With tattoo art, oftentimes it’s not what you choose to put down on your skin it’s who you choose to do it. With so many tattoo artists, there’s a lot to choose from these days. But if you’re looking for that extra something, something, we recommend heading to Tatiana Kartomten (aka Tati Compton).
With a whopping 260k followers on Instagram, she’s sort of a celebrity when it comes to stick-n-poke tattoos. A self-taught tattoo artist (but aren’t they all?), most of her early clients had never even heard of stick-n-poke – a traditional form of body art that involves using a sharp point and some ink. “I always liked that it’s a lowbrow art form,” observed Compton in an interview with Amadeus.
According to Kartomten, she gave and received her first tattoo when she and her friend hand-poked each other’s fingers. “I started with friends at home in San Francisco,” she recalled. “We wanted to do it then and there, and I had sewing needles and India ink. I became a professional over a long period of time.”
Working out of Saved Tattoo in LA’s Arts District, these days Compton only takes bookings a month in advance. “I’ve never wanted recognition,” she admits, “which is why tattooing is great because it’s for someone else.”
Find inspiration for your next tattoo in the gallery below: