Lady Frankenstein from Western Australia
Where did you grow up?
Near Albany - a small
town on the south west coast of Australia. Not to be confused with
Albany, NY, of course.
How was it growing up
there, would you say that it influenced you?
My family lived about
half an hour out of town, on Two People's Bay Nature Reserve. It's a
beautiful place, absolutely spectacular scenery. Of course as a teenager
there's “nothing to do” so I ran off for the bright lights & big promises
of London, England!
When did you start
getting tattoos?
As soon as I was
legal! I'd been planning them from the age of 13.
How would you describe
your style?
Punk rock
housewife. Occasional pin-up.
Do you consider
tattoos as a serious art form?
They certainly can be,
but definitely not always are!
What has been your
inspiration for getting them?
My first inspiration
was Mike Ness of Social Distortion! After that it's been music, friends,
memories. Some are well-planned in advance, others are spur of the moment
decisions to mark an occasion.
What’s your favorite
piece?
Oh man, that's always
a hard question. Usually the newest is my favorite. Today I'll pick my two
latest because they're both so different: first the black & grey Marlene
Dietrich inspired drag king portrait on my left thigh, done by
Merrick Ames at WA Ink, Perth, Australia.
Secondly the
traditional dodo bird on my right thigh, done by James McKenna also
at WA Ink, Perth, Australia.
Do you catch people
staring at you because of your ink?
Yes, unfortunately.
Mostly I have built up immunity to stares but sometimes it still bugs me.
I mean, even if it is stares of admiration rather than disbelief or disgust,
staring is still rude!
In your opinion, do
your tattoos change your mood often?
Not really. Getting
tattooed usually puts me in a great mood though.
What’s your most
significant tattoo and why?
The acorn & moth
wings on my chest/throat, it symbolizes new beginnings. Becca Marsh (at Jayne
Doe, Essex, UK) designed it for me just before I moved back to Australia from London.
What advice would you
give to someone wanting to get their first tattoo?
Do your research. It
is so, so important! Look through tattooer's portfolios. Get word of mouth
recommendations from people you trust, who have good work themselves. Don't choose
a tattoo studio based on price. It's a tired saying but it is so
relevant: good work's not cheap, cheap work's not good. Quality tattoos will
last and you'll be proud of them.
Will you be getting
any more?
Yes, of course - I
still have some blank canvas...too much blank canvas!
What is one thing that
life has taught you?
That every choice
& every mistake I've made has led me to this point right now in
my life, and I love it. So even if I could go back and do things differently, I
wouldn't.
Anything else you
would like to add?
Keep up the great
work, this site is awesome!
Photographer's Credit:
Pete, Teaco Photography - 1,5.
Mark Boyle - 2.
Sideview Inn - 3.
Terence Mendoza - 4.