Why I tattoo freehand

I never plan a tattoo. There’s no printed lines to follow, no fixed design to guide me. Just the person in front of me, a brush in my hand, and a conversation. Not only is there not a stencil on the skin to follow, but there is no preparation. We brainstorm ideas and develop a composition together, in real-time, moments before we start tattooing. But why?

When I first began tattooing, this concept felt terrifying - to draw directly onto someone’s skin without the safety of a plan. But over time it’s become the only way that makes sense to me.

Freehand tattooing asks for trust. From both sides. It means slowing down, listening, sinking into the rhythm of the body. It’s less about precision and more about presence - being so aware of the moment that I've transcended the fear of making mistakes.

I sketch as I go. After painting a loose composition onto the skin, I figure out the structure and form with the ink and needle. I allow the lines to wander, as I feel the form. It’s alive. I can't erase these exploratory lines, and I wouldn't want to. Every mark carries the story of that instant - how we breathed, how the light fell, the flow of our conversation and the energy we shared. Our life is a series of transient, non-repeatable moments. My tattoos serve to honour and reflect this. By loosening up and embracing the forces beyond our control, we're more aligned with the magic of life.

I think that’s what I love most about it: it can’t be undone, and it can’t be repeated. The art doesn't come from meticulous planning and calculated thought, it emerges from a purer, more vulnerable place. Each piece becomes a symbol of trust and flow, not perfection.

The longer I’ve worked this way, the more I’ve realised it’s not just a technique - it’s a way of seeing. An approach to life perhaps. The same awareness I bring to tattooing is the same I bring to meditating, walking through a forest, or simply noticing how sunlight hits a page.

Freehand, for me, isn’t about control. It’s about letting go, opening up. Stepping out of the mind and choosing trust, so the heart can lead.