I’ve just returned from the tattoo convention in Lörrach, and for me it feels like a turning point in my career as a traveling tattoo artist. It all started when I arrived in Mannheim to work at Smiling Demon Tattoos, and several booked models suddenly canceled their sessions. I ended up with free time and started looking around to see what was happening nearby.
I came across an announcement for a tattoo convention in the town of Lörrach, not far away. I have a friend named Gianni living in Basel from Chosen One Tattoo. I messaged him, and he suggested that we share a booth and work together in the same box. It was a great idea, and I agreed right away.
I posted on Facebook that I was heading to the convention and looking for a model. At that time, I already had a client in the city of Fürth near Nuremberg, at Victor Tattoo studio with Viktor Mayer. I had previously tattooed a band logo for him, and his brother had been wanting a tattoo for a long time and had been considering it seriously. Viktor gave me his contact details.
That is how I met Christian. He wrote that he lives in the Swiss town of Adelboden, where a World Cup skiing stage takes place, and that he had been wanting to start a sleeve for a long time. Everything lined up perfectly. He had free time, the motivation, and the ability to travel to the convention. He sent over several ideas: a portrait in mist, a water theme, all framed with the Flower of Life pattern. Normally, ornamental concepts like mandalas are not my favorite, but there was something alive in this project. I decided to compromise because I liked the overall sleeve concept.
We met directly at the convention in Lörrach. Christian turned out to be a very pleasant person, and we talked through almost the entire session. During the process, I told him that I had extra time due to canceled models. He replied that he had a hotel and friends who also wanted tattoos, and he suggested that I stay with him and work with people from his circle. It sounded like a great plan, and we agreed to continue working together after the convention.
Christian and I worked for two days in a row on the sleeve, gradually covering the arm. When we finished the inner part, we submitted the piece in the Black and Grey category. In the end, we took second place in Black and Grey, and that award became the key moment for me. It opened new doors and essentially switched me into a mode of constant travel across Europe.
After the convention, I did in fact go to Switzerland. There, I met a lot of amazing people: Ralph, Christian himself, Klara, and others I am still in touch with today. Ralph is planning a massive ornamental project, almost a full pattern suit, where I will be able to explore a new style for myself. Klara has an idea for a cover-up tattoo on her thigh, and I am already thinking through the design.
This trip showed me how one convention and one successful project can completely shift the direction of your life. The win and placement in Lörrach gave me not just a trophy and a strong portfolio piece, but also a circle of people I genuinely want to keep working with and growing alongside.
I came across an announcement for a tattoo convention in the town of Lörrach, not far away. I have a friend named Gianni living in Basel from Chosen One Tattoo. I messaged him, and he suggested that we share a booth and work together in the same box. It was a great idea, and I agreed right away.
I posted on Facebook that I was heading to the convention and looking for a model. At that time, I already had a client in the city of Fürth near Nuremberg, at Victor Tattoo studio with Viktor Mayer. I had previously tattooed a band logo for him, and his brother had been wanting a tattoo for a long time and had been considering it seriously. Viktor gave me his contact details.
That is how I met Christian. He wrote that he lives in the Swiss town of Adelboden, where a World Cup skiing stage takes place, and that he had been wanting to start a sleeve for a long time. Everything lined up perfectly. He had free time, the motivation, and the ability to travel to the convention. He sent over several ideas: a portrait in mist, a water theme, all framed with the Flower of Life pattern. Normally, ornamental concepts like mandalas are not my favorite, but there was something alive in this project. I decided to compromise because I liked the overall sleeve concept.
We met directly at the convention in Lörrach. Christian turned out to be a very pleasant person, and we talked through almost the entire session. During the process, I told him that I had extra time due to canceled models. He replied that he had a hotel and friends who also wanted tattoos, and he suggested that I stay with him and work with people from his circle. It sounded like a great plan, and we agreed to continue working together after the convention.
Christian and I worked for two days in a row on the sleeve, gradually covering the arm. When we finished the inner part, we submitted the piece in the Black and Grey category. In the end, we took second place in Black and Grey, and that award became the key moment for me. It opened new doors and essentially switched me into a mode of constant travel across Europe.
After the convention, I did in fact go to Switzerland. There, I met a lot of amazing people: Ralph, Christian himself, Klara, and others I am still in touch with today. Ralph is planning a massive ornamental project, almost a full pattern suit, where I will be able to explore a new style for myself. Klara has an idea for a cover-up tattoo on her thigh, and I am already thinking through the design.
This trip showed me how one convention and one successful project can completely shift the direction of your life. The win and placement in Lörrach gave me not just a trophy and a strong portfolio piece, but also a circle of people I genuinely want to keep working with and growing alongside.