can you please describe how that works? Is there a special kind of ink that you use?

These days it’s all done with rotary machines, as they are quieter, adjustable and do less trauma to the skin, allowing faster, better healing.

Inks can vary to the artist preference, whether it’s grey wash or colour.

 

You only need to look around these days and there’s a lot of different tattoo styles out there. How would you describe your own technique?

I have multiple styles that I perform, but the main one would be realism (grey wash or coloured), as portraits and animals are my preferred subjects.

 

Are there any other styles you’re drawn to?

Apart from realism, neo traditional (illustrative designs with highly saturated colours), scripture and fine line work in grey wash or coloured.

 

Which other tattoo artists inspire you and why would that be?

 

Alex De Pase is Italian tattoo artist and footwear designer specialising in realistic tattoos and portraiture and David Corden is an Edinburgh based artist specialising in portraits, pinups and wildlife, for both their realism and colour techniques.

Teneile Napoli – renowned founder of the Gold Coast’s Garage Ink Tattoo – for grey wash and negative techniques.

Jamie Ris – Dutch tattoo artist known for bold, colourful and elaborate tattoos specialising in full sleeve pieces – for smooth colour blending and bold colouring.

Led Coult from Brazil has an amazing style of using the painted look. I could go on forever…

 

Not that long ago tattoos were mainly seen on bikies, sailors and the Japanese underworld! What do you think has been behind the rising popularity of people getting inked?

The evolution of the tattoo machine and inks, as you are able to do more dynamic techniques with rotaries and have a wider range of coloured inks to use. This broadens the horizon of styles and image expression from person to person.

 

What are some highlights or fond memories you have from your career so far?

I love what I do, so coming to work and doing what I love each and every day is my main highlight.

Another highlight is working at the Gallery as they understand artists.

A common memory is when clients tell me they can’t do their job or go anywhere because people are pulling them up to talk or look at my work on them, or they notice people stare at them, so they do the slow turn around to show more of it off!

 

How has your practice been affected by COVID? Has there been little change or has it had a substantial effect on things?

It’s been challenging as isolations cause cancellations, then rescheduling becomes a Tetris game.

 

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

The best way to contact me is via Facebook @damonmyerstattooart. You will find my work displayed on The Gallery Tattoo Studio page and Instagram @damonmyers_tattoo_artist