Pain Dealer, Dan

Founder of Mummy doesnt know Tattoo

      –  How did you get into tattooing or art in general?
Growing up as a shy and quiet kid, I always found it easier to express myself through my drawings… And growing up, not much has changed, I’m still very quiet, but I wanted to give people the same power I had back then… the power to express themselves through my drawings… through their tattoos.

      –  What inspires your work (music, art, culture, emotions, etc.)?
Music probably plays the biggest role in setting my creative tone. That… and the people around me. The energy they give can really put me in a high state of creativity.

      –  How would you describe your tattoo style in a few words?
Monkey see, monkey does.
My background is in fine arts, so my work has always revolved around studying real objects and replicating them on paper as close to reality as my skills would allow.

      –  What kind of tattoos do you love to do most?
For me, it is all about the person. The connection we have sets the tone for how much I love doing the piece. It could be something simple… like a girlfriend’s name across the wrist… but if we vibe… that tattoo becomes one of my most loved tattoos.

      –  What’s your process when creating a custom design?
Cry…. and breathe in a paper bag for two minutes….
Then I throw on some of my favourite songs… connect with the client’s meaning behind the tattoo… and ideas will just flow naturally.

      –  Is there a tattoo you’ve done that you’re especially proud of or that has a story behind it?
I always like to leave a piece of my soul in every piece of art I create…. But memorial pieces hold a very special place in my heart.

      –  What’s your personality like in the studio? (chill, focused, funny, quiet artist, etc.)
Behind the chilled surface…. there’s a lot going on. I’ve got a bit of OCD when it comes to cleanliness… always keeping an eye on the crew and their well-being…. hygiene… and making sure clients are having a great and memorable experience. There’s a lot to manage, but as the studio owner, I try to not let that show.

      –  How do you want clients to feel when they sit in your chair?
Firstly, they have to feel safe and listened to. And low-key…. terrified for the white highlights at the end of the session.

      –  What kind of energy or music do you like to work with?
I live by GYM, INK, RAVE, REPEAT! I live for dance and trap music… anything with a fast BPM keeps me alive through Skin Vandal’s Fridays playlist.

      –  How do you spend your time when you’re not tattooing or creating?
I try to keep my mind sane… gym time, family time, or out riding my motorbike.

      –  What’s something unexpected or quirky about you that people wouldn’t guess?
When I was 18, I almost became a firefighter. A jump I never missed in training, but on trial day I did. By 2cm.
That tiny gap changed everything…

      –  What does tattooing mean to you?
It’s the greatest way to express yourself…. to make a statement without saying a word.

      –  What motivates you as an artist every day?
That my drawing today won’t end up on a paper…. forgotten in a drawer. It’ll walk out of the studio, and it will be walking the streets with you!

      –  How do you see tattooing as a form of self-expression or storytelling?
I believe it should be a mix of both.

      –  What’s one thing you want every client to take away from their experience with you?
A tattoo that looks exactly, if not better, than what they visualized.

      –  What’s your go-to comfort drink or snack during a long tattoo day?
Water. And a black coffee, no sugar, mid-session.

      –  Who would you most love to tattoo (dead or alive)?
I promised myself I’d never tattoo anyone dead again! I don’t have any celebrity crushes… or people that I would really like to meet, or tattoo.
It would probably be very emotional for me to tattoo my daughters one day… but until then, my mum! (Hope she’s reading this!)

      –  If you weren’t a tattoo artist, what do you think you’d be doing?
I got a First Class Honours degree in Marketing and Business Management, specializing in Leadership… so probably something in that field.

      –  Any guilty pleasures or funny rituals before a session?
Just the usual midlife man fingers and shoulders cracking.
During the session, I like to manifest and visualize the finished tattoo… and how satisfied and happy the client is.

      –  What made you fall in love with creating art on skin versus on canvas or paper?
Because tattoos give people the chance to express themselves… to customize their character (like in a video game)… and because my art is out there, walking the streets.

      –  How has your art evolved over the years?
It is still evolving…. always learning, always growing.

      –  Do you have a message or belief that guides you?
Keep positive energy around you. Surround yourself with people who drive you to become a better version of yourself.
Dream…. dream big! And work for it. If I did it, you can, too 🤷🏼‍♂️