‘Tis the season
FOR many businesses, the Yuletide season is usually the busiest. The tattoo industry is no exception.
Last week, the Sunday Observer caught up with leading tattoo artist, Tattoo Phillip, who says tourists visiting Jamaica have bolstered his clientele.
“The summer and Christmas holidays are always busy as persons are going to parties and just being themselves. There are clients from as far as Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Tattoo Phillip, whose given name is Phillip Shaw, has an impressive dancehall clientele: music producers Rvssian and Don Corleon, Tifa, Ce’Cile, Aidonia, Bounty Killer and Leftside.
“The entertainers are usually busy at this time with tours and gigs but some of them still find the time to come in and get their design done. I did one for Leftside last week,” he said.
While tattoos can be done on almost any part of the body, Shaw says the shoulder and rib cage are most popular.
“Clients are also including birds, feathers, Roman numeral and inifinity signs as a part of their designs,” he said.
A former student of St George’s College, the Kingston-born Shaw is in his late 20s. He said he was always drawn to the arts.
After two years as a graphics design student at Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts, he dropped out to become a full-time tattoo artist.