ARTIST IN VIEW: JESSE LEVITT
How did you get involved with tattooing and how did you find your personal style of tattooing?
I started tattooing in August 2010. I saw online the work of lots of very talented artists and realized they were doing their own original art on people. I was already a serious artist at the time and saw an opportunity to make art and have a lot of creative freedom, so I found an apprenticeship and worked very hard to define my personal style in tattooing. After about 2 or 3 years all of my clients were only asking for my original freehand art.
What is the thing you enjoy most in the tattoo industry?
I enjoy attending the conventions and meeting all of the other amazing and talented artists that I see online. I also very much enjoy meeting new clients and making cool art for them!
Do you have a ritual or specific thing you do every time before you start tattooing?
Yes, I do have several rituals. I always try to get about 30-45 minitues of intense exercise before each session, either skateboarding if its nice out or doing 100 pushups or other body weight exercises to get my blood flowing. I also take a herb called Kratom before each session which gives me focus and puts me in the right mindset to make art.
What’s something you haven’t done yet but would love to tackle? (Tattoo related)
I have never done a full body suit and would love to have someone who is financially ready and motivated to do one session every month until their whole body is covered. I estimate it would still probably take 3 or 4 years at this rate but it would be really dope.
What’s missing in the tattoo industry? What would you like to see change?
I don’t think it’s really missing anything to be honest. I am very impressed with all of the progress and amazing new tech that is available for the industry. I suppose one thing I would like to see more of is a focus on unique individual art styles in apprenticeships. Most apprentices learn art during their apprenticeship, but I think it would be great if more people had their art style more narrowed down before learning to tattoo.
Who are your biggest inspirations, or artists you admire and why?
My biggest art inspirations would be H.R. Giger, Bekinski, and concept artists for video games/creature designers. I also very much enjoy sci-fi and horror films like The Thing for example. As far as tattoo artists my biggest inspiration was Tommy Lee Wendtners work back in 2010 when I got into tattooing, his work was the reason I became inspired to tattoo in the first place, as well as Victor Portugal.
Some of the other artists I really admire would be Toxyc, Mr. Dist, Brandon Herrera, Ediablo, Jesse Smith, Tom Strom, Robby Latos, David Jorquera, Markus Lenhard, Stepan Negur, just to name a few.
What is most important for avoiding bad tattoo healing?
The most important thing for healing correctly is keeping the work clean and using high quality tattoo aftercare. Tattoo Armour is absolutely my favorite way of healing a tattoo, especially for the first night after getting a session.
Also don’t work out too hard or do intense or dirty work for the first several days after a session, try to just take it easy and let your body heal!
What’s your favourite tattoo convention(s) and why?
My favourite convention is the New York Empire State Tattoo Expo in Manhattan. It is my favourite because it has the best artists from all over the world that attend it. It also gives me an excuse to go down to NYC for a weekend which is only a two hour drive from my shop. I don’t mind flying to a convention but being able to drive to one this good is a real treat!
What’s the one topic or theme of tattoo you get asked the most?
I get asked for skulls and abstract dark bio-organic work the most. I also get asked to incorporate the “zipper” or “Tooth Zipper” effect I am known for quite frequently.
Is there a specific body part you enjoy tattooing and one you really don’t enjoy tattooing, and why?
Yes absolutely. I enjoy tattooing Arms and Legs the most because they are easy for both me and the client, and they also make for amazing flowing art. My least favorite spot to tattoo is probably the chest and stomach because I find people don’t sit as well for them. It’s a very painful spot and akward for me to tattoo as well, but I still don’t mind doing them.