Written by: Lady J
Cover Photo by: Heather Addley
July 11, 2011
Full Name: Amy McFadden (aka Amy Black)
Age:36
Currently Residing: RVA
Currently Listening to: Jesu/High on Fire/Radiohead/Beastie Boys/Gustavo Santaello
Recently voted Style Weekly's "Best Tattoo Artist" here in Richmond, VA, Amy Black is becoming one of RVA's most notable artists. Owner of Trademark Tattoos in Carytown, Miss Black boasts an array of artwork mirroring her inked accomplishments. Being number 3 as the most tattooed city in the United States, RVA has a reputation to uphold and having phenom artists such as William Thidemann, Chris O'Donnell, and Timothy Hoyer has to put some pressure on an artist. It has been nice seeing a lot of upcoming female tattooist take the helm as well.
Amy has a quiet, but professional demeanor. One can tell she really studies what pieces she is developing and there is a patience you can see within her. Her pieces range in a variety of styles, but her nature pieces seem to get the most distinction. Her shop in Carytown is almost living-room-esque and one could feel as though she's come over to give you a massage. She's booked about three months in advanced, so if one wants some work done plan ahead. Her work can be seen throughout the city and it has been pleasantly surprising to come back to River City to see quality work being done.
Which was the seed that was planted that embarked the growth of your tattoo career?
Probably getting my first tattoo my Freshman year of art school. it was small and on my side to easily cover. I fell in love with the process and the results immediately.
When did you get your first tattoo and how old were you when you gave your first?
It was 1991 when I got my first I was around 16/17 and around 1998 when I gave my first, I was around 23.
What do you feel best describes your style of tattoo work?
Eclectic with a high percentage of requests for all kinds of nature themes (plants/animals/insects/fish/birds/etc) and interpretive works (ex: translating a paragraph of text into symbolic images), asian themes, personal mementos, and so forth.
How did you choose to work at Trademark and what do you feel is important in choosing a shop to work at?
Trademark is my shop, it was formerly Alive Tattoo and my business partner, Timothy Hoyer moved in 2005, so I took over full ownership and renamed it to Trademark Tattoo. Choosing the right shop for some is a highly personal decision so I'm sure it varies from artist to artist, so for me it was about looking for artists who were friendly, professional, interested in constantly evolving and educating themselves on their art form and super creative/motivated/positive people.
What is something new you just learned?
That my life seems to be prefaced by themes per day lately, one day everyone was talking about the proposed "end of the world" days with lots of interesting Peruvian/Manchu Picchu accents, the next I felt like there was a heavy emphasis on the need to revamp our education system....
What are you most stoked about in your work? What do you feel is the most intolerable thing in dealing with clients?
re:stoke: making connections with all these interesting people, making clients happy with their work ,and being able to do this through art. there is much to be learned about the art of non-vocal communication.
re:intolerable: I don't find much intolerable, just that some clients are meant for other artists. Sometimes I'll hit a creative and communicative wall with someone and it is just a sign that I'm not the right artist for them.
Have you ever refused anyone a tattoo? Why? Who have you been the most stoked to do work on?
I refuse/have refused people who either want something I don't feel is my strong point or aren't the right fit due to not being able to communicate properly. If you can't tell me what you want clearly, or if I am just having a hard as hell time understanding you, I don't feel comfortable putting something permanent on you. I love all the art I am allowed to do and all the clients who request my work. I am severely grateful to everyone's support. I do have a special love for tattooing clients' families. It goes both ways here, either I tattoo the middle-aged daughter and then I get to tattoo her mother and then her grandmother, or sometimes I tattoo the grandparent first and then their kids come in!
What's the creative process like for you?
It is a massive amount of brainstorming, researching online and going through reference books, intense consulting and sometimes last minute cramming. I am a procrastinator at times and some of my favorite work comes out that way, but I've been that way my whole life through school and stuff.; for me I tend to spend a lot of my creative energy on the actual tattoo, but it always varies. Sometimes I need a comprehensive pre-draw with detailed shading studies and sometimes I just need to create some basic templates to be use to figure out placement the day of the tattoo. I get inspiration from a lot of sources and I love working that way because I end up learning a lot in the process.
What do you find most exciting about the tattoo world now versus the past and where do you see the significance of tattoos in the future?
The tattoo world now becomes more and more expansive and multi-faceted and I find that to be great for the art form and the people who appreciate it. I get excited seeing other artists push the art form while respecting the confines of the craft on skin. There was a real big lift off back in Don Ed Hardy's beginnings to add a Westernized fine art feel to tattooing and it continues to push that way. I still have a deep respect and love for the old traditional tattooing from many cultures though. I cannot say I am any more or less excited about both genres. re:significance in the future?:i can see the acceptance of tattoos evolving more and more into more areas of society maybe, not sure. I guess I don't really consider where tattooing may go.
What's in your trunk of your car?
jumper cables. a lawn chair. spare tire. old car battery that needs to be recycled. i've had the same car for over 18 yrs, I keep it functional and simple in that dept ;-)
For more on Amy Black:
Back to Visions
Cover Photo by: Heather Addley
July 11, 2011
Full Name: Amy McFadden (aka Amy Black)
Age:36
Currently Residing: RVA
Currently Listening to: Jesu/High on Fire/Radiohead/Beastie Boys/Gustavo Santaello
Recently voted Style Weekly's "Best Tattoo Artist" here in Richmond, VA, Amy Black is becoming one of RVA's most notable artists. Owner of Trademark Tattoos in Carytown, Miss Black boasts an array of artwork mirroring her inked accomplishments. Being number 3 as the most tattooed city in the United States, RVA has a reputation to uphold and having phenom artists such as William Thidemann, Chris O'Donnell, and Timothy Hoyer has to put some pressure on an artist. It has been nice seeing a lot of upcoming female tattooist take the helm as well.Amy has a quiet, but professional demeanor. One can tell she really studies what pieces she is developing and there is a patience you can see within her. Her pieces range in a variety of styles, but her nature pieces seem to get the most distinction. Her shop in Carytown is almost living-room-esque and one could feel as though she's come over to give you a massage. She's booked about three months in advanced, so if one wants some work done plan ahead. Her work can be seen throughout the city and it has been pleasantly surprising to come back to River City to see quality work being done.
Which was the seed that was planted that embarked the growth of your tattoo career?
Probably getting my first tattoo my Freshman year of art school. it was small and on my side to easily cover. I fell in love with the process and the results immediately.
When did you get your first tattoo and how old were you when you gave your first?
It was 1991 when I got my first I was around 16/17 and around 1998 when I gave my first, I was around 23.
What do you feel best describes your style of tattoo work?
Eclectic with a high percentage of requests for all kinds of nature themes (plants/animals/insects/fish/birds/etc) and interpretive works (ex: translating a paragraph of text into symbolic images), asian themes, personal mementos, and so forth.
How did you choose to work at Trademark and what do you feel is important in choosing a shop to work at?
Trademark is my shop, it was formerly Alive Tattoo and my business partner, Timothy Hoyer moved in 2005, so I took over full ownership and renamed it to Trademark Tattoo. Choosing the right shop for some is a highly personal decision so I'm sure it varies from artist to artist, so for me it was about looking for artists who were friendly, professional, interested in constantly evolving and educating themselves on their art form and super creative/motivated/positive people.
What is something new you just learned?
That my life seems to be prefaced by themes per day lately, one day everyone was talking about the proposed "end of the world" days with lots of interesting Peruvian/Manchu Picchu accents, the next I felt like there was a heavy emphasis on the need to revamp our education system....
What are you most stoked about in your work? What do you feel is the most intolerable thing in dealing with clients?re:stoke: making connections with all these interesting people, making clients happy with their work ,and being able to do this through art. there is much to be learned about the art of non-vocal communication.
re:intolerable: I don't find much intolerable, just that some clients are meant for other artists. Sometimes I'll hit a creative and communicative wall with someone and it is just a sign that I'm not the right artist for them.
Have you ever refused anyone a tattoo? Why? Who have you been the most stoked to do work on?
I refuse/have refused people who either want something I don't feel is my strong point or aren't the right fit due to not being able to communicate properly. If you can't tell me what you want clearly, or if I am just having a hard as hell time understanding you, I don't feel comfortable putting something permanent on you. I love all the art I am allowed to do and all the clients who request my work. I am severely grateful to everyone's support. I do have a special love for tattooing clients' families. It goes both ways here, either I tattoo the middle-aged daughter and then I get to tattoo her mother and then her grandmother, or sometimes I tattoo the grandparent first and then their kids come in!
What's the creative process like for you?
It is a massive amount of brainstorming, researching online and going through reference books, intense consulting and sometimes last minute cramming. I am a procrastinator at times and some of my favorite work comes out that way, but I've been that way my whole life through school and stuff.; for me I tend to spend a lot of my creative energy on the actual tattoo, but it always varies. Sometimes I need a comprehensive pre-draw with detailed shading studies and sometimes I just need to create some basic templates to be use to figure out placement the day of the tattoo. I get inspiration from a lot of sources and I love working that way because I end up learning a lot in the process.
What do you find most exciting about the tattoo world now versus the past and where do you see the significance of tattoos in the future?
The tattoo world now becomes more and more expansive and multi-faceted and I find that to be great for the art form and the people who appreciate it. I get excited seeing other artists push the art form while respecting the confines of the craft on skin. There was a real big lift off back in Don Ed Hardy's beginnings to add a Westernized fine art feel to tattooing and it continues to push that way. I still have a deep respect and love for the old traditional tattooing from many cultures though. I cannot say I am any more or less excited about both genres. re:significance in the future?:i can see the acceptance of tattoos evolving more and more into more areas of society maybe, not sure. I guess I don't really consider where tattooing may go.
What's in your trunk of your car?
jumper cables. a lawn chair. spare tire. old car battery that needs to be recycled. i've had the same car for over 18 yrs, I keep it functional and simple in that dept ;-)
For more on Amy Black: