Meet surla Kim | tattooartist

We had the good fortune of connecting with surla Kim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi surla, why did you pursue a creative career?
I don’t think that what a tattoo artist does is only art, but I think that the entire process of making a customer’s thoughts into reality and that the result stays with that person for a lifetime as long as it is not erased on their body is art.

I am a person who loves all art in the world, especially art, music, and literature. I have always wanted to be an artist, and it is a great joy to finally be able to live a career that incorporates one of them.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
“I’ve been specializing in fine-line tattoos for seven years in Los Angeles. While there are now other fine-line artists, when I started, there were no female tattoo artists, so 80% of my clients are women. I always appreciate the opportunity to tattoo on their beautiful skin.

Consequently, I use needles very gently and delicately. Many clients express surprise at the lack of pain when getting my tattoos, thanks to my special skills aimed at minimizing damage to their skin. My needles penetrate significantly less into the skin compared to other artists. I avoid causing repeated damage by using minimal touches and applying the needle very thinly to the skin. This not only shortens the tattooing time but also reduces pain and damage.

You might wonder if tattoos done this way are easily removable. Well, I have my secret. It’s a professional technique where I increase the power on the tattoo machine to prevent easy removal. Elevating the machine power increases its vibration, making it an advanced skill that requires expertise to handle.”

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I think LA is a place where you can enjoy a variety of culture and arts. What I like the most is going to outdoor concerts at the Hollywood Bowl on summer nights. I’m especially a big fan of Gustavo Dudamel, the head of the LA Philharmonic. And I think H.E.R’s performance was the best of all the performances I’ve seen!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
“I came from Korea and have a fondness for Korean calligraphy, which is why I’ve done many Korean tattoos using my own handwriting. For example, I’ve tattooed BTS lyrics in my calligraphy style.

Additionally, because I’ve learned East Asian painting, I enjoy tattooing floral or animal motifs with an Eastern feel. I particularly love tattooing cherry blossoms; I can do it with my eyes closed.”

Website: https://www.surlaink.com

Instagram: surla_ink

Yelp: finelinetattoo LA

Image Credits
surlakim