Meet the artist - Stevie! (Sydney Trad Legend!)
Introducing STEVIE! (@stevietattooer) from Hunter and Fox Tattoo
Stevie is known for his anti-authoritarian, musically-inspired, traditional tattoos and artwork. Bands love his work, we love his style and you're gonna learn some more about this Sydney tattoo icon.
(Jason - ink nurse) As someone who grew up in the Byron Bay Hardcore World, I can’t help but recognise that your style’s loud, unapologetic, and instantly recognisable, what shaped that visual voice early on? It’s like a fierce breath of nostalgic fresh air to me.
(Stevie) I am Sydney hardcore through n through since 97! My Mum says I always had a problem with authority (still do) and hardcore embodied that for me. No rules, no laws, just organized chaos! That shaped me!
There’s a raw punk/hardcore energy running through your flash. How much of your art is about message vs. just pure fun?
A lot has been message driven, but a lot of people don’t like strong opinions, so I try keep it a bit of both now. Try keep it a bit more fun in this mad world.
What’s your relationship with tradition — do you see your work as paying homage, flipping it on its head, or both?
I wanna flip it on its head now. Tradition to me is another word for rules. I take what I think is important and discard what is boring to me, tradition or not.
What’s a tattoo you’ve done that made you laugh mid-session — either from the concept or the chaos?
Tattooing someone’s first tattoo about 20 cent piece size with numbing cream that started going on about how tattoos don’t hurt and why does everyone complain? That made me laugh as the tattoo took half a second and it was numbed. You don’t get an opinion on tattoo pain after that haha!
How do you keep things fresh when your work leans so heavily into a defined visual world?
Honestly, I don’t think I have always kept it fresh. I have a new fire lit under me now to do some stuff outside the box a bit. Draw on what you love, and the right people will connect with it. That's the goal now!
Who or what do you draw the most inspiration from outside of tattooing — music, subcultures, zines, street art?
Outside of tattooing my main inspiration is from how I grew up and the mentality it gave me. The harsh reality, hardcore and my mental brain!
What do you think people misunderstand about traditional tattooing or its attitude?
I think people think tradition is too important. A lot of traditional tattooers won’t use an ipad cause it’s not tradition. To that I would say stop complaining about it on your iPhone, chuck it in the bin, and start taking film photos instead of posting on insta. Old timey tattooers never had an iphone or social media either! It's the end result that matters, not how you get there.
What’s coming up? Any new drops, collabs, zines, or anything that’s got you fired up lately?
I have gotten to have my work used in some of my favourite hardcore bands just recently, and that means everything to me to give back. Look out for different new merch i’ll be doing, I can’t talk on it yet though! Surprise shit haha!
RAPID FIRE ROUND!
• Hardest part of being a tattooer?
Hardest part of being a tattooer for me is taking on the energy of lots of people. I love to talk to people while I tattoo but I am no psych!
• What’s one design people need to stop asking for?
No design is off limits. Every design is good when people trust me and help me pay my rent with their hard earned $.
• Go-to band while drawing or tattooing?
Got to music to draw or tattoo has to be a list: No Apologies, L.O.W, Street Power, Risk, Haywire, Yellow stitches, buried dreams, let’s just say mainly Boston and New England hardcore!
Thanks mate! Appreciate your time.
Jason, ink nurse
(Australia's best tattoo aftercare - available at Chemist Warehouse)