Artist Interview: Loaded Forty Four with Hannah Von Farren and Lawrence Canham

I recently interviewed Hannah and Lawrence, from my favourite tattoo parlour, I asked them a series of questions, related to tattoos, their practise, and art. It was a pleasure to interview them!

My first question was:

What inspired you to first start drawing?

Hannah’s response was that she had always been interested and involved with the tattoo industry, and that’s how she got inspired to start in the practise. Lawrence’s was that he studied Fine Art in College, which you get a feel for that through his portrait work, and his neo traditional work.

Another question I asked, was what made you want to tattoo?

Their responses were similar, as were both interested by tattoos and the industry, we got onto the subject, of how they felt you could make a proper income from tattooing, and I asked weather they felt it was an Entrepreneurial root of art, because not only can they sell prints of work, they sell work onto skin, which to me is another canvas that can be explored, Lawrence said its an easier way to provide income, as there’s no guarantee that just selling artwork will sustain you.

I went on to ask about Copyright, and if they had ever had issues? And wanted to know their view on the matter, Hannah went on to explain a circumstance that they had where somebody stole originals and was selling them off, which would upset any artist. However due to their large online Fan and client base through Facebook and Instagram, they had enough help to get him reported. We went on to discuss the word ‘copy’ Hannah explained her thoughts, stating she feels everything’s has been done before at some stage in time. Artwork can be used to reference, and for inspiration. I went on to ask, is there ever competition between artists/studios? Hannah went on to say its dependent on the area in which the shops are set up,

However, you can see by the amount of guest work they have in the shop, that they have good relationships and trusts with artists, which got my onto my next question, I asked about ethics and censorship issues, what’s there boundary on this? Lawrence commented saying he wouldn’t tattoo a swear word onto somebody, Hannah felt the same, they said they have a light funny atmosphere in the shop, but at the end of the day, there name is linked to the work they produce.

I next asked, what was the oddest request a client had asked them to draw up as a tattoo? Lawrence’s response was a realistic fly, which you can see on this Post! Hannah’s was the Lyrics To Rihanna’s Song, S and M, including some Ball And Chains! Each very different tattoos, which the experience was unique for the artist involved.

I also asked, would they ever recommend somebody else to do a tattoo that they had been asked to do? This originally linked with my question to ethics and censorship, as one person might be more comfortable then the other tattooing something of an ethic or of a censorship nature, However Lawrence went on to comment, that he would if he felt he knew somebody that was talented at the certain style the client wanted, Hannah went on to show me an artists work, who had a very unique style as an example, saying she would never try to recreate something like that for a customer, stating she felt it would be a ‘rip off’ of the other persons work. Like Picasso trying to do a Salvador Dali painting because somebody asked him to. They said they’d rather send them to somebody they trusted.

I asked, what qualities do they feel a tattooist needs? Lawrence answered with Patience- Lots of it! Hannah agreed and went onto say, they’d need to be a ‘people person’ and have confidence, a tattooist doesn’t always start out with these traits, but they learn them as they go, Hannah went on to say she felt they needed to know how to ‘small talk’ as it makes the client feel more at ease, especially whilst being tattoos. – Trust me id know, small talk helps you forget there’s a needle being poked in your skin!

Lastly, I asked how did it feel the first time you actually tattooed somebody with a tattoo gun?  Lawrence stated he was nervous, and excited. And he tended to overthink things. Hannah said she was terrified, and as a tattoo artist, it takes a while for that feeling to go away it all goes with more practise.

Thanks to Hannah And Lawrence for letting me interview them, Thanks to Hayley also!

you can view the shop and their many Talented Artist, Piercer and Guests Here