We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gabriella Nova a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Gabriella, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My mission as a tattoo artist is to provide my clients with a meaningful experience, so their tattoos are not just artworks on their skin but vessels of connection. From the time and the intention I put into their designs, to the time I spend with them, creating a relaxing and hopefully uplifting environment.. I hope to create for them something that goes beyond their expectations. This is important to me because I personally believe the most learning and growing comes from life experiences, and the ones that help you grow the most are the painful ones… learning how to overcome those will transform your life, just as a tattoo transforms your body.

Gabriella, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Gabriella, I was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. Before finishing my Fine Arts program, I started tattooing at the age of 19 at home, with the help of one friend who showed me how to set up a machine and maintain a sterile environment. I spent 7 years traveling nomadically across Europe and some countries in Asia is search for a deeper connection to spirit and an understanding of human nature. During this time I practiced living without relying on technology, sometimes going through long periods of time without conversation, learning to be comfortable being alone without feeling lonely.
This path led me to an interest in my yoga practice and meditations such as Vipassana meditations which have become a major part of my life, and influence on my work.
I create large-scale custom tattoos in the black and grey style. My skills range from realism to freehand, neo-japanese to geometric. I enjoy creating a blend of all these styles as it’s more challenging for me, it keeps me more innovative as I listen to my clients and their ideas and then enjoy suggesting original concepts with deeper meaning. The more freedom I have to create, the more original and well executed the tattoo will be, as my 14 years of experience studied tattoos all over the world comes in.

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

I think my hard-working and resilient nature is what shows how strong of an artist and person I am. Anyone pursuing a creative career knows how challenging it is to balance creating, business, personal life and physical and mental health. It’s more than a full time job, it’s a lifestyle, and all my decisions are based on growing as an artist so I can serve my clients with the highest quality tattoo and experience. When I feel I’ve hit a roof at some point in my life, I leave the comfortable situation that I’m in to pursue a new life that will continue to challenge me and force me to work harder and smarter.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Recently my best source of new clients has been by word of mouth. As I am traveling again, I will meet wonderful people at yoga studios, or throughout my day, and form beautiful bonds with them and sometimes tattoo them several times. Otherwise, most new clients are often suggested to me by colleagues or previous clients with work in my style. The majority of my client base are returning customers however… Maybe I put something in the ink…

Contact Info:

• Instagram: whitewindtattoo

Image Credits

Taria Meorzo
Mikhail A