We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rosa Bluestone Perr. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rosa below.

Rosa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry

I gave myself my first tattoo 10 years ago because I didn’t see the style at the time that I wanted. I wanted something small, subtle and delicate. I think of tattoos as permanent jewelry. My style is not a huge dark piece that take over the body part, but rather an adornment that compliments that part of the body. This style of tattoos has grown greatly in popularity since I started. Since I started tattooing 10 years ago, delicate tattoos and permanent jewelry pieces have become more popular. I see my specific designs copied all the time, but there is not much to be done about it. When I feel frustrated by this copying I remind myself “Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery” -Oscar Wilde.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an artist who specializes in handpoked tattoos. I have always been an artist of many mediums, painting, film photography, clothing and jewelry design. I started tattooing 10 years ago because I didn’t see the style I wanted. I have always been someone who does what I set my mind to, and at the time it was giving myself a small tattoo. I never intended to become a tattoo artist professionally, I just wanted to give myself a tattoo I couldn’t find at the time. I was used to doing small detailed work with a paintbrush, so that technique transferred to tattooing, but this time the skin was the canvas and the needle was the paintbrush. I give handpoked tattoos, meaning I do not use a tattoo machine, I am the machine. I hold the needle in my hand and poke one dot at a time. This is the traditional way of tattooing. I love this style because they look organic on skin, like a human drew the piece on skin rather than a machine. I find beauty in the subtle imperfections.

I also never felt especially welcome in most tattoo parlors. The tattoo industry, like most industries, is male dominated. My tattoos are for everyone and I often give tattoos to people who have never had one before and didn’t feel at home in a traditional tattoo parlor. Many tattoo experiences are not as consensual as they should be. I constantly hear stories from clients who felt pressured to get their tattoo bigger or different than they intended and they did not feel comfortable speaking up. As a tattoo artist I want to give my clients pieces they will love for the rest of their lives. I design tattoos with this in mind. I would never give someone something I think they might eventually regret. I give my clients many opportunities before and during the appointment to speak up if they want anything changed. Tattoos are a way to take ownership over our bodies. Our bodies are our homes and I think of tattooing as curating the walls of our bodies. The joy and confidence new ink can bring is powerful. Tattoos are an act of self love and can inspire one to love themselves more with a new adornment. Self love is the best gift we can give to ourselves and to others.

Last year I started @studio.bluestone which is a place for the jewelry and clothing I design. I have always considered tattoos as a form of permanent jewelry so it has been fun to make actually jewelry. I have taken my tattoo designs and turned them into jewelry. All the pieces are made by hand in Brooklyn using recycled metals. You can check them out at www.studio-bluestone.com.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I am a tattoo artist but I also consider myself a healer. A tattoo is a very intimate experience and can often be therapeutic. I offer clients a safe and comfortable space to share and be vulnerable with me. There is so much trust involved in getting a piece of permanent body art and I do not take that responsibility lightly. I have many clients who I have tattooed many times over the years and I feel so lucky that they trust me with their bodies and want to adorn it with my art. I think my following is partially from people loving my unique designs and also from the warmth I provide. I am not just your tattoo artist, I am your friend, and I feel so grateful for the loving community of clients I have attracted.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I am so lucky to have the most amazing clients and many of them refer their friends. My tattoo business has grown very organically over the past 10 years, for which I am so grateful. I started when instagram was a different landscape than it is now. There weren’t many other handpoked tattoo artists at the time so I was a trailblazer in NYC and people seek me out for this specialty. Most of my clients find me on Instagram or from a referral from their friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.studio-bluestone.com
• Instagram: @bluestonebabe
• Other: Jewelry business @studio.bluestone

Image Credits

Skeleton rings (w/ butterfly) shot by Christian Torres
Skeleton Earring shot by Daniel Fry
Tattoo photos by Rosa Bluestone Perr