Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Natalie Davis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Natalie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I don’t think I could pick one single project as the most meaningful, there have been so many over the last 6 years of tattooing! It could be as simple as the way a client looks at themselves in a new, more positive way after the tattoo is complete. It could be a memorial for someone’s loved one or pet that they’ve lost, or a moment in their life that impacted them positively or negatively. I love to hear each person’s legacies, their best memories, & their hardships behind the designs. Sometimes it’s not even the tattoo itself, but the conversation we have during a session that makes the project extremely fulfilling to do. I’m always awestruck by my clients’ resilience to overcome the things that they’ve been through. If they choose to share their story with me, sometimes all I can say at first is “I’m so glad you’re here.” I love the emotional side of tattooing, that’s the best part!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I’m a tattoo artist in Columbus, OH that specializes in black and grey tattooing, specifically dotwork! Most of my designs are based on nature and organic matter with a touch of whimsy. I started tattooing in 2016 after graduating from Columbus College of Art and Design with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. I worked my way into the tattoo industry by hanging out at a local tattoo shop and drawing, scrubbing toilets, and picking up Chipotle orders until they allowed me to start an apprenticeship. Six years later, I now co-own a private tattoo studio in Columbus, Ohio called Last Moon Tattoo!

Coming from a customer service background before tattooing, taking care of your clients has been a top priority in the way I handle my business. Many artists’ behavior in this industry leaves much to be desired. It’s my goal to ensure that each client is handled with respect and care from the moment that they email me, to beyond the moment that they walk out the door. Whether that’s clear communication, a comfortable space, or answering aftercare questions and doing touch-ups later down the road, each part is vital to the greater picture. Take care of the people that pay your bills and they will come back.

As for the actual tattoo itself, I’ll give it my all every single time. Have a general idea but can’t picture it? I’ve got you. Have a picture of what you want in your mind already? I’ll try to make it even better! each tattoo is created with care towards the design elements that are important to you, and catered to your specific anatomy. I want each and every client to leave feeling more positive about themselves than when they walked in!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

That de-saturating or using a black and white filter on your tattoo photos is not okay.

When I started tattooing, a large majority of artists I followed on social media used a black and white filter on their photos when posting black and grey tattoos. I started using this pretty quickly as well, thinking it was harmless and a nice aesthetic. I was also insecure about posting my work, especially in the earlier days, and being able to control how I presented a tattoo made that feel a little less anxiety inducing. It wasn’t until I saw an article about how this was actually contributing to whitewashing the tattoo industry, that I realized I was doing way more harm than good. It was never my intention to do so, but regardless of intention my page’s aesthetic was taking precedent over visibility of Black and Brown skin tones. I definitely should have understood this much sooner than I did, but I dropped the filter immediately. Doing so has helped me connect with a wider clientele, and has also helped me feel more confident in my work. Everyone should be able to see their skin tone represented when they are looking for a tattoo artist, or at a style of work that they’re interested in.

I have seen other black and grey artists out there stop de-saturating their work, but there are still plenty that do. I guess what I’m getting at is if you’re a tattoo artist that still uses the filter, please drop it. It’s the bare minimum we can do.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Sometimes its a struggle for people to realize we aren’t machines. We live in this age of fast-paced capitalism. Big name companies push a standard for cheap prices, easy accessibility, mass production, and quick turnaround times. But we’re human, and creating what we provide takes time and skill. If our prices feel high, please remember that you’re not just paying for the time it takes us to create something for you. You’re paying for the hours, days, months, and years it took for us to hone in that skill to get to the level we are at today. Sometimes cheaper is what people can afford, and that’s okay, but it’s important not to compare our work to that of what you can find mass-produced and mass-consumed. As for tattoos, if cheaper is what you can afford, you may have to compromise on the level of quality you expect out of the work.

If you’re able to, consider shopping smaller instead of large, fast-paced corporations. Your dollar goes to the individual, it helps pay our bills and survive doing what we love. Plus, your item or service will be more unique, personal, or well-crafted!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ratcult.com
• Instagram: @ratcult @lastmoontattoo

Image Credits
Maddie Draffan