Today we’d like to introduce you to Cyril Kuhns.
Hi Cyril, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started teaching myself to tattoo in 2012 when I was in high school in Austin. Nowadays it’s pretty common to find self-taught artists working in shops, but at that time it was still very taboo to be a “scratcher” and I avoided mentioning it to other tattoo artists. I went to college and then moved to NYC, all the while tattooing friends out of my own living space.
In New York, I started doing guest spots at private studios, and seeking feedback from other self-taught artists. Eventually I found a resident position at Vacation Forever, operated by Kee Kee James in Chinatown. My spouse and I got married around the same time, and we decided to move back to Texas to be closer to my parents.
Since then, I’ve worked at a handful of shops around Austin, and made a lot of great friends with fellow artists along the way. After a few unfortunate interactions with shop owners, I decided the best way for me to stay safe and sane was to open my own private studio, Familiar Tattoo.
Originally I split the rent with a couple of other artists who moved on to other professions, so I posted that I had an open booth available, which is how I found Fawn. Fawn Moffat is a self-taught folk and American traditional artist from San Marcos. They have an incredible work ethic and dedication to tattooing that instantly meshed with the ethos at Familiar.
Along the way, I also met Mac Teg, a professional illustrator who had a strong portfolio and a style that translated easily to tattoo. We collaborated on a few designs, I let them try out one of my machines on an orange, and we naturally fell into step. After more than 13 years of teaching myself, I suddenly found myself mentoring an apprentice. I still carry some self doubt after all these years, so it’s been transformative to realize how much expertise I actually have and can pass along to someone else.
Today, Fawn, Mac, and I make up the team at Familiar Tattoo. We’ve officially been in business for a little over a year, and I’m already so proud of the ways we’ve organically grown together and the ways we support each other. All of us are equally committed to creating an emotionally safe space, and following all best practices for sanitary tattooing. We hope that the future continues to be good to us, and we can’t wait to tattoo you soon!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve spent most of my career tattooing part time while either going to school or working a full time job to support myself and my family. It’s a big part of why I taught myself – I lacked the resources to work an unpaid apprenticeship, so I didn’t even bother trying to pursue one. Some folks along the way have sneered at me for having a day job, but I didn’t have anyone else to pay my bills for me.
Although the attitude toward self-taught tattoo artists has really changed within the past 5 years, correcting my own imposter syndrome continues to be a struggle. I still instinctively talk about “real tattooers” as a group of people separate from myself. After more than a decade of letting others define tattooing as my side hustle, I am incredibly grateful to have finally carved out my own small space in my hometown, and honored that it can be a place that supports other self-taught artists as guests and residents.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In an age where many tattooers have a personal style that they work in almost exclusively, I am proud to be an old school “all-around” artist, meaning I can tattoo most styles with a few exceptions. That said, I have strengths in American traditional, woodcut-/engraving-style, and black & gray micro-realism. I also love doing cover ups!
Over the years, I’ve developed my own spin on American traditional called “trippy trad”, which is what I’m known for. These are bold designs that deliberately invert the rule of thirds, and incorporate colorful outlines and fluorescent color palettes. This is what you’ll see the most of in my flash book, and what clients expect when their request allows me to take creative liberties.
Ultimately, I’m most proud of the environment that I’ve been able to curate in my own studio. Since the very beginning, I have emphasized client comfort and safety over everything else, and was unwilling to sacrifice any standards just because I was working out of my home. That commitment still comes across today at Familiar, which is licensed and insured per state regulations. It’s important to me that folks from all backgrounds – all ages, sizes, ethnicities, beliefs, and tattoo experience levels – feel safe and welcome, and that they don’t ever feel intimidated or pressured into any decisions.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My friend and I pierced each other’s ears when we were maybe… 14? Well, she pierced my ears first, and I lost my nerve when it was time for me to pierce hers. I pushed the needle through one side of her lobe and it made a terrible popping sensation in my hand that totally grossed me out. I love tattooing, and I’ve tattooed this friend many times now that we’re adults, but I still could never be a piercer.
Pricing:
- Shop minimum: $100
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.familiartattoo.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/familiar.tattoo/
- Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ta1gRy7ZWpKZEgvy7
