Jessica Doyle Jessica Doyle is a Calgary based tattoo artist specializing in botanical blackwork style. Jess currently works at Altar Tattoo, a private tattoo and art collective located in the Beltline. When she’s not tattooing or doing art, she’d like to be travelling, exploring the mountains, doing yoga and hanging out with her pets.
How would you describe your tattoo style? I have a mainly botanical focused style. While I tend to do more black work style tattoos, I love using muted earthy colours in my work as well. When and how did you get into tattooing? I started working at a tattoo shop back in October 2010. My goal was to get an apprenticeship, but I started off cleaning and doing front end work. Eventually with enough work and persistence, I was able to convince someone there to teach me, and I started my apprenticeship not too long after. I started tattooing in 2012 and haven’t looked back since. It’s flown by so fast; I can’t believe next year will be ten years since I started working in a shop! Is there a piece that you’ve done you consider to be your favourite? I think picking a favourite would be too hard. I’m constantly pushing myself to create my best work with each client, so I feel like it’s always changing! I think some of the most fulfilling ones can be scar coverups. Whether its self-harm scars or surgery (I haven’t done any mastectomy coverups yet, but I would really love to), I love watching the way my clients transform and see themselves in a totally new way. Do you work with any other art media? That’s something that I’m actually starting to work on again. Tattooing has taken the focus in my life for a long time now, and I often don’t even have time to draw fun things for no reason. I recently did a motorcycle helmet for the Parts & Labour collection release at Ill Fated Kustoms, and it felt SO good. I’ve been intentionally
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