During the spring of 2011 I accidentally stumbled across an artistic paradise located off of Campellton road, Avow Body Art. My home-girl and I decided to go and check out this new shop the day before “Judgment Day” in May. I was supposed to be getting something small, instead, I ended up leaving with a sleeve (I know, ain’t NOTHIN’ small about a sleeve…). the tattoo artist, “Sketch” free handed a flower vine from my wrist to my elbow. I was so impressed with the quality of service, and witch sketch’s knowledge and skill, I went back to get another large piece on my back about a 6 weeks later.
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sketch
BK: How long have you been tattooing?
Sketch: Almost eleven-in-a-half years.
BK:How did you get into tattooing?
Sketch: Somebody fukked up my first tattoo and it made me mad. I didn’t have any intentions of becoming a tattoo artist. I learned to do it out of spite. I didn’t like the way my tat came out. I felt Like I could have done it better. My goal was to make sure that dude could not tattoo where I lived and he would be broke…
BK: What is you favorite thing about tattooing?
Sketch: Honestly, i like doing something different, somethings fresh. I like tattoos when they are done well. They look cool as fukk. I like the aesthetics of tattooing and how different different people’s tattoos look, you know what i mean? Some artist’s see other people’s tattoo and sometimes they’ll be like, ” I could have done that different or better”. It’s really not that because you aren’t them. I like to see what people’s tattoo’s look like. What’s even cooler is how you can have a person that may go to like, three different tattoo artists to get specific types of work done, it’s like the art all flow together on that one body even though they are THAT much different.
BK: How would you say a tattooing experience with you is different from say, Joe Blow at the tat shop down the street?
Sketch: I enjoy competition. It makes you better. But what makes me different is that i’m me and you’re not. It’s that simple. Like… I really feel like tattooing should be done like the wild wild west. Meaning if a person felt that they needed to or wanted to challenge another artist, they should be able to do that for sportsmanship. Or if you’re doing it for spite like I did, you should be able to challenge another artist like, ” you suck, put down your gun.” It’s not a game. There are so many people that I wish I could challenge that I think really suck. They just don’t have the spirit to be good at this, you know? Like, if you’re a hustler, it’s in you to hustle regardless of race or gender. You’re a hustler. BUT, sometimes, people aren’t good at tattooing and I don’t think that they should be doing it. That’s what makes me different. I’ll do a tattoo that’s worth $500 for $100 because I like doing it. Some people would frown upon that but for me, I enjoy it. It’s like breathing, so I don’t mind. It’s not difficult to where I am sweating and it’s really hard work. It’s pretty easy. I draw faster than most people blink 
. I can draw a full image in 5 minutes and that’s with detail. I can give you outline or full shading, however you want it is how i’m going to give it to you. I am a Master tattooist because I can just draw with ink. No picture, not stencil, just my mind. That’s my style…
BK: What advice do you have for people that think they may want to become a tattoo artist.
Sketch: There’s two. one: I I don’t think you should tattoo if you can’t draw and two: just because you can draw doesn’t mean you can tattoo. If you can understand that, you’re not going to argue with that. Break it down yourself and you’ll figure it out. that doesn’t mean that you can just going around destroying other people’s skin. If you can’t figure out how to learn, then you need to have somebody guide you. Everybody doesn’t have the gift for picking up things the right way on their own. They don’t know their limits. If there’s something that you cannot do, don’t do it. I understand sometimes you may need money, but don’t do it. Just say “no”. Even if you can do it but don’t have the right supplies, don’t do it. I’ve done that before, i’ve had to learn that one the hard way. If you don’t have what you need to do what you need to do, just let it go.
One thing that I love about sketch is that he loves what he does. It shows not only in his finished product but through the process. My arm took two hours to do. In those two hours, this brother educated me on this art that he loves so much. He school me on everything from how to know if the needles is sterile to bad energy that can be transferred into your art depending on the kind of artist you use. I never realized how much really goes into this art form until I started getting my tattoos done by sketch. I was no stranger to ink before I met him however, I am now more informed and appreciate this art form so much more now because of sketch.
Avow Body art
1728 Campbellton Rd suite A
Atlanta, Ga
404- 755- 1134
official site: avowbodyart.com
