Flair For Fine Line Tattoos: Think Before You Ink’s Q&A With Tattoo Artist Anthology
By Sidra Lackey
Anthony Christian went from not being interested in being a tattooist and just wanting to get a tattoo when he was younger, to years later being featured in Inked Magazine’s 2019 Black History Month piece: “12 Black Tattoo Artists You Need to Follow on Social Right Now.” Fellow Black tattoo artists, the celebrated Miya Bailey and Tuki Carter, gave him inspiration that he could become a tattoo artist too. Recently, he has tattooed TV actor Woody McClain, known for playing Cane Tejada on the popular show: Power Book II: Ghost. He has a flair for black and grey fine line tattoos but has begun to venture into anime style tattoos. He can be found at Anthology Tattoos and West 4 Tattoo in Manhattan, New York.
Think Before You Ink had the pleasure of picking Anthony’s brain for a thoughtful interview:
THINK BEFORE YOU INK: Where did you grow up? And did that have an impact on you becoming a tattoo artist? (ex: Were you around tattoo culture via your family / friends / people in your neighborhood?)
ANTHONY: I grew up in Broward County, Florida. Tattoos have been big since high school. Everyone was getting them by the time I made it to 10th grade. During that time I had no interest in becoming a tattoo artist. I didn't know much about the craft or if it was a lucrative career opportunity at the time. I was more interested in just having one of my own.
TBYI: How long have you been a tattoo artist?
ANTHONY: I’ve been tattooing for 8 years so far in total.
TBYI: Did you choose to be a tattoo artist or did tattooing choose you? (ex: did you always want to be an artist or did you fall into it?)
ANTHONY: I feel like tattooing chose me. I have been drawing for as long as I can remember but I never had an interest in tattooing. There was a period of time where I was doing freelance artwork and some inquiries were for tattoos. It still hadn't clicked yet. It wasn't until I started working at the Hard Rock Casino that I became interested. I had a pretty hefty sketchbook full of things I had drawn and little to nothing to lose. So I went and asked for an apprenticeship.
TBYI: Who are the tattoo artists you look up to or who inspires you? And why?
ANTHONY: I looked at a ton of tattoo magazines when I first gained interest. It wasn't until I saw a Black tattoo artist for the first time ever that changed my outlook on whether it was actually possible for me. These artists were Miya Bailey and Tuki. There's so many talented tattoo artists in the industry now it's hard to keep up with. Every week I'm finding someone new whose work I love. The bar is getting raised every day.
TBYI: Did you have a tattoo apprenticeship or were you self-taught?
ANTHONY: I attempted to get an apprenticeship and was successful. Unfortunately things would get in the way of me completing from start to finish. After 3 failed attempts for reasons way outside of my control, I decided to give up. After a few years I gave it another shot and with the help of a few artists, I was able to get started. After learning the basics, I began to self-educate and grow into what we see today. I'm still learning and growing as we speak.
TBYI: Do you think tattoo artist’s tattoos should be regarded as art, even if the tattooist doesn’t have a formal art background? Why or why not?
ANTHONY: Yes I do. It’s still art from my perspective. The only difference is it’s on skin instead of a canvas. There are artists who do not have a formal art background who are recognized all over the world.
TBYI: What is your style specialty when it comes to tattooing? Is there a style you feel you want to get better at?
ANTHONY: My specialty when it comes to tattooing would be black and grey fine line with tight details. I’m also recognized for fine line work like lettering. Simple designs using 1-3 round liners.
I'm also venturing into anime lately which I am pretty good at. If I had to choose a style that I would want to get better at, it would be this one. So many of the characters are nostalgic and they bring back so many memories.
TBYI: What types of tattoos do you enjoy and dislike doing most?
ANTHONY: Tattoos I dislike the most are usually from customers trying to imitate another artist's work instead of giving me an idea and letting me tattoo it in my style. I enjoy projects that I can make sense of in my head that I feel confident I can execute well. I also like the projects to fit well with my style.
TBYI: How do you collaborate with a client on a piece who has no / little idea what they want? Do you prefer that or do you prefer if a client already has a set idea on a piece?
ANTHONY: I usually do not work with these types of clients. I can offer some pieces I have created that I would like to tattoo but that's about the best I can do. You at least have to have a small idea I can use as inspiration.
TBYI: There’s many changes happening within the tattoo industry currently: from ink colors being banned to inks being linked to cancer, to there being “made-to-fade” ink and even light sensitive ink that can “turn on” and off supposedly. Tattoos can now be turned into NFTs too. What do you think about all these innovations yet setbacks? How do you think tattoos and the tattoo industry will evolve further over the next few years into the next decade?
ANTHONY: Honestly it's a bit overwhelming to keep up with. But I do predict that new artists are going to evolve a lot faster than we did with the surge of ebooks, YouTube videos and online courses. Everything we needed to know that we couldn't get access to is now at the fingertips of anyone with a smartphone. The bar is going to rise fast and high. It’s exciting times.
TBYI: Do you have any advice for tattoo artists in training or those just thinking about entering the tattoo industry as a tattoo artist?
ANTHONY: There is so much knowledge to absorb on YouTube to the point where you don't need to get an apprenticeship. I still recommend seeking one but you can lock in and learn our entire process just from YouTube alone. Study, practice on fake skin, ask questions and try to be as unique as you can be to stand out. I strongly recommend learning the business side of tattooing as early on in your career as well. It will save you a lot of headaches in the future.
You can follow Anthony on IG @Anthologytattoos