Mariya (AKA Bluee) Los Angeles, CA

MARIYAH

(AKA BLUEE)

An independent tattoo artist, Mariyah is three years into her journey. She also splits her time as a high school special education and art teacher. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2020 and enjoys reading, video games, and painting. She has been an artist for 10 years with works on various mediums, which influences her love for all art and tattoo styles. She is best known for her line work, B&G, and color work and takes great interest in designs that incorporate all three styles into unique floral-centered pieces. However, she is a well-rounded artist who is mastering several techniques, including color realism, script, traditional and neo-traditional. As an independent artist, she prides herself in creating a safe and inclusive space for women, LGBTQIA, and POC in her studio ⸺ What advice would you give to someone about getting his or her first tattoo? (A tattoo virgin) Generally, research research, research! There is always an artist out there for you, don’t settle for cheap, save up for someone who will give you what you want. Tattoos are permanent. Make sure to find an artist who posts their work on a skin tone similar to yours so you have an accurate representation of how your tattoo will look on you. Lastly, don’t pick an artists who doesn’t show that they have a good vibe because the experience is just as important as the artwork ⸺ Have you ever had a bad tattoo experience, and what did you learn from it? Yes, before I started tattooing, I had a horrible tattoo experience. I requested a tattoo from an artist who I thought was really talented, and I was eager to get his work. He loved the idea I had but wanted to tweak several aspects of it. I should have known to walk away the moment he said it, but he didn’t want me to get color because he felt my skin was too dark. During the tattoo, he treated my skin badly, and I had to tap out. He ghosted me on the 2nd session four times, then acted as if I was the problem when I told him I was going to take the piece to someone else to finish. Although it was a sucky experience, my interest in tattooing grew out of it, and it led me to have a strong call to action against some widely accepted misconceptions about what can and can’t be achieved on darker skin tones. ✕