A Charming & Fantastical Delight
hanntats’ designs are full of whimsy, ranging from trad roses to adorable critters in the woodlands. It’s hard to believe she’s an apprentice tattooer!
I started filling up my Instagram feed with tattooers whose aesthetics matched mine. I have been enjoying saturated colour tattoos and bold linework and getting the itch for my “patchwork sleeve”. I stumbled across hanntats, who’d only just begun her tattoo journey last year and did her first tattoo this year in March. She’d uploaded a story with a flash sheet with various designs that included pot plants, roses or the one that caught my eye, a desert landscape with cacti encased in a heart. Hannah said she really wanted to tattoo it, so I sent a DM but unfortunately, I missed out. However, Hann was happy to draw a custom version for me!
Instagram: @macytattoos
Some tattoo enthusiasts might cringe at getting an apprentice tattoo for fear of blown-out lines; overworked skin eventually leads to a raised tattoo or sitting in the chair for hours because the apprentice will be taking their time. I got an apprentice tattoo about five years ago and she went from the image on the left to the one below. So, give them a chance! :)
Instagram: @macytattoos
Yes, I am wearing bloomers for this photo :P
I wanted to support the local tattoo industry, especially in an area outside of Sydney and hanntats was already producing flash sheets to the highest standards, I knew I’d be in good hands and a repeat customer. She booked me in for a custom cactus in hearts and a cheeky pair of strawberries a few weeks after.
Walking into Wicked Ink, I was surprised to see CJ McMahon, the lead singer of the Australian metal band, Thy Art Is Murder, at the front desk! And his partner Leiden is also a tattooist there too. I had to text my brother right away because he’s a huge metalhead. Hannah is absolutely hilarious, we joked about memes and funny YouTube videos that we’d seen recently like Wendy Williams farting and burping at the same time. I felt very welcomed by her and the team at Wicked Ink, who’d come by to give Hann tips or compliment other tattoos that I had.
Strawbieeesssss
The strawberry tattoo booking was set for mid-May, but unfortunately, I had to reschedule twice because my father had passed away in the hospital then the funeral was booked on the day of the tattoo. Five days after the funeral and with the wake on Monday, I headed to Wicked Ink on the Tuesday for the strawberries relieved that tattoos were the only thing keeping me grounded. I was met with confusion from the staff and when Hann walked out, I realised I’d probably come in on the wrong day. The universe was on my side though because Hann had a cancellation that morning and was happy to tattoo me. In Australia, we don’t tip, but I wish I could have given her more for her absolute kindness. I kept my original booking in June with her but I didn’t know what design just yet. Thank you hanntats for being so flexible and considerate of my situation.
I’m not sorry for wearing these bloomers. :P
Lastly, my favourite thing about the tattoos is how she used my own skin as negative space and contrast. If you look at the cacti in the background, she alternated between green and my own skin as a pattern. And on the strawberries, obviously stark white ink isn’t going to show up very well on my skin and it also fades quickly over time, so she left the petals and the highlight of the fruits as my skin colour. For a new tattoo artist, she is very clever and super talented. I’m going back because I adore her work, not for the cheap apprentice rates, and I’m excited to see her success in the industry.
Artist: hanntats
Instagram (Main): https://www.instagram.com/hanntats/
Shop: Wicked Ink Campbelltown
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wicked_ink_campbelltown/
Locations: Campbelltown, NSW