Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariyana Suvar.
Hi Ariyana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The time I got into tattooing I had recently moved back home earlier that year because my mother’s cancer had returned. When she passed I was still reorienting my life. Around then a friend had asked me to design a tattoo for his arm because I had gone to art school for illustration in college. The artist he brought my design to asked if I wanted to tattoo and then I started my apprenticeship from there. I stayed for about 2 yrs until I moved on to my next shop in 2018 through the pandemic. Then in 2022 I decided to work out in my own private studio where I am currently am at now.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For me getting started in tattooing, especially in my early days was pretty all encompassing. If I wasn’t at my part time job during doing sign art and general retail for Trader Joe’s then I was at my apprenticeship. In addition to learning how to work on skin but also figuring out the needs of the people I worked on. I really relied on the trust of my early clients and friends for work and figuring out my tattoo process. Working on a person is complex because you not only have to manage their pain while creating art, but the work can be taxing on your own body as well. There is also a social and hospitality aspect to the job that is truly underrated and I was lucky to already have those soft skills to fall on as well as my background in art and drawing.
Additionally I think many artists, not just tattooers, struggle between finding a unique personal style and making work that is appealing to potential clients. I think this struggle is compounded with the pressure of social media to constantly be marketing and comparing yourself to others. So my solution to that is to focus on providing the best service for my client, whether it’s researching supplemental references to inform my designs or practicing my drawings outside of work through workshops or classes.
Because I try to approach each project I accept with the mindset of doing my best I think that’s why I have many long term/ repeat clients. I even have some going as far back as from my first shop. There is also incredible value and further education in seeing how my work healed and how it still makes my client feel over time. I remember when one client specifically wanted a small behind the ear tattoo from me as an apprentice and it took me an hour to figure it all out at the time. A couple years later, she came back asking for a snake and floral half sleeve. So I’m always very humbled and grateful when I see them again whether it’s to get more work or just to say hi.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a local DMV tattoo artist that specializes in line work, whether it is bold line, like in American or Japanese traditional pieces or fine line like in print etchings. Concept wise I am into combining anime, gaming, pop culture with traditional Asian or fine art aesthetics. I also like to reference obscure museum curiosities ( think weird seraphim babies, animal skeletons and Hieronymus Bosch) botanical florals, mythical creatures especially from Asian folklore and my late wrinkly old man cat, Ninja. He was and still is my muse, the face of my business and an unregistered emotional support animal for some of my clients during their tattoos.
I’m proud whenever clients return. Whether it is to get more work done or just to show me when something is healed. I do my best to give the client what they are asking for while still creating a design that has longevity. Seeing the client happy with your work that they will keep for the rest of their lives is so rewarding and later seeing healed work still look good is so satisfying.
I let go of trying to be unique and just aim to do good solid work and improve my skills. I would go to other artist get tattoos and ask questions, look-up references for details in the design or go to drawing classes. For example, one of my hobbies, Ikebana ( traditional Japanese floral arrangement) definitely helped me level up my compositions whenever I do large floral tattoos. Ultimately, I think style and taste will come naturally as long as I am proactive in maintaining and growing my creativity.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is when I used to do traditional Thai dancing as a kid, from elementary school to middle school at the local Buddhist Temple Wat Thai DC. I specifically remember performing during festivals for the community. I remember before the performance we couldn’t drink too much water because it was so difficult to get in and out of the costumes. It was so freeing when we finally performed and then got to stuff our faces with the delicious festival food no longer constrained by my glittery pants. And we could ruin our make up and let our crazy hair out stiff from all the hairspray and bobby pins.
My Thai was not very strong ( it’s so-so sometimes depending on the weather) so I’m glad this was my contribution to the Thai community. Even if it was mostly by default as a kid bring dropped off by my parents to learn. It’s one of those things where it was a drag at the time but as an adult I see that being around all the beautiful costuming and temple paintings, ornaments and decoration informed the foundation of artistic preferences and aesthetic.
I like to hope that it’s in memories like these that give authenticity to true art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ariyanasuvartattoo.com
- Instagram: @ariyanasuvartattoo
