We recently connected with Steven Saturn and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Steven thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

In the 17 years I have been tattooing, I’ve done quite a few meaningful tattoos, whether it was for my own family, or for someone who lost a loved one, (including pet family). The most recent tattoo that comes to mind in the “most meaningful” category is a man who walked in wanting a memorial tattoo for his daughter.

While I was setting up for my scheduled appointment, a man walked in and chatted with the other people waiting. I knew I had a long appointment, so I figured I would talk to him and see if he could come back another day. He left his phone number and I got to work on my scheduled client. As I tattooed, my client told me more about the man who walked in. They spoke as they were waiting, and he said the man had a daughter who was 25 years old, and died of cancer. He came in that day becuase it was that exact day she was to be cremated. As a parent I was crushed. I realized how important it was that he get the tattoo that day, so I texted him to come back, and told him I would work overtime to do his tattoo. The client I was working on saw me do this, and offered to pay a portion of the man’s tattoo. The man came back, and I tattooed one of the same designs his daughter had onto his arm. In an attempt to keep it brief and in order to hold back my own tears, I told the man “my first client this morning paid for your tattoo”. I ended up covering some of the cost as well, but I couldn’t even explain it, I was crying and hugging the man, as he was struck with what I could see was shock and emotion.

The reason this tattoo comes to mind as the most meaningful is that I have a son who is only 1 years old. When we were done with the tattoo I hugged the man, and we both cried. It was hard for me, not only to hold space for someone so strong, and so vulnerable at the same time, but also to ignore/accept the fact that my own child is a human I cannot protect at all times.

The universal love of a parent is unconditional, and when tattoos have so much meaning embedded into them, I can’t help but feel strong emotions and empathy.

Steven, 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 career is a tattoo artist. There are years of dedication behind me, and ahead of me as well. Perfecting my skill, developing new techniques, and keeping up with trends and technology are all part of a career. I started working as a tattoo artist becuase I felt like I could do it myself, after having some bad experiences in shops many years ago. As technology improved and the culture shifted, I chose to take tattooing seriously, push myself to new levels, and make every tattoo I do the best tattoo I’ve ever done.

The difference between my tattoo work and other artists is the foundation of fine art that I developed before ever picking up a tattoo machine. I have a BFA in fine art, and spent years drawing and painting, learning elements of design, composition, color theory, perspective, proportion, and art history. After starting to tattoo I experimented and built experience for years, discovering what types of projects work, and what things are more challenging. I even failed a few times, attempting cover ups and then having to rework them. I learned from every experience, and my work proves that.

My favorite thing to hear is when people tell me that their tattoo is more amazing then they even imagined it. When people look at their tattoo for the first time, I watch their expression change. It makes me proud to see someone’s face light up, joyful at their new body art.

The thing I would want people to know about my work is that I care as much if not more about the quality of your tattoo as you do. I want it to be amazing, I want you to be amazed.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I changed careers from being a chef into the tattoo industry. At the time I had worked for a couple years, climbing the kitchen ladder from dishwasher to sous chef. Covid hit and shut everything down, so I did what I had to do to make ends meet. I started tattooing from home.

The stress and pressure of the kitchen was not what I loved about cooking. I realized what I loved was the creativity, and scientific alchemy of turning indredients into a dish. I crave creation, and transformation.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I feel gifted, and blessed to do something I love as a career. It is rewarding to me when I complete a project, and my clients come back for more. That tells me they trust me, they like my work, and they believe I’m doing my job better than anyone else they could go to. It’s humbling, and an honor to have repeat clients.     

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.stevenmichaelsaturn.com
• Instagram: @stevenmichaelsaturn

Image Credits
@stevenmichaelsaturn