Art and tattoos
The ink artist Esther Himmel is going a step further with her artworks
I meet Esther Himmel on a lovely sunny morning. A rare event in the last week of torrential rains and flooding. Our rendezvous is at Coffee Studio at theCorban’s Estate Arts Centre which turns out to be the perfect venue. It’s style and charm exactly match Esther’s personality. Retro and cool like the rest of the world, I am falling into a love affair with tattoos.I do not have a single one yet I am fascinated by them. When I learned that Esther sold prints of her tattoo designs this seemed the perfect way to satisfy my curiosity and wish to acquire one. I was curious to meet her and find out more. The child of an artist and an architect, Esther was educated at a Steiner School in Germany. She studied graphic design before taking a job in a tattoo parlour at 17. She didn’t get her first tattoo for another five years. She’s worked as a professional tattooer since then and gone on to work at international tattoo conventions like the Art and Iron in LA.
Why work on skin instead of canvas?
Graphics started to become more computerised and even then I preferred the feel of good quality pencils on paper to digital art. This seemed a natural extension of this with a much more intimate and tactile quality.
Do you think people respect tattoo art more these days?
People are using tattoos for more things today. They become marks of milestones in people’s lives. They embody love, memories, and the times that people are living. People want a piece of art they carry with them to show this.
Are you influenced by a particular genre, time frame or country of origin in tattoo history?
Frank Facetta and Herbert Hoffman were early influences. She worked in Hoffman’s studio. I am also influenced by Sabine Gaffron, Kore Flatmore and Filip Leu. And I draw inspiration from nature and art nouveau. There is a natural synergy with art nouveau and its strong outline and graphic style that resonates with my work as a tattoo artist.
How did your first tattoo parlour come about
I was supported by a grant from the European Union to open my studio, which I still have in Germany. It was always started with the idea of being both an art studio and a tattoo parlour. I personally decorated it with antique furniture and a style so that it became a gallery hangout.
Who is the biggest influence on your look?
The retro and rockabilly era are very influential not only in my art but my personal style and life.
What other creative outlets do you have?
I do acrylic painting and yoga.
I meet Esther Himmel on a lovely sunny morning. A rare event in the last week of torrential rains and flooding. Our rendezvous is at Coffee Studio at theCorban’s Estate Arts Centre which turns out to be the perfect venue. It’s style and charm exactly match Esther’s personality. Retro and cool like the rest of the world, I am falling into a love affair with tattoos.I do not have a single one yet I am fascinated by them. When I learned that Esther sold prints of her tattoo designs this seemed the perfect way to satisfy my curiosity and wish to acquire one. I was curious to meet her and find out more. The child of an artist and an architect, Esther was educated at a Steiner School in Germany. She studied graphic design before taking a job in a tattoo parlour at 17. She didn’t get her first tattoo for another five years. She’s worked as a professional tattooer since then and gone on to work at international tattoo conventions like the Art and Iron in LA.
The retro and rockabilly era are very influential not only in my art but my personal style and life
Do you have a place that inspires you out west?
The beach at Cornwallis, but being close to nature is important to me.
How do you plan the tattoo with a client or do they look at your designs and choose one?
The way a person chooses their tattoo is different from client to client. I have a catalogue of past work and designs I’ve drawn. Some bring photos they’ve taken themselves. People bring in old family memorabilia like old jewellery or heirlooms. Something that has a strong symbolic meaning for them that they want commemorating. Some designs I draw freehand as they feel more natural for me to draw that way.I really love to work hand in hand with my clients to realise their tattoo projects.
Where can people buy your artwork?
Some is currently for sale in Coffee studio and at my new online store http://holyblood.bigcartel.com
Find Esther on her social media platforms at
https://www.instagram.com/esther_himmel/?hl=en
or email Esther at
Check out these hyperlinks to see tattoo work by some of the artists who the influenced and inspired Esther.
https://www.instagram.com/sabinegaffron
http://plurabella.com/flatmorosegmailcom
