We are chatting with none other than world renowned tattoo artist Dave Koenig today on the Chats and Tatts show. 

AI is all the rage these days and everyone is talking about how this will impact different industries.  But how will AI impact the tattoo community and the artistic process of tattooing?  Will tattooing become less personal and more computerized?  We dive into this topic and much more on this episode of Chats and Tatts. 

Dave Koenig is a talented tattoo artist known for his intricate and detailed work. He specializes in a variety of styles, including traditional American, Japanese, and neo-traditional tattoos.

One of the things that sets Koenig apart from other tattoo artists is his attention to detail and use of filigree in many of his pieces.  Koenig is also known for his ability to take a client's ideas and turn them into a beautiful and meaningful tattoos. 

In this episode we go back to the beginning of his career and how he, with small, simple designs or large, elaborate body pieces, acquired the skills and expertise to bring his clients vision to life.

What we chat about in this episode:

0:51 - Guest intro

5:00 - How did Dave’s passion for art started

12:32 - Dave’s 1st tattoo New York convention & machine experiences

15:10- What’s the future of the tattoo industry?

21:10 - The importance of efficiency

24:51 - How to build client relationships

32:45 - Understanding the beauty of Japanese tattooing

38:26 - Ink Positive: Dave reveals his SECRET on creating body art tattoos

41:56 - How to create a flow

47:27 - Is the tattoo industry growing?

51:30 - The connections between music and art

58:21 - Difference between manual and computerized AI tattoos

1:12:10 - Aaron gets a new tattoo from Dave!

Quotes: 

 

“Just love your clients treat every client like you treat if your brother was in the room or your mother.” - Dave Koenig

 

“One day, I realized ‘What do I do that loses time, without wasting time?’” - Dave Koenig

 

“... things evolve, and it'll always be evolving.”  - Dave Koenig

 

“Some people want that pain they want to build and tell their friends, ‘I got their whole chest piece done with no numbing cream.’” - Dave Koenig

 

“I think it's just acknowledging that and knowing that I'm here for you, that the client and it's not about me or what I think it should be about.  It’s what you want to talk about in their journey.”  - Dave Koenig

Useful Resources:

 

• Shop for Dave’s artwork and apparel today!

Get in touch:

• Follow Dave on dkoenigart.com; Instagram; and YouTube
• Connect with Aaron: 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chatsandtatts/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AaronVedova
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aaron.dellavedova/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chatsandtatts/featured