DRC: First things first, can you tell the D-Ratz out there a little bit about what influenced you into becoming a tattoo artist?
LINDSAY PARROTTA: From a very young age I was always visually expressive, and as I got older my style started to lend itself to tattoo designs. I got my first tattoo when I was 17 and fell in love with the whole process. One of my closest friends began tattooing which had a big influence on me getting started. So thanks, Matt!
DRC: Who are some of the tattoo artists that have influenced you?
LINDSAY P:
Billy Benson (Red White and Blue Tattoo, Ventura) has definitely been my mentor. Sailor Jerry is obviously a legend. Shanghai Kate Hellenbrand carved out a place for the ladies and is an original badass. And my absolute favorite artist right now is Jim Miner.
DRC: Do you prefer having someone with a good idea of what they want, or do you like designing a custom piece from scratch? Or Both?
LINDSAY P:
It all depends. Some of my best/favorite pieces have been custom designs. And its a great feeling when you draw something that the client gets super excited about. But if someone has a very specific idea of what they want its definitely easier on both of us if they have some references.
DRC: When was the first time you had to do a "Taz" tattoo; and how hard did you laugh?
LINDSAY P:
Haha, I haven't done a Taz tattoo yet, but I have done Yosemite Sam, which was actually pretty cool. Although I'm pretty sure that if I keep tattooing long enough I'm eventually going to encounter a Taz tattoo. It's inevitable.
DRC:Worst experience working for a tattoo shop? Best Experience?
LINDSAY P:
Everyone's had some bad experiences where things just didn't gel. I think it's tough if the owner of a shop isn't a tattoo artist, it makes it difficult for them to understand a lot of issues. But so far I've been pretty lucky and have learned from everything. My best experience so far was definitely at Pure Tattoo where I began my apprenticeship. We went through a lot in my time there. They were the first to give me a shot, and the first place I really felt at home in LA after moving here from Pittsburgh. That will always mean the world to me.
DRC: Do you feel like you get treated differently being a female tattoo artist in a mostly male dominated industry?
LINDSAY P:
Oh definitely. It can be either a good or a bad thing. Being a 5' tall girl helps me to stand out, that's for sure. I hope that most of the guys who are nice to me or want to get worked on by me are basing it on skill and not on something else, haha. The down side is that even though I'm 25 I look younger, and often people walk into the shop and look right past me to talk to one of the male artists. Usually they think I'm the receptionist. Not cute.
DRC: Being that you, aside from being a super talented tattoo artist, are a beautiful girl do you hate being constantly compared to people like "Kat Von D" just because you have black hair and tattoo's...and she's famous?
LINDSAY P:
Oh god I hear that all the time, it's the joke that never gets old. Except that it does. It really does. Please stop.
(No disrespect to Kat, haha. But no, seriously, stop it.)
DRC: What do you think really sets you apart from every other tattoo artist?and what do you think you bring to the art form?
LINDSAY P:
I like to think that I have an energy and a positivity that make my clients feel comfortable and excited about the process. Getting a tattoo can be a little daunting, and I've had a lot of people tell me how uncomfortable they've been made to feel at some of the shops they've visited. Its really an intimate thing, and I'm honored by every person that chooses to share this ritual with me and I really try to always treat it with that respect. I hope that my art conveys that love as well.
DRC: What is your favorite music to listen to while you tattoo?
LINDSAY P: Music makes all the difference. Especially on larger pieces I really need something to keep me focused and energetic. Right now it's usually either Young Jeezy or Every Time I Die, haha.
DRC: What is your favorite tattoo you've done do date? Worst? Most Difficult?
LINDSAY P:
One of my favorites is the Stanley Cup I did on my own arm (Go Pens!) and there's a stencil of Audrey Hepburn that I'm pretty fond of. The worst was probably tattooing "Fuck the World" on this guy's chest and then when I finished having him tell me that he "felt like we just had sex." Gross. My most difficult tattoo was on my friend's neck. The design wasn't difficult but the spot we did it was. The skin was tricky and my stencil disappeared about half way through, which is really stressful.
DRC: Whats your favorite style to tattoo?
LINDSAY P:
I love American Traditional tattoos. They are classic. They look good now and they'll look good 50 years from now. They may look like simple designs but it's a whole different way of thinking about lines and color. You boil the piece down to its essence so everything has to be executed cleanly.
DRC: do you notice a difference in what kinds of tattoos people get on the west coast compared to the east coast- or is it all pretty much the same? [example: a lot of east coast people get sports tattoos etc.]
LINDSAY P:
Black and gray is a lot more popular on the West Coast. Color and traditional work is more popular back East and that's had an influence on me. And I honestly think people from Pittsburgh get more sports tattoos than any other city, haha.
DRC: Do you have any future dreams of running your own shop? Or would you rather skip the headache and be an in-demand freelance artist who travels the world tattooing (private, conventions etc.) ?
LINDSAY P:
Jury is still out as to whether I would like to own my own shop, it's not something that's really on my radar right now. My only entrepreneurial inclination at the moment is to someday have my own line of tattoo inks. I've always been fascinated by chemistry and I think that is something I could really get into. So be on the lookout for that in the future!
SO THERE YOU HAVE IT KIDDIES. ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST INNOVATIVE UPCOMING TATTOO ARTIST IN LOS ANGELES. IF YOU WANT THIS INSANELY CREATIVE AND TALENTED ARTIST TO DO SOME WORK ON YOU( AND IF YOU PASS THE "DON'T BE A CRAZY PSYCHO FREAK WEIRDO , WHO TRIES TO LOCK PEOPLE IN BASEMENTS SAW STYLE" TEST. YOU CAN CONTACT HER THRU drugratcityent@yahoo.com AND WE WILL PASS ALONG YOUR INFO.IF YOU PASS THE TEST AND GOT YOUR PAPER RIGHT , SHE JUST MIGHT FIT YOU INTO HER BUSY AND HECTIC SCHEDULE
TO SEE MORE OF LINDSAY PARROTTA'S WORK GO TO http://littlelindsayink.tumblr.com/
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