Nik Mart Tattooer

I love doing a good mix between traditional tattoos, fun and absurdism. I would love to push more of the classic traditionals. I often work in themes in which I return obscure subgenres, cartoons, classics and current events.

I work as an apprentice tattooist at Stacks tattoos in Rotterdam, where I started my apprenticeship 3.5 years ago. After a long search through all the shops in the area, @yung_stacks offered me a place as an apprentice in his shop where I really enjoyed working. When I start something, I do it well and I tackle it thoroughly and exploit my skills as far as possible. When i decided to become a tattoo artist i had completed a study as a professional musician and i had worked for almost 8 years as a cook in different restaurants, i realized that was not the life i wanted to live in the long term and because I was almost 30 years old, now seemed the time to make one last major career switch.  Tattoos and the world behind it have always intrigued me but it always seemed like an unattainable world. That is precisely why I immediately seized this great opportunity when I got this offer at Stacks Tattoos, supported by my girlfriend who also gave me this opportunity and allowed me to develop in this way. I enjoy going to my workplace every day to work with my friends at the shop and I am very proud and happy that I took this step.

I really get my inspiration from anything and everything. From (children's) books, old plaques, classic tattoo designs, vintage advertisements and films and series. I also like to work with themes that mainly stem from my own interests, which fortunately is very broad. I also get a lot of inspiration from my own musical preferences, which can be found especially in the more obscure corner like rockabilly, country, psychobilly, punk, classic rock, metal, ska, oi!  and old school hip hop. In addition, subjects such as cartoons, graffiti, internet characters and other oddities are also a great inspiration.

Not necessarily small but my young family, music and travel are things that bring me great happiness in life. In terms of work I am very happy to be where I am now and I am really looking forward to what tattooing will bring me. I prefer to combine this in the future with all the above things that make me happy. I think it would be great to be able to travel a lot with my family and to see beautiful things, to tattoo in these places and to make music.

I work as a permanent employee at Stacks tattoos but I occasionally do guest artist spots where I can.

Thank you for this interview and I look forward to seeing you all at my workbench. Big thanx to my girls, the shop and my friends and family who always support me! JOE JOE!