Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Scalf.
Hi Julia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in Colorado where I spent most of my time being outside, drawing, observing and becoming sensitive to my environment. I love Colorado for that, the open space to absorb. I pull lots of inspiration from the culture and friendships I still maintain in Colorado as well as the new friends and connections I’ve made along the way. My family still lives in Colorado.
My art reflects the friends that I have who are artists, musicians, herbalists, motorheads and punks. Passion makers who live their lives to the fullest.
In 2022 I got in a relationship which brought me down to Mississippi. Though we are separated I’m still grateful for the journey that brought me to tattooing. My life’s purpose.
I started to learn to tattoo in that same year. I started relearning how to draw, Humbling and dismantling what I thought I know while absorbing the culture of tattooing and tradition. I love tattooing. I love learning about needle jigs and the craftsmanship and all the boring stuff about voltage and duty cycle. Where each of the traditional designs come from and how they translate to the context of today.
I love people, the stories of your neighbors and the context to your community. I love listening to the reason why someone might want something on their skin, making that design come to life. Carry meaning within the parameters of simplicity.
I am who I am because of a long list of people who see the world through a lense of possibilities and who have invest in my own potential where I couldn’t see it myself.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been an easy road whatsoever. It’s been one full of deep loss and grief and reevaluating where I am at around every corner. I have found myself at funerals for loved ones, some of the most influential people to my career I’ve lost literally or metaphorically. I went through quite a lot in the last couple of years that have brought me to where I am today. From divorce, to disagreements and challenges with people who found more potential in me than I found in myself. It’s all the course I took and I am blessed to be where I am.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a traditional tattoo artist who loves combining old school application with modern motifs, or just honoring what’s been paved before me. I love drawing ladies. Lady heads are one of my favorite things to draw. My sisters are often inspiration along with my friends. I love capturing all the aspects of women, the sexy, sensual, and flirty. The angry or mischievous. The sad and sensitive. Trying to pin each of those things is so interesting to me. I think that’s what I am most proud of.
I think what sets me apart is that in a world of progress and invention, I’m still a huge nerd about tradition. I still love scrubbing my tubes and tuning my machines and making it all apart of my process. I feel it keeps me more involved and connected with how intentional and meaningful tattooing is to people.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Authenticity. It hasn’t been an easy road. Not just with the stigma of apprenticeships and the whole “rift in tattooing” and the politics of it all but my own personal life as well. Meeting myself where I’m at. Meeting my clients where they are at. Meeting the craft at my ability and committing to things that truly inspire me. Showing up for the whole experience, living my whole life authentically has led me into so many amazing opportunities and connections. It’s so important to be open to new experiences and people and to of course use discretion but also be authentic.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merciless.moss
