Boston Tattoo Convention
September 12-14
Boston Center for The Arts, 539 Tremont Street
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Dan Henk kind of scares us, but he does some great tattoos as well. Sadly, he's booked up for this convention, but maybe you can try for next time.

How did you get started tattooing?
A friend of my brother's, a tattoo artist in Carlisle, PA, was a fan of my artwork. I was just out of art school, trying to get a job doing what I love, and he offered to help.

What is your favorite style of tattooing?
Anything realistic, although my absolute favorite would be horror-based artwork that I draw up.

What's your favorite tattoo that you have / have done / have seen?
That's a very hard question to answer. There are a lot of great artists out there, and I think it would be more relevant to tell you what artists I'm into that specific pieces they've done. Guy Aitchison, Aaron Cain, Tom Renshaw, and Robert Hernandez have all been big influences. Their work is incredible. Probably my favorite personal piece, is the eyeball on the back of my neck by Benjamin Moss. My favorite that I've tattooed changes all the time, and I often get excited with new pieces to the extent that I try to make them my new favorites.

The strangest tattoo?
I've done quite a few strange tattoos. I did a Coor's Light can stomping through downtown like Godzilla, with pedestrians fleeing. That's actually features in the book "No Regrets: The Best, Worst, & Most #$%*ing Ridiculous Tattoos Ever" I did two realistic cat eyes on a girl's lower back, and the words "Lucky You." I tattooed "USDA Grade A Beef" on a girl's ass. I tattooed a chrome heart with the word's "Momma's Boy" on a guy's ass. And really way too many more. There are a lot of strange people out there!

The best Boston tattoo (if any)?
Boston's always good for tattoos. I did Herbert west from the movie Reanimator, that one I liked a lot. But I've done plenty more.

More with Dan after the jump! Tattoo image from Dan's site.

What's the main thing people should know about tattoos, either getting them or in general?

It's permanent. If done right, it can be art on the body. You need to have a good rapport with an artist. His design should not only look good on paper, but also flow well with the body. Never price shop. If it costs too much, go somewhere else, but don't just look for the lowest price, or you'll probably end up with the lowest quality. Above all, remember it's for you, not everyone else. Get what you want. Don't fold to peer pressure.

What's the most annoying question / the question you get the most about tattoos?It's not a straight forward question, but some people seem to think that any design done on a sticker, in a book, wherever, can be done as a tattoo. There are rules and guidelines, and a good tattoo artist will not do a tattoo that he is not comfortable with. Some people buy artwork, paintings shrunk down to decorate stickers for example, and they come in to a shop wanting the same image at that reduced size. It won't work, and it won't hold up in the skin. Listen to your artist. A good tattoo is a collaboration, so the client should have input, but the artist knows the restrictions of the trade.

What do you think of Miami Ink / L.A. Ink and similar shows' effect on the industry?They have made tattoos more open and acceptable, and inspired more people to get tattooed, but they have their downsides as well. Tattoos edited for TV appear to be performed much quicker than in reality. The tattoos are also hand-picked and the recipients coached, so every design has some dramatic story behind it. That rubs off on people, and they suddenly want their tattoos to have some deep meaning. Or worse still, they try to prescribe some deep meaning to a spur of the moment design they had inked on their body years ago. The deep meaning can be you like the art. It doesn't have to involve someone in your family almost dying of cancer.

What's the first or best thing that someone who wants to be a tattoo artist can do?
Nowadays it seems way too many people want everything handed to them. You need to impress a tattoo artist with your drawing skills and dedication first. Show up with new drawings all the time. Get several of your own tattoos. Be persistent but not annoying. That's pretty much how everything in life goes, not just tattooing!

How do you view the relationship between your art and your tattooing?
Tattooing is just a different medium. I've done art for books, magazines, newspapers, and on skin. Each medium has its own rules and restrictions, but also its own advantages.

Do you have any openings for tattooing during the convention?
No, all booked up, but there's always next year!