This months feature is Nicolas Jamin currently working out of Sinsin Tattoo in Antwerp Belgium. Nic does mostly Japanese style work, both in colour or black and grey, and has a particular proclivity for dragons. Keep reading to find out how he got into tattooing, and some words of wisdom for would be tattooers out there!

What first made you interested in tattooing?

Actually hating my job. I used to drive a truck at a towing company and did some asphalt road pavement work also driving a 44 tonne truck. I always “one upped” my job but I always felt like working for money I didn’t really need. I wanted to be free, I was already getting tattooed heavily by the guys of Brabo’s Hand in Antwerp. That was a solid introduction to traditional tattooing, after hours drinking, smoking in the shop while getting tattooed, playing cards in the basement after close. It was the coolest environment for sure. Anyways I had multiple moments where I had the thought of tattooing myself. But it felt like a dream and un reachable. I was in a traffic jam for 9h one day at the border with Luxembourg no phones yet or social media and I decided, well damn. I’m so bored, I used to love to draw when I was younger, and I drew some tattooish flash on a piece of cardboard I had in the truck. I still have that one as a memory. Then couple months later I had a motorcycle accident and had 8 weeks of boredom, decided to draw there too. That kinda set it off. There were still months of not drawing and smoking too much weed and partying, but the seed had been planted. It was my close friends who believed in me first and pushed me to buy a machine somewhere on the net. Anyways so not sure what one thing actually triggered it. There were a couple influences that made me want to get tattooed. I used to ride dirt bikes too and I loved all the freestyle motocross stuff; I always told myself i’d never get a tattoo or I’m going all the way, Travis Pastrana or Jeremy Stenberg, guess we both know which it became. 😂

When and where did you start tattooing?

Officially in a real tattoo shop I started my apprenticeship at @sinsintattoo from Vinnie Stones, I believe in 2019. But of course I tried tattooing on myself and on all the homies before that. They still rock those horrible tattoos and they made great memories. But they look like shit. Anyways so 2019 I felt the smartest move was to go ask around tattoo shops to get an apprenticeship. I expected myself to tattoo traditional but for some reason I was attracted to sinsin tattoo. I had my first tattoo there when I was 20 I think. Black and grey lettering “all eyes on me” by Vinnie. I felt like Vinnie could tattoo everything, black and grey, Japanese, trad, script, whatever. So I figured the best man to learn from in Antwerp would be him, without cutting myself short as I had no idea of my actual potential. I couldn’t really draw for shit but I redrew some old tattoo flash and painted it. Vinnie told me at the time he didn’t really see a whole lot of good but he saw a guy who knew what working was and who was willing to drop everything at go all in on tattooing. And he gave me that shot. I took it with both hands, afterwards he told me the first half year he was thinking I was not going to Make it haha, I learn slow. But when I get it in my head it is second nature forever. It was right when corona virus hit when I finished my apprenticeship. Vinnie moved to the States and everyone was being locked down, I did like 4-5 tattoos before the lockdowns. So naturally I didn’t wanna let that whole apprentice year go to waste because we didn’t know how long covid would take. I tattooed everyone who wanted to get tattooed at home, I tried at the shop first but the city was so empty only cops rolled by and it was too suspicious. So at home was the only way, people who dared, and I’m glad I did because it ended up being almost a whole year of lock downs. So glad I did though otherwise where would I have been today. Whatever shit gets thrown at you, keep doing your own thing. There’s always a way!

What artists have inspired you? Tattooers or otherwise.

Oh man, to be honest Iv’e never been much of an art guy. Looks weird as I type it. But only tattooing. I do appreciate all kinds of art nowadays and I see art in everything. From food to architecture, motorcycles, cars, paintings, people, man everything is art. In tattooing I’ve obviously have had many favourites and inspiring people. Filip Leu, Luke Atkinson, Mick, Mike Roper, Ivan, Ichibay, Oliver Macintosh, guyletattooeur, Horiyoshi 3, Timothy Hoyer and many many more. Thats one of the things I love about social media man I meet new people on a daily base that inspire and push me to do better! 

How did you find your style of tattooing/what made you interested in more Japanese style? 

Man I feel like I’m constantly evolving still I don’t really think I have a style I just like to get creative with every piece I get. For some reason I’ve always had this amazing connection to dragons. I could do them all day, forever. Colour, black and grey, big, small, thought about it and maybe I don’t get bored of them due to their ever changing nature, you can make em thick, thin, spiky, soft, hairy theres unlimited inspiration there. I always joke around that I’m probably a reincarnated little asian dude 😂 and the love for Japanese tattooing just keeps growing. I love how they use all body space available, everything flows, everything is super readable. I still have a long way to go but man is it fun and interesting. I keep finding new shit, buying more books and talking to more people who have more experience and the knowledge just keeps on coming it’s insane!! I love it, never being “learned out”? There will always be the next thing. The moment I stop learning is the moment I die, and I treat everything like that, hobbies, relationships, not just tattooing. Thats life man.

Do you have any advice for new tattooers or people new to getting tattoos?

Man I always thought I was too late, with everything. I kinda had given up on dreams. I hated school and what they expected of me. After school I just started to work to pay bills and be able to live alone. I always felt numbed and depressed, I smoked way too much weed and I partied way too hard to overcompensate hating the life I was leading. I was around 27-28 when I started apprenticing. And life had made such a positive switch since then. I figured out man, I’d rather make less money and do something you love than get rich. Because the richness is in how you spend your time. Not your money. Not trying to sound wise here or anything but ever since then Iv’e been advising everyone around me and people I tattoo to do the same. Take that leap of faith. Go out and do it. Whatever it is, a job, a holiday, kids, a dog, whatever! I thought to myself, when I’m 50 years old do I want to look back on my life thinking damn “if only” ?!

Hell no. Iv’e tried many things and would try all new things till I die. You’re never too old to try new things or work or whatever. You’re never really stuck. Thats all an illusion! Anyways I’m super grateful for what I have gotten out of tattooing already in these very few years of being in the business. I hope one day to actually give something back, because we don’t just have a job. Man this is gods work, you’re constantly helping people overcome situations and markers in their life wether its death, loved ones or just nice artworks on their bodies for the rest of their fucking life. Take pride in what you do, help people and man they give you so much back. 

I had an issue with my car and I had to take the bus, anyways I buy a little ticket and apparently I forgot to activate it in the app. Next halt no joke control pops up, I explain to them that I actually payed and it went out of my bank acc and I didn’t know I had to activate it, all pissed and mad of course. Anyways I calmed down and afterwards it was a 100€ fine. But when I came in the shop I realized that man, I have the best job in the world, I get to talk to people about their life good or bad, give them nice tattoos and they praise me every time. That poor control man on the bus had 8h+ of negative reactions all day to make his living, that put everything in perspective for me. We tattooers get the opposite. I hope to be able to do this forever. So if you get into tattooing, do it the right way. With respect for the craft and the ones who paved the way before you.

Anything else you would like to add?

Man thank you for thinking about me, I feel like such a rookie still with only 6 years of tattooing under my belt. I feel more than privileged to be talking here, super grateful for everything tattooing has given me and man life is great. Grab it by the balls and pave your own way. 🙏