I regularly get requests for motifs that just aren't my style — realistic portraits, animals that are supposed to look like a photo on skin. Honestly: I don't do that. My work is fineline, blackwork, graphic, Japanese-inspired irezumi — lines, not photorealism.
Up until now I've just passed those requests on, to artists I didn't personally know. That never fully sat right with me. Recently, Iren started working alongside me in the studio — and that's exactly her specialty.
Here's an honest look at what changes because of that, and what doesn't.
Why I don't do realism myself
Realism is technically something completely different from my work. It's about soft transitions, shading, depth — making a face or an animal look like a photograph on skin. My strength is the opposite: reduced, precise linework, often pushed right to the edge of how much detail skin can hold.
Being genuinely good at both is rare. I've chosen to do what I actually excel at — instead of offering realism half-heartedly just so I have "everything" in my portfolio.
If it took me over ten years to get my linework to where it is today, I have to assume it took Iren just as long to bring her shading to this level. That deserves respect — and that's exactly why I wanted someone on the team who genuinely masters it, instead of just dabbling in it myself.
Who Iren is
Iren is a tattoo artist with over 10 years of experience. Multiple award winner for Black & Grey Realism at the Kharkiv Tattoo Convention (2019, 2020, 2021), plus winner of the Kharkiv Tattoo Battle 2021, with four diplomas. She's trained other artists herself and passed on her knowledge.
Before bringing her onto the team, I spent a long time looking at her work — portraits, animals, large compositions, all in black and grey, all with the depth I don't do myself.
What Black & Grey Realism actually is
Realism depicts a motif the way it actually looks — with light, shadow and fine detail, instead of clean outlines like mine. Black and grey means: no color at all, just shading in black and grey tones. That's the technical foundation for almost every realistic tattoo, whether it's a portrait, an animal, or a large composition.
The difference from my own work comes down to one line: I draw with line. Iren draws with light and shadow.
Why this matters if you're a client
You no longer have to look elsewhere if you want a portrait or a realistic animal tattoo, while still getting the standards and hygiene you'd expect from me. Same address, same booking, same standards — just a different style, done by someone who genuinely masters it, instead of me doing it half as well.
What you get with Iren
- Portrait tattoos — faces, people, with realistic depth and true-to-life detail
- Black & Grey Realism in general — large-scale compositions as well as fine detail work
- Animal tattoos in the realism style — from your own pet to a symbolic animal like a lion or a sphynx cat
How we work together now
We share the studio, but not the style. I'm staying with fineline, blackwork and irezumi — that doesn't change. Iren does realism. If you contact me and your idea actually fits her better, I'll tell you honestly, the same way I'd tell you if a motif just isn't right for you — and connect you with her directly, no detour and no extra wait.
You can see all her work and read more about her on her own page. If you're weighing whether your idea fits better with me or with Iren — just message us and we'll figure it out together.
