Tattoo Artist, Actor, & Author Brandon Garic Notch
Question and answer
Tattoo Artist, Actor, Storyteller, & Writer Brandon Garic Notch
+
  •  
  • © 2024 Artwork & Tattoos by Brandon Garic Notch (copyright) Sacred Saint Studio CA. Contact 0

Question & Answer with Brandon Notch

Question & Answer

These are some of just a few questions that where published along with my work throughout the years in multiple tattoo publications. They are not posted in any particular order.


  • Full Name:  Brandon Garic Notch 
 
  • Nickname: Saint 

  • Where are you originally from? Saint Paul Minnesota 

  • Where do you live and work now? I currently live in San Bernardino, CA. where I built a private studio for myself and work by Appointment only. San Bernardino, is just an hour drive east from the crowded streets of downtown Los Angeles.                                

  • Name of your studio: Sacred Saint Studio 

  • How long have you tattooing? I  have been pushing these pins since 1995, but professionally since 1997. PINS TO THE SKIN. I still learn something new every day.

  • How did you get into tattooing? As a child I was a skater kid and snowboarder so I was surrounded by people covered in tattoos. Got my first tattoo when I turned 15 and never looked back, but ultimately I was in juvenile hall when I first really got interested into tattooing. I was a young kid lost in the world trying to find my place. You know getting into trouble, ha. I bought some equipment, machines, and started scratching on my friends then got new friends. Yes we all start out as scratcher’s it takes a lot of bad tattoos to get good in this game. So you tattoo for free doing anything, and everything that comes your way to lean, and progress as a tattooist. I lied about my age and went around to some shops showing off my work and, I was able to land an apprenticeship, I never looked back. All I know is after that, all I did was eat, sleep, and breathe anything that had to do with tattooing. I talk about it in my books. (Death is only the Beginning)

  • When did you get into painting? I've been into art, painting and drawing my whole life. My parents were artist's.

  • Was your family and friends supportive in your decision to become an artist? Yes, everyone was very supportive.

  • Do you like to challenging yourself every time you tattoo? Yes, I love creating bigger and better tattoos.

  • What do you like about tattooing? I love the conversations, the stories, the interaction with my clients never gets old, and the ability to create lasting art, Impressions in the skin and on the mind. The POWER of ART holds true. Creating hope, faith, motivation, change and inspiration in ones life. Artwork is changing lives and motivating the world around us.

  • Do you ever do charity work? Work cheap for the right cause / donate paintings, Etc.?"  Ha, ha... I am an artist, but this does not mean I will work for FREE, I have bills just like you.

  • Do you have a favorite tattoo? I don't have a favorite tattoo, but I love things that challenge me, and people that give me large parts of their body to tattoo. I have yet to do my best tattoo only my best so far.

  • Who or what is your biggest influence in your tattoo work and why? My clients aren't the biggest influences in my work they give me the skin and inspiration to create. Something’s you just can't do with paint on canvas. They really are the biggest influence in my work.

  • If I had to name my greatest motivation in life thus far, what would it be?  DEATH (Being happy with what I have done in life, and having fun.)

  • What was the most difficult thing to learn in tattooing for you and why? Most difficult thing for me to learn in tattooing would have to be learning how to transfer one’s idea from their mind to paper, to create a permanent piece of artwork in one’s skin. Most of the time a client will be thinking about red, but he’ll say blue, so you have to predict that. Ultimately keep in mind the flow of the art on the body. You can have a badass top-notch tattoo, but if it has no flow, or does not fit the body, ultimately it will look like shit.

  • How do you usually advertise or market yourself? Advertising is one thing I don’t believe in. I believe that good work speaks for itself, all my clients are referral-based. If your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt it. 

  • What brand of pigments / inks do you recommend or use and why? I can’t recommend any brands of the inks, because I use a lot of different inks there’s no one brand that’s better than the other. It all depends upon what you like. Some brand’s may have one or two good pigments but the rest in their arsenal are difficult or hard to work into the skin. It took me many years to find the pigments I like, but if you’re talking about ink. When I say ink, I mean black because that is the only ink we use, all the colors are pigments. I still like talons white label as a go to. 

  • What is the best brand of tattoo machines that you recommend and why? I can’t recommend a brand of tattoo machines. I can only tell you there are two types, daily drivers and hotrods. On a long day you want something that feels good in your hand doesn’t weight too much and will not overheat. So ultimately you would need to find a machine that still feels good in your own hand after hours of tattooing. 

  • What do you believe is the most important tattooing skill one should learn how to master, and why? People skills, the ability to be able to converse with just about anybody, and to truly understand there is still much to learn even after years of honing your skills. It’s never as easy as it looks to lay down a good clean tattoo.The ability to create beautiful imagery, that is a particular ability honed over many years of hard work. 

  • What is your best advice or tips to someone new to the art of tattooing? The best advice I could give to someone new to the art of tattooing would be, look at it like buying a car. Shop for quality and style not price! A tattoo is the only thing you can buy that no-one can take from you. Don’t get cheap on the only thing that will outlive you. Cold, yes I know, but I’m really tired of fixing and covering up shady tattoos. If you do it right the first time it will be cheaper in the long run, Also if you need to get the tattoo right away you probably should not get it at all. Be patient and put some thought into it, and do it right. 

  • What is the best way to practice for those just starting out? Practice on your friends and then get new friends, just kidding. You need to learn on yourself to get the feel of it. The hit, controlling the depth, speed, and movement of the machine pushing that puddle of ink / pigment. You need to get use to the minimal visibility you have of the needle because of puddling ink, and you have to love it.
 
  • What is the best way for one to land an apprenticeship? The best way for one to land an apprenticeship would be to get tattooed, find a good shop and get tattooed by an artist you like, that’s the start. Become a hang around, help out and show your resolution, eventually they will ask you. Make sure they see your determination and heart, everything else can be taught.

  • What do you call the art of tattooing? The Art Of Tattooing: The art of tattooing is in the ability to learn how to transfer one's idea from their mind to paper. Then to create a permanent piece of artwork in one's skin. Most of the time a client will be thinking about red but he'll say blue, so you have to predict that. Keep in mind the flow of the art on the body. You can have a badass top-notch tattoo but if it has no flow or does not fit the body, ultimately it will not look good.

  • Do you ever get frustrated sometimes when things just don't work? When making your art painting or tattooing? Ha, if you get upset when the toast burns, what are you going to do when your house burns down?

  • Do you have any advice for your fellow artist struggling to stay afloat? Ya, never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself. Why try to be someone you're not? Life is hard enough without adding impersonation to the skills required. If the life of a tattooist is you, then DO IT!

  • How would you describe your personality? An outgoing straight forward comedic personality. I work hard, and party hard.

  • SOME ONE ASKED ME ABOUT TATTOO INK AND I KNOW THAT IT WAS A GOOD QUESTION, SO CHECK OUT THIS LINK. IT WILL HAVE ALL THE INFO YOU WOULD EVER NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TATTOO INK.

Stacks Image 16

Tattoos are known around the world as, tatoeage, tatouage, tätowier, tatuaggio, tatuar, tatuaje, tatuagens, tatoveringer, tato, tattueringar, tatoos, and tatu.

Brandon Garic Notch, tattoos for the serious collector.

Privacy policy: We do not collect nor give out data or information that you may share through this website.