Tatiana Vashchishina

I was born in 1987 in the distant city of Dushanbe, Tajikistan. In 1993, due to the war in Tajikistan, my family moved to Kaliningrad. I’ve been living in Poland for six years now. I moved to Bydgoszcz from Kaliningrad in February 2020, invited by the Zombieink tattoo studio. I waited for work permit documents for six months before the move, which was not an easy journey. It’s a huge stroke of luck when a tattoo studio is willing to wait for your arrival for such a long time. I was lucky to meet Szymon Karwowski, the owner of Zombieink, and I am very grateful for the opportunity and support.

Currently, I live in Toruń and work at Opiumtattoo studio. I have a higher artistic education and graduated from Ivanovo Textile Academy in 2009. My style is hyper-realistic tattoos with a touch of surrealism, both in black-and-white and color. I enjoy working with both color and monochrome tattoos. I especially love tattooing animals, landscapes, portraits, and automotive themes.
Instagram

What led you to the world of tattoo art in 2014? Was it a conscious decision or a spontaneous step?

Tattoos have always attracted me, and I started seriously considering them back in my second year of university in 2006. But I didn’t know where or how to start. In 2014, I decided to go to one of the tattoo studios in Kaliningrad with my airbrushing portfolio, which already contained a pretty substantial knowledge base, and this helped me land a job.

How did your experience with airbrushing, wall painting, and motorcycle/car design influence your tattoo style?

During my studies, I tried different styles, but realism always attracted me the most. Working with textures, volume, and mood. Airbrushing influenced me primarily because, like with a car or motorcycle/ wall, you have to transfer the sketch as precisely as possible so it looks like a photograph. I enjoy working with details.

What was the first tattoo you did for a client? What emotions did you experience?

The first tattoo was a design from Pinterest in a trash-polka style (a black-and-white cat with a helmet and red accents), which the client wanted. Back then, Pinterest was widely used for inspiration and references for sketches. Thankfully, now there has been progress, and artists have many tools to create their own projects, allowing for unique tattoos. The experience with my first tattoo was unforgettable. The stress and responsibility level were huge. My adrenaline was off the charts. But it’s important to control your emotions while tattooing.

What is the most important thing when communicating with a client before starting the tattoo?

The most important thing is the initial consultation. It sets everything. During the consultation, you see how well your vision aligns with the client’s vision. Whether the client is open to suggestions and trusts your professionalism. Sometimes, in the first minute of communication, you can already understand what the client wants and how to reflect it in the project. This is the key to a successful and comfortable working relationship.

Which of your projects was the most challenging or memorable?

One of the most memorable projects was this fall at the tattoo convention in Warsaw. Usually, I participate in categories with black-and-white tattoos. But I decided I wanted to try something new. A two-day tattoo in color. It was a sphinx cat with a parrot. The immense trust from my model and her endurance allowed us to work for almost eighteen hours over two days. We made it to the top six, which is a great result for the first time.

What are the main differences between working in a tattoo studio and working solo?

I had my own studio in Kaliningrad for three years, where I was a tattoo artist, manager, photographer, all in one. I know from my own experience how much work it takes to manage a studio, even with just a few employees. When you work for someone else, you’re relieved from tasks like creating advertisements, purchasing supplies, cleaning, client consultations, scheduling, etc., which frees up time to focus on development or rest with family. Working in a team also offers constant growth. You share knowledge, experiences, and colleagues share their discoveries with you. Even if you work in different styles, you can always learn something new and apply it to your own work. Tattoos are always about growth and finding new solutions, from how tightly you pack the color to how best to heal the tattoo.

Do you have a dream or goal you’re striving for in your tattoo career?

I really hope to reach a certain technical level in my work and find my unique style in realism. I want people from all over the world to come to me for animal tattoos. That would be the best reward.