Delicate by Design – WINTERSTONE

From delicate finger tattoos and tiny floating hearts to words inscribed in cursive and dainty stars sprinkled about, it’s no wonder tattoo artist WINTERSTONE’s micro designs have attracted such a Hollywood cult following.

Whether it’s Matt Damon looking for a way to honor his late father on his arm, Jessica Alba seeking a script on her wrist, or Lady Gaga wanting a rose tattoo to wind down her spine in honor of her Oscar nomination for “A Star is Born,” the single-needle designs are the product of the famed tattoo artist’s sharp eye for precision.

“People come to me for powerful and meaningful tattoos, and it has been that way since day one,” WINTERSTONE told Inked. “I felt like I was destined to become this type of artist because I love helping people.”

Before becoming a tattoo artist, WINTERSTONE (@winterstone) worked as a graphic designer for Disney, had his own clothing line, Mr. Winter, and for years was the real-life cliché of a struggling artist.

Now, the popular tattoo artist who “hopes to be an inspiration for people living paycheck to paycheck” attracts clients from every walk of life, ranging from first-time tattooers to a recent 75-year-old looking to have “Gammy” inked in honor of her grandchildren.

The California native said his business “has been built around the female” seeking a sophisticated, elegant, and more feminine design than traditional tattoos with much bolder lines. “When I broke into the business — I would say this without sounding like a cocky asshole — that I pushed the tattoo industry into a different realm of this is not guys anymore,” WINTERSTONE said. “This is now women wanting to get small, dainty tattoos, and they don’t want to look tattooed. They just want to have cute little keepsakes on their body.”

What WINTERSTONE said fulfills him “so much” now is knowing he created something truly meaningful for every client. “It’s less about the tattoo and more about the conversation,” he said. “Every single tattoo in my studio is treated with extreme care and full heart.”

After watching well-known tattoo artists create works of art on his own body, WINTERSTONE eventually found his personal style, gravitating toward the fine line aesthetic. “I was tattooed by some very famous tattoo artists in life, and the people I was around used single needles to create a super soft, black and gray note,” he said. “I was watching and taking notes. I learned how to tattoo from getting tattoos and understanding what it felt like in my skin, which allowed me to accelerate my career.”

With the “mind of an engineer” and the talent of a fine artist, the trendsetter, who looks forward to future branding opportunities, treats each custom creation like a curated work of art. That’s why clients don’t approach him to design a random tattoo without any meaning.

“If somebody comes with an idea I am not comfortable doing, I just say no and refer them to a friend that would be good with that style,” WINTERSTONE said. “I have developed a skill that allows me to say no. It allows conversation to be had in the studio. Then I will sit down and draw something a little different or ask the client, ‘How else would you represent this idea?’ Then they trust me into drawing something for them, and I usually tattoo it on them.”

There’s no room for error when creating a fine-line design due to its sharp nature. “When someone comes into the studio, I make sure every single person has a flawless experience,” WINTERSTONE said. “It’s a huge goal of mine for everyone to feel super special when they come in. It takes a lot of energy out of me, but it’s something that makes me super happy.”

“I learned how to tattoo from getting tattoos and understanding what it felt like in my skin, which allowed me to accelerate my career.” – WINTERSTONE

Despite being told he wouldn’t make it as a tattoo artist, WINTERSTONE went for it and garnered a fast celebrity following thanks to social media postings from celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Hilary Duff, and Bella Thorne showing off their new ink. “Lady Gaga was massive, and I woke up to like 200,000 followers and a year’s worth of appointments after that,” he said.

Since getting his first tattoo when he was about 17 years old, WINTERSTONE has gone on to get many more, covering his arms, chest, stomach, neck, and back. Like his clients, all of the ink he gets must be meaningful.

One of the most memorable tattooing experiences he had was a heartfelt creation he tattooed on his late mother, who passed away from Alzheimer’s. “My brother, my sister, and I have a specific ‘W’ for our last name that our dad created that I was able to give to my mom.”

It was a special moment for the tattoo artist, who, coincidentally, created a successful name for himself by transforming moments like these into permanent art.