Here at Soundscape, we don’t like to limit ourselves to just covering music – so we jumped at the chance to interview upcoming tattoo artist Ben Bickley! Check it out below!
How did you first get into tattooing/drawing?
I have been into drawing from an early age and have always enjoyed being creative, but never took an art form so seriously until my interest in tattooing came out of nowhere. I believe my mother started me off drawing as it was something easy to occupy a child with. Tattooing sprouted when my peer groups all of a sudden started getting small flash-like tattoos and little bits of script and thought it was cool at the time, but never saw the true potential you could do with it.
What advice would you give someone looking to get into the industry?
It’s a very saturated industry at the moment. There are more people than ever today falling into this profession. Tattooing is very fashionable today with the young generation are more inclined to follow other artists footsteps. If you’re serious about getting into the industry then you need to present a very decent portfolio and hound artists repeatedly to let them know you really want this. Just make sure that if you are putting the effort in that you research the studio/artist before you just walk in somewhere.
What is your favourite part of the job?
Every single day is different. If you work at McDonalds you make the same shit every day. I get to make a whole range of art that never repeats itself.
What makes a good tattoo?
The tattooists knowledge of intuition, drawing skills, technical skills, observation and a great understanding of human anatomy. Once he/she has understood and had great experience in all areas I think their work will speak for itself.
How old were you when you got your first tattoo and what was it?
I was quite late receiving my first tattoo. I believe I was 21 and in university and they were two angel wings either side of my neck. I was trying to be cool.
Can you tell us about any of your tattoos?
I can. Most of them suck. I was stupid and young making wrong decisions of who I went to and not having a clue a person needed an artistic capability.
Who is your favourite tattoo artist?
Nick Baxter. I think I admired his work from day one. There are so many other people who inspire me I can’t remember off the top of my head, but they all deserve the equal credit.
Where do you see the art of tattooing in 10/20 years from now?
I think it will decline and then pick up again. In generations to come I think near enough everyone will have one and people will start not getting any just to be different again. However I think that as technology grows so will the products tattooists use. We will be able to accomplish things that are difficult now with ease. The downfall with this is there will be more untrained, eager people thinking they can tattoo from the offset.
