Hey Ben, welcome to One by One. We are so pleased to have you join us! Tell us a little about yourself. You’ve just moved to London from Germany?
Hey, yes I have! I moved to London because I got the wonderful opportunity to study Fine Art on Chelsea College of Art’s Graduate Diploma course. As an international student, funding is a big deal, so I spent a few years in Germany saving up enough to afford to go.
I started tattooing when I was 16 and started my apprenticeship back when I was 17 and still in school at a shop called Da Silva Tattoo in Bielefeld, Germany.
What music do you usually put on while drawing/painting or designing?
I really love Steve Reich and everything surrounding that kind of music. Ever since I moved here, I noticed there is something comforting about hearing your native language now and again, so I have a bunch of German podcasts I listen to as well.
When are you most productive?
In the morning, probably. Luckily for me, there are not many swings in productivity or creativity. And if there ever is a time when I seem to get nothing done, coffee will usually get the job done.
Tell us an unknown fact about yourself?
I am not sure if this qualifies as unknown, but I do not have any tattoos myself yet. I am still quite young, and I want to make sure I will be happy with whatever I am gonna get for a long time.
That is a crucial point, I think; I always tell anyone who is not sure that they might be best advised to wait a bit until they feel confident about their choice.
Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?
My headphones. Even though I rarely listen to anything while tattooing, for my walk to the studio, designing, or catching up on a lecture in a break, they are so helpful.
If you weren’t a tattoo artist, what would be your other dream job and why?
Since I am a Fine Art student, being a painter is definitely at the top of my list. I guess I never have put much thought into non-creative/ non-artistic jobs. I am not sure that I would ever choose another field, even if nothing worked out. A part of me really enjoys gardening, though.
What are your favourite subjects to tattoo and what would you like to tattoo more of in 2024?
I love combining small to mid-sized realistic elements with drawings or scripts. The contrast between the detailed realism and vagueness of the lines within; especially botanical and renaissance drawing is something I am drawn to. I do enjoy smaller fine-line tattoos as well. I always appreciate it if someone wants to play with the opacity; have some lines done in a lighter greywash so they turn out quite subtle once healed.
To see more of Ben’s work head over to his profile here find him on instagram @Bengrjtattoo