Speaking from the mind of an artist first, and tattooist second.
Tattoo artists often cover their own bodies in ink not out of vanity, but out of respect for the craft and responsibility to the client. To truly love tattooing is to love not only the art itself, but the experience that comes with it—the pain, the endurance, and the transformation. An artist must possess compassion, and real empathy can only be earned by sitting in the chair themselves, feeling the needle break skin, learning how the body reacts under pressure. By tattooing their own body, the artist understands how far a session can be pushed, when to pause, when to offer water, sugar, or rest, and how to minimize trauma while maximizing comfort. Certain placements—like the head or throat—demand even deeper understanding; they require firsthand knowledge of the intensity, vulnerability, and mental focus needed to move beyond instinctive resistance to pain. For many artists, being tattooed is a form of apprenticeship to the body itself, a way of honoring the ritual and ensuring that every mark made on another person is guided by experience, empathy, and respect.
