Lukáš Netopeyr, our freshest Hellák, brought new styles to the studio. Probably only true connoisseurs know them: ignorant tattoo and single needle tattoo. Let Luke explain what it is all about. He also reveals that he dares to tattoo even very unexpected places.

Didyou first think that you could be a tattoo artist?

I'd say it started in high school. I have a degree in agriculture, where I sat for hours and drew birds in a notebook. There was a professor of Czech who took it quite her way, so we talked for a long time about the underground, beaters, the first punks and the like. It kicked me into writing my own poems, listening to the music, and I was already riding the waves of rebellion. The first tattoo for the first paycheck, concerts, libraries – and a few years later I'm where I am. It certainly wouldn't be possible without a lot of people, but especially not without my long-time friend and great tattoo artist, who gave me the best possible start. For that, she deserves a big thanks.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lukáš "Netopeyr" Ježek (@netopeyr.ttt) he Nov 16, 2019 at 5:18am PST

How has your style evolved? Did you go through a big transformation as an artist or did you stay kind of true to the styles you started with?

In the beginning, I was ignorant because it's a very distinctive style that can express a deep thought in a few crooked lines. After some time, I began to interlace it with dotwork and primitive blackwork. Then my friends showed me a couple of tattoo artists who tattoo single needle, it was love at first sight. I've been doing all these styles to this day, but the last one is primary.

Ignorant is something you don't encounter so often on the Czech scene. Could you tell us a little bit about what it is?

The ignorant has roots in prison tattoos, graffiti and designs from a time when tattooing was not yet mainstream. It is a style where grotesque scenes, caricatures, irony, dry humor are typical, and often there is also a personal reaction to the times and events in the world. Most of the time, these tattoos are just black, with no colors. Over the years, the pure underground that it was developed into an art direction in its own right.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lukáš "Netopeyr" Ježek (@netopeyr.ttt) he Dec 5, 2019 at 4:55am PST

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lukáš "Netopeyr" Ježek (@netopeyr.ttt) he Nov 7, 2019 at 5:16am PST

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lukáš "Netopeyr" Ježek (@netopeyr.ttt) he Dec 2, 2019 at 4:41am PST

Great. I'll ask you about single needle in the same way. From the name it is inferred that instead of a system of needles is tattooed only once. Is that right?

Single needle, sometimes called single needle black and grey, is a style in which a tattoo artist uses a set of one or a maximum of three needles. Thanks to this, it is possible to create detailed work even on small areas. In general, single needle works tend to be smaller and characterized by typical monochromatic noise. It can be said that it is the direct opposite of traditional old-school tattoos, which have those lines macatý and are full of colors. I already know that I will stick to the single for a long time and I would like to graft a few elements on it so that people do not get bored in my performance.

What motifs do you like to tattoo? Is there a range of things you particularly enjoy?

I draw a lot of tattoo motifs from old cartoons, poetry, book illustrations, nudity, cults or broken toys for children. I also became interested in prison tattoos, but only aesthetically. All in black or graywash.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lukáš "Netopeyr" Ježek (@netopeyr.ttt) he Nov 7, 2019 at 5:15am PST

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lukáš "Netopeyr" Ježek (@netopeyr.ttt) he Nov 7, 2019 at 5:13am PST

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lukáš "Netopeyr" Ježek (@netopeyr.ttt) he Dec 2, 2019 at 5:01am PST

Do you tattoo a whole person or do you – like most tattoo artists – have any places that you absolutely hate or refuse to work with?

From head to toe (laughs) My heads, fingers and nipples are behind me. Face only after a really thorough and long consultation with the client. I also tattoo my genitals. I have my own procedure for ordering to avoid unwanted clients. Despite how common tattooing is nowadays, this is a very big taboo. At the same time, at least for me, these are the moments when I laughed the most with the tattoo with the client.

What is your idea of the ideal client?

I like clients medium rare (laughs) No, now seriously. I will always be happiest if people choose from free designs or come up with a great idea that we will work out together.