Tania @green.vesper and I took Best of Show at the tattoo convention in Nice, and it was an incredibly strong trip. Here is the story in detail.
At that time, we were both traveling around Europe for guest spots: I was working in Germany, and Tania was also in Germany, but in a different region. We would call, chat, and at some point decided: since we are both in Europe at the same time, we should find a convention, create a joint collaboration, and try to win another award.
Browsing the World Tattoo Events calendar, we found the nearest suitable event, the convention in Nice in southern France. The train ride there was a journey in itself: several hours through mountains, past waterfalls and forests, and you just stare out the window, unable to look away. Nice greeted us with great weather and beautiful views, and the convention itself was not huge but cozy, with about 200 artists.
Our model Jade lives and tattoos in Nice. At that time, she was an aspiring artist, very motivated to grow. One memorable detail was her funny old tattoo that said Ravioli on her leg, which unexpectedly became a local meme among our crew. We transferred our joint design, adjusted the size, and worked on the tattoo for two full days.
In the end, this collaboration took the top prize of the convention, Best of Show. For Jade, it was an incredible boost of motivation. She watched the process closely, asked questions, and was fully engaged. During the work, we shared technical tips with her: what to focus on in outlines, how to build light and shadow, how to plan composition, and how to manage large projects.
The feeling from this project was especially valuable. Beyond creating a strong tattoo and winning the top category, we were able to pass on a lot of knowledge and inspiration to Jade. I hope this experience became a foundation for her, giving her confidence to pursue her own impressive projects in the future.
At that time, we were both traveling around Europe for guest spots: I was working in Germany, and Tania was also in Germany, but in a different region. We would call, chat, and at some point decided: since we are both in Europe at the same time, we should find a convention, create a joint collaboration, and try to win another award.
Browsing the World Tattoo Events calendar, we found the nearest suitable event, the convention in Nice in southern France. The train ride there was a journey in itself: several hours through mountains, past waterfalls and forests, and you just stare out the window, unable to look away. Nice greeted us with great weather and beautiful views, and the convention itself was not huge but cozy, with about 200 artists.
Our model Jade lives and tattoos in Nice. At that time, she was an aspiring artist, very motivated to grow. One memorable detail was her funny old tattoo that said Ravioli on her leg, which unexpectedly became a local meme among our crew. We transferred our joint design, adjusted the size, and worked on the tattoo for two full days.
In the end, this collaboration took the top prize of the convention, Best of Show. For Jade, it was an incredible boost of motivation. She watched the process closely, asked questions, and was fully engaged. During the work, we shared technical tips with her: what to focus on in outlines, how to build light and shadow, how to plan composition, and how to manage large projects.
The feeling from this project was especially valuable. Beyond creating a strong tattoo and winning the top category, we were able to pass on a lot of knowledge and inspiration to Jade. I hope this experience became a foundation for her, giving her confidence to pursue her own impressive projects in the future.