The well-known inspiring tattoo artist, Letitia Mendes was recently featured in the March issue of Femina, India’s leading women’s magazine for being a real woman who smashes stereotypes and chooses to be in charge of her life, body, and story, every single day. She believes ” “For me, being a woman means that to shine your brightest light is to be who you are.”
Check out Letitia Mendes in a candid interview with Women Fitness President, Namita Nayyar on what inspired her to become a tattoo artist.
Namita Nayyar:
The first question is what attracted you to becoming a tattoo artist? Was it a childhood dream or something that happened by chance?
Letitia Mendes:
Art has always been my go-to, since childhood, from drawing and painting after school to exploring paint on the computer. I started by customizing shoes and bikes in college to make some pocket money, thereafter I did my graphic design diploma …I always knew I loved art ..and the beauty of art is that it comes in various forms, it was the time when I got my first tattoo, wherein it was a 10-hour session. Just admiring how a needle and ink were pulsating in my skin to create art, I immediately fell in love with the craft and then enrolled myself within the following week to learn to tattoo.
Namita Nayyar:
What do you like about your work? Share the experience with your first client, how was the experience
Letitia Mendes:
The best thing about tattooing is not just tattooing but creating art from people’s stories and their personalities that would stay on their bodies forever. and see them feel empowered with confidence with every new ink.
Tattooing my first client was pretty scary, and after the tattoo, the client was so happy that it gave me an adrenaline rush to do it again and again, once I broke down that wall it’s been an amazing experience so far.
Namita Nayyar:
According to you key factors a person should look into before opting for a tattoo salon or artist. Questions they should ask
Letitia Mendes:
- 1) Should check if the hygiene is good and that they use disposable needles
- 2) How Long have they been tattooing
- 3) check their portfolio
- 4) do they charge by the hour or size
- 5) what aftercare do they provide
Namita Nayyar:
What is most challenging about what you do?
Letitia Mendes:
Being able to create a design for someone who doesn’t know what they want and them liking it in the end.
Namita Nayyar:
According to you, common misconceptions people have about your art.
Letitia Mendes:
1) Tattoos are extremely painful (truth: the pain is lesser than getting your eyebrows done)
2) Colored ink hurts more than black ink.
3) Tattoo will fade to green/blue (truth: The fading is because of the quality of inks used back then, However, the inks used now have improved drastically that will not cause the black to fade into green or blue)
4) Any artistic person can become a tattoo artist if they buy the machine
(truth: Tattooing is a skill to be learned with plenty of practice, to understand multiple factors that go behind creating a great tattoo)
Namita Nayyar:
How long has it been since you started and the number of tattoos you have made up till now. Any misfire you faced at work?
Letitia Mendes:
It’s been almost 4 years for me since I started, can’t quite remember the number of tattoos I’ve made until now , but a rough figure would be above 250.
Namita Nayyar:
The best compliment you have received about your work?
Letitia Mendes:
It’s better than they expected and they can rave about it.
Namita Nayyar:
The tattoos you make are temporary/permanent or both? How long does it take to make a tattoo of size 2″ by 3″?
Letitia Mendes:
Tattoos I make are only permanent. it would take approx an hour and a half including the setup and trace for a 2 by 3-inch tattoo
Namita Nayyar:
What designs are the latest craze in 2022? Share photos of the top 5 you popular among teenagers
Letitia Mendes:
Minimal tattoos and anime tattoos are the recent crazes among teenagers
Namita Nayyar:
One thing you love about your work?
Letitia Mendes:
Seeing that joy and confidence on their face after they get inked and meeting new people.
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