Brenna Peterson Denton, TX

BRENNAPETERSON

I’ve always been an artist since I was small. I was taking art classes in college when I realized I didn’t want to be an animator just to pay the bills. After some research, I found several tattoos in a style that looked like oil paintings, and I realized that was a possibility. I set about looking for an apprenticeship and found my place at Dark Age Tattoo Studio in Denton, Texas. After my apprenticeship, I left Texas briefly to travel and tattoo in a couple of states. I’ve previously tattooed in Colorado and Arizona. My preferred style of tattooing is a painterly twist on color realism ⸺ Who/where do you get your inspiration from? I love the look of the old renaissance oil paintings and the techniques that they used with colors. I really try my best to bring some of that understanding of color in my pieces to help them come alive on the skin ⸺

What advice would you give to someone about getting his or her

first tattoo? (A tattoo virgin) It’s not nearly as bad as everyone says it is. I’ve had more clients have issues from not eating due to anxiety than bad reactions to the process of getting tattooed. I always recommend my clients come in fresh off a full night’s rest, hydrated, and having eaten a full meal. Bonus points if you work on moisturizing the area you want to get tattooed for a week prior to the appointment ⸺

What did your family and friends think about you getting into the

tattoo business? I was nervous telling my parents about wanting to be a tattoo artist, even though I had always drawn on myself and others with markers just about any chance I got. I very clearly remember when I told my parents I was interested in pursuing tattooing, both my Mom and Dad volunteered to be my first victims ⸺ What would you say is your favorite part of the job? As an artist, I get to meet so many amazing people and hear so many different personal stories. But I have to say my favorite part of the job is the ability to transform a body part into a moving piece of art that highlights both the anatomy and subject matter of the tattoo. ✕