Yoshi Tattooer

His passion for art ignited at the young age of six, making art an integral part of his life. Initially hesitant about tattooing, Yoshi overcame his fears after his parents’ passing, finding courage in necessity. Self-taught and driven, he developed his unique engraving and line weight style over 11 years, drawing inspiration from medieval books and his early manga drawings.

1) Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about who you are?
I am Yoshi, I was born in Japan and grew up in Korea. I am half Korean and half

2) Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about who you are?
I am Yoshi, I was born in Japan and grew up in Korea. I am half Korean and half Japanese.

3) When did you first become interested in art?
I’ve been drawing since I was 6 years old. Art is a part of my life.

4) What made you want to become a tattooer?
I wanted to become a tattoo artist, but I was afraid of messing with people’s bodies. After My parents passed away. I needed money to keep my life. I didn’t have enough money for keep my study. so, I dropped out of university and started tattooing. Money makes me brave.

5) How did you start tattooing? Did you have an apprenticeship?
I learn by myself.

6) How would you describe your signature style? How long did it take you to find this style?
Engraving style, Line weight style. It’s been about 11 years. It was a long journey.

7) How do you find your references?
From many things, especially old medieval books!

8) How did you come to find your current style?
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a manga artist, so I drew a lot of manga pen drawings. I studied fine art at university, where I developed skills for creating engraving styles. However, in 2011, there were no fine line tools or pen-type machines like there are today. I learned the traditional Japanese style and started for the first time. After finding fine line needles and pen-type machines, I didn’t try fine line work because older tattoo artists told me, “Fine line is not a tattoo. It is permanent makeup.”Fast forward to two years ago, when my client wanted a fine line tattoo. I tried using 01 RL and 03RL needles, and it was so fun! I switched to engraving styles two years ago. Since childhood, I have drawn many eyes. One day, I thought it would look cool if I could create eye drawings using just line weight, and it worked!

9) What are the most difficult aspects in black and grey fine lines?
For me, it is not about tattooing. The most difficult thing is the ‘creativity’. All Custom artists can agree.

10) Can you walk us through your design process?
I always write memos when an idea pops up, and search references on Pinterest or Google, and draw iPad procreate apps.

11) Do you work in any mediums other than tattooing?
My major was sculpture, I do wood sculpture and wax carving.

12) What do you think you’d be doing if you weren’t a tattoo artist?
I am really interested in Architecture. My Japanese family business is Construction, I had an opportunity to do that. Or a Doctor.

13) What is one thing you want to change about the tattoo industry?
It’s not about the tattoo industry, but in Korea and even Japan tattoos are illegal now. It’s complicate between legal and illegal. I really want to be legal.

14) Where do you see your art going in the future?
I want to be an art brand. Making my art fancy products and selling them to people.