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

Alright, Chaim thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Prior to becoming a tattoo artist, I was a computer technician living in Israel. I was managing many people in the company I worked for and was working many hours a day.

It wasn’t until I turned 30 years old that I decided to get my first tattoo. Little did I know that this experience would change everything for me. After getting my first tattoo, I realised what was missing in my life was creativity. The excitement and awakening that I experienced during the process was on another level. I decided from that moment onwards that all I wanted, was to dedicate my life and find a way to become a tattoo artist myself.

After realising this, I did everything in my power to make this happen. I sold everything I owned and decided to move to Berlin, Germany in search of a studio that would teach me. the process was hard, I was living on a few euros a week and I asked almost every tattoo studio in Berlin until one finally accepted to teach me.

Since I didn’t know how to draw, I wanted to create minimalistic designs that worked with the natural body structure, in which DotsToLines was born.

12 years later to now, I have moved to Los Angeles which through my journey in tattooing, I now work in a private tattoo studio and work one on one with my clients.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a tattoo artist based between Los Angeles and Berlin. Prior to tattooing, I had never been creative. I had never drawn a picture, but my determination and drive to become a tattoo artist was so strong, that I did everything in my power to make it happen. I developed my craft and style simply because I didn’t know how to do anything else. The idea and beauty in the minimal came naturally to me when creating the designs for my style. Creating a style that works in harmony with the natural body structure, that can work individually for each person.

My process in working with my clients is one to one. I feel that this is the best scenario to create the best design possible, to give each individual the peaceful and calm space during the design and tattoo process. I only tattoo one person a day and do not tattoo everyday. I could never create the perfect design when working amongst other artists in a busy, Loud setting. I think this is equally important for the individual getting tattooed, so that it gives them the piece of mind to make the right choices that they decide is best for them throughout the process.

I find inspiration and beauty in nature, and how nature has hidden geometrical elements in so many different ways. I try to apply this in my work, and how geometry can work so beautifully on an organic structure such as the human body.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think that since my style of tattooing is so different to the normal direction of tattooing, this can be quite hard for someone who is non- creative to resinate with, since its not just taking a picture and tattooing it on a certain body area, my style is more of a concept of body art, that is related more to an art form, than a tattoo. Tattooing can never be 100%, since it is a manmade procedure. For me, it can be quite hard to create an art piece that I have spent time on creating for someone, since once the session is over, its likely I will not see that art piece again, but I find piece in knowing that it has become something that has brought happiness to someone.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being able to create everyday as my Job is amazing. To meet different people who come from all over the world to my studio to get tattooed is also a huge honour, which I will always feel so lucky for. I often have clients who come to me for a tattoo as an ode to a certain time or person in their life, or simply because they want to reclaim a certain part of them that they feel they have lost in their confidence. When I see someone leave with more confidence and empowerment in themselves, I feel very grateful that I could help be part of this journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: Dotstolines.com
• Instagram: @dotstolines
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DotsToLines
• Youtube: @dotstolines6669

Image Credits
Chaim Machlev, DotsToLines