Cally Jo

Cally Jo

When we first interviewed you a few years ago you mentioned that you had 6 years of art school training. What was your artistic focus at the time and how do you think that training has helped you in the tattoo world?

That was such a long time ago! I think now I’m definitely in a different mindset artistically. Drawing has absolutely helped me with my work, if you can’t draw then you can’t tattoo, anyone who asks me for advice about what they can to do get into tattooing I always just say “draw.” If your finger isn’t mashed into a pulp from the amount of drawing you’ve been doing then you’re doing it wrong.

How would you describe your specific style of black and grey?

I think that my style definitely has a romantic influence, I’m very much attracted to macabre and I think that my work is a mix of the two. I don’t know, I think that I put a lot of my personality into my tattooing and artwork and I think that shows.

Have you always worked entirely in black and grey?

Or do you dabble in color every once in a while? I can’t even remember the last time I used color, and when I did it was probably just one extra color and it would have been the client’s decision, not mine. I have always preferred black and grey and I think I probably always will. I’m sure it comes from my love of pencil drawing. I suppose it would make sense that I would fall into black and grey.

How do you feel your art has evolved since you started tattooing?