We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lu （lucine） Xin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lu （Lucine）, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
During my time as a graduate student in art, I met a senior from the art academy through a friend in the art circle. She was an illustrator and tattoo artist, and with her guidance and support, I founded my own studio, DZG Tattoo Studio. In China, I accumulated extensive experience and achieved significant recognition. In 2022, I moved to the United States and joined the Modoink Tattoo team in California. During my time with Modoink Tattoo, I continued to enhance my skills and had the opportunity to collaborate with many talented artists, further expanding my artistic vision and creative space.
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.
My journey into tattooing has been one of constant growth and discovery, with its fair share of smooth sailing and a few bumps along the way. I started out with hand-drawn sketches on paper, which felt natural but had some limitations when it came to achieving the detailed effects I envisioned. That’s when I turned to digital design, using tools like Photoshop. This shift not only made my work more efficient but also opened up a whole new world of possibilities. I could explore complex elements like lighting, realism, architecture, and geometry in ways that just weren’t possible with traditional sketching. Digital design also made it easier to make adjustments and show clients exactly how a design would look on their skin, which really improved our communication and understanding.
In the early days, I struggled a bit with getting the colors just right on the skin, mainly because I was still learning the ropes of tattooing techniques. To overcome this, I sought advice from other tattoo artists, learned different needle techniques, and kept searching for the best tattoo machines out there. I was among the first group of artists to switch from traditional coil machines to rotary machines, and that change made a huge difference. It allowed me to create designs with more precision and focus on the details that make a tattoo not only beautiful but also as painless as possible for the client.
As I gained more experience, I realized the importance of continuing education, so I started attending workshops and seminars. These events were a game-changer—they helped me refine my skills, connect with other professionals, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques in the industry. I also spent time studying different tattoo styles, which broadened my artistic range and allowed me to offer a wider variety of designs to my clients.
Running my own studio in China taught me a lot about the business side of things—everything from client relations to time management and the importance of maintaining high standards of hygiene and safety. These lessons became even more valuable when I moved to California to join the Modoink Tattoo team. Adapting to a new cultural and professional environment was a challenge, but it also gave me a deeper appreciation for the cultural significance of tattoos across different communities.
Looking back, I’m grateful for all the experiences—both the challenges and the successes—that have shaped me into the artist I am today. I’m passionate about continuously improving my craft and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, always with the goal of creating unique and meaningful tattoos that resonate with my clients.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist, especially in the tattoo world, is the chance to create something truly personal and meaningful for each client. I specialize in colorful tattoos and cover-ups, but what really excites me is the process of bringing someone’s story to life on their skin. I approach tattooing with the eye of an illustrator and graffiti artist, which means my designs often break away from the typical tattoo norms. Instead of sticking to traditional methods, I love weaving the client’s personal experiences and emotions into the design, making each tattoo a one-of-a-kind piece of art that holds deep significance for them.
The whole process starts with getting to know the client during our consultation. I spend time understanding their story, their preferences, and the feelings they want to express through their tattoo. This connection is so important because it helps me create something that not only looks amazing but also carries a lot of personal meaning. Seeing how these tattoos become a part of who they are is incredibly rewarding.
Another aspect I find really fulfilling is working on cover-up tattoos. There’s something special about taking an old or unwanted tattoo and transforming it into something beautiful and new. It’s a way for clients to reclaim a part of themselves, and being able to help them do that is something I cherish. Cover-ups require a good grasp of color theory, skin tones, and various techniques, and I enjoy the challenge of blending all these elements to create something fresh and vibrant.
What keeps me going as an artist is the constant learning and growth. I’m always looking for new trends and techniques, attending conventions, and collaborating with other artists to keep my work evolving. Being able to combine personal storytelling, creativity, and continuous learning is what makes being an artist so rewarding for me.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
What really drives my creative journey is the desire to push the boundaries of what tattoo art can be. I’m passionate about taking tattoos beyond just skin and integrating them with other artistic fields, like new media design and installation art. I believe that by blending tattoos with different forms of art, we can transform how they’re perceived and showcased, allowing people to appreciate them in entirely new ways.
One of my big goals is to create immersive experiences where tattoo art comes to life alongside digital media, light installations, and interactive exhibits. Imagine a tattoo design paired with augmented reality, where it moves and interacts with viewers in unexpected ways, or an installation where tattoos are projected or sculpted into large-scale pieces. I love the idea of challenging the traditional view of tattoos as just body art by presenting them in a broader artistic context.
I also want to collaborate with artists from other disciplines, combining tattoo art with painting, sculpture, or even performance art. This could lead to some really exciting projects where tattoos become part of a bigger story, blending visual and experiential elements to create something truly unique. By doing this, I hope to show that tattoo art is not just about personal adornment—it’s a versatile and dynamic medium that can tell powerful stories and evoke deep emotions.
At the heart of it all, my mission is to inspire others to see tattoos in a new light—not just as decorations but as meaningful pieces of art that belong in the contemporary art world. I want to broaden how people think about tattoo artistry and help them appreciate its cultural and artistic significance. By exploring new ways to present tattoos, I envision a future where they’re celebrated for their craftsmanship and their ability to communicate complex ideas and emotions.
