How long have you worked at Hula Moon? Since April of 2008. My apprenticeship was in Nashville, TN. I was there for about a year and two months, doing apprenticeship and tattooing. I liked living in Nashville, but I really love this shop, and I love the atmosphere of this shop. It’ s a whole lot more conducive to the creative side. I feel like the guys really motivate me more as far as creativity versus the dollar. If you’ re doing what you love, and people can see that, the dollar comes. I grew up around Pensacola pretty much most of my life so I have always loved this town.
What would you consider your style?
You know that’ s kinda funny, people say I have a style. Gabe said I have a style but I don’ t see it myself. I think because a lot of the stuff I do is what people bring in. If I had to compare my style, it’ s obviously more girly, since I’ m the only girl here. I like doing anything with line detail and blends of color. But I also like anything primitive, like tribal tattoos. But tribal in the sense of Polynesian, actual tribal, not American tribal. I’ m half Filipino so I think I’ m more inclined to like that kind of really primitive tribal, the ancient and basic foundation of tattooing. There’ s something to be said about something very stark and black and contrast driven.
Do you have a lot of people adhering to the recent trend of picking out tattoos off of Pinterest?
Yeah that’ s kinda the new thing! In the 80’ s and 90’ s it was more about picking something off of the wall. I think that was part of the legacy of American tattooing, that’ s what Sailor Jerry and Bert Grim did, flash. But I think it became something it wasn’ t intended to become. But if someone brings in something like that, I try to ask why they want it and if we can change it to make it more personal. It’ s all about making inquiries of your client, trying to figure out what kind of person they are and then hopefully that comes out in the tattoo when everything is said and done.
Do you have people wanting to get work from you just because you are a female artist?
Sometimes. I get it, obviously if a person feels more comfortable, like women, if they feel more comfortable getting something private from a lady, then that’ s fine. I think it’ s also part of the reason that I have been asked to work here. On the flip side, someone could say“ I want a guy to do it.” I think it’ s just kind of a preference for people and their level of comfortability. Anything to help people mellow out a little and be more relaxed during the tattoo. Just as long as they aren’ t creepy. The guys are like a bunch of big brothers that are my backup for the creeps.
Tell me about the craziest tattoo you’ ve done. Two years ago, a girl asked for a pot leaf on her foot in red, yellow, and green. For about forty minutes, everybody in the shop tried to talk her out of it. We made her go to her car and think about it and she came back in and said“ No I want to do it!” This was one of those judgement calls where I was like“ Ok, well if you don’ t get it from me, you’ re gonna go down the street and get it from someone else and possibly get a bad tattoo. Even though I don’ t agree with it, I want it done right.” We do the tattoo, she’ s completely elated. About six months ago, a girl comes in and we are doing her tattoo. She says“ Yeah you tattooed my friend, she has the pot leave on her foot. She still loves it, and she actually ended up moving to Colorado with her boyfriend and they started a dispensary together.” And of course that’ s when it dawned on me, it was meant to be. I felt less responsible for anything bad happening to her because of my tattoo.
If you’ re in the market for a tattoo, I strongly suggest stopping by Hula Moon to see Lo. She is an extremely conscientious and clean artist with tons of beautiful tattoos in her portfolio.
How do you feel about all the tattoo shows coming on t. v. now? Do you get a lot of people coming in because of that?
Yeah, that’ s the funny thing about media, I think. Obviously the exposure is nice. Tattoos aren’ t quite as taboo as they used to be. People are really starting to understand certain aspects. It’ s not just some kind of fad, it’ s not just a bunch of hooligans getting them, but sometimes, I think people have some sort of an unrealistic expectation. It makes people expect things quick and not put as much thought into picking an artist. Some of the drama I could do without. But it’ s national television, they have to do that to draw in more of an audience.
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