SHELBY STEVENS

yourself and your limits, and always push yourself to be better in whatever areas you think you need to grow. Take criticism, but also try to recognize the difference between criticism and hatred/ projections from people who are insecure. There’s a lot of ego in this field, and a healthy amount is definitely good, but remember that there is always going to be someone that’s better somewhere, and that’s okay. Keep doing what you love and figure out who you are. You’ll do great if you just keep doing what you love and don’t let critics get to you too much. There are always critics. ✕

@tattoosbyshelbystevens instagram

I’m 34. I’m originally from St.Petersburg, Russia, but I currently live and work in Salem, Massachusetts, at the Black Veil Tattoo.

What advice would you give to someone about getting his or her first tattoo? (A tattoo virgin) I believe that this should be approached seriously and with all responsibility. It must be remembered that a tattoo is forever, and spontaneous decisions for a first tattoo can then create difficulties: you may have to do a coverup or remove it. You need to decide on the idea and find a master whose work you like. Don’t be shy to express your thoughts and emotions and tell the master about your preferences in detail. You can also think about whether you plan to do more tattoos in order to correctly determine the location of the first tattoo and subsequent ones so that they look harmonious.

What would you say is your favorite part of the job? I believe that the work of a tattoo artist is a dream job because it combines a hobby and a way to earn money. Tattooing is gaining more and more popularity and is perhaps now at the peak of development. I am very glad that I took up this business in time. Clients are now open to experiments, so you can embody your wildest ideas on the skin and create art. It’s hard to single out what I like the most, but I probably get more pleasure when I start shading and working with details. What was it that initially sparked your interest in tattooing?

It all started with rock music; for me, it was the first step toward tattoo culture. I have bought a guitar and, grown my hair long, started going to rock gigs. The underground atmosphere really pulled me in. And

I have drawn throughout my life and have always had friends telling me to become a tattoo artist. So I decided to try.

Who are your favorite artists? Now there are a lot of masters who are interesting to watch, and the list can be very long. But when I started tattooing, I paid attention to such masters as Alexander Grim @ alexandergrim, Rob Borbas @grindesign_ tattoo, Deni Aktemirov @ deni_aktemirov, and they still remain one of my favorite tattoo artists. ✕

7 Years Tattooing Salem, MA Location

Independent Artist

Dark B&G tattoo Blackwork Specialty

@t_i_t_u_k_h Instagram titukhtattoo @gmail.com