31 Mar “I returned to uni to pursue a degree in Psychology – I hope it helps me become a better listener for my clients,” Ferfy

With her quirky style that looks like a watercolour version of a vector illustration, tattoo artist Maria Gonzalez has become known as Ferfy (@laferfy) and she’s located in Mexico City, where she tattoos from her own small private studio…

How long have you been tattooing? Was there a particular person or experience that made you want to become a tattoo artist?

I’ve been tattooing for a little over six years. I actually started two months before the pandemic! I grew up watching shows like Miami Ink and Ink Master, so I was always intrigued by the tattoo industry. In my early twenties, I began getting tattoos myself, which made me realise it’s an art form with so many different styles. I decided to quit my corporate job, buy a used tattoo machine and teach myself.

What did your friends and family think about you pursuing a career as a tattoo artist?

At first, my family thought it was just a phase. I’ve always had a lot of different hobbies and interests, so when I started tattooing, they assumed I would eventually go back to software development, but that never happened.

To be completely honest, it took them a while to accept and support my decision. They’re a very traditional family, and as the oldest sibling, there were a lot of expectations placed on me. Now that I’ve established a solid career, everything has changed. They love what I do, and I’ve even tattooed my younger brother and my mom. Getting to this point took a lot of effort and understanding from everyone.

What was your first tattoo and how was the experience? How did this compare to doing your first tattoo on another person?

Oh man, it was stressful! First, I have to explain how it happened, and I want to be very clear that I don’t recommend doing what I did back then. At that point, I’d only practised on fake skin three or four times, and since I have no patience whatsoever, I decided to text my ex-boyfriend (great guy!) to ask if he wanted a tattoo. To my surprise, he said yes! Since it was my first time, I didn’t want to charge him, but he offered to pay me with pizza, which honestly was a great deal.

There I was, one Friday night at 9 pm, getting ready to tattoo someone for the first time by watching YouTube tutorials, when it occurred to me that it would be completely unfair to ruin someone else’s skin if I wasn’t willing to do it on myself first. So I grabbed my second-hand machine, a cap of questionable-quality black ink and a very cheap cartridge, and without any stencil, I wrote “hello?” on my leg. It turned out terrible (no surprise there), and I felt so stressed and out of my comfort zone that I wasn’t sure if I should continue. However, I stuck with it, and after a few tattoos, the feeling didn’t go away, but I started to enjoy it.

What would you say to people who think you should complete a formal apprenticeship to become a tattoo artist?

I have a lot of appreciation for formal apprenticeships. There’s something really valuable about learning from someone who has already been in your position. That said, I don’t think it’s the only path. Some people thrive learning at their own pace, while others need more structure.

I know that if I had tried to get an apprenticeship early on, I probably would have been rejected. My drawing skills weren’t strong enough at the time, and I was quite shy. Fortunately, the internet offers an incredible amount of information, now more than ever. Many amazing tattoo artists offer online seminars, so why not take advantage of that?

One approach that worked well for me was booking tattoos with artists I admire and paying close attention to their process. I asked a lot of questions, too. You’ll find that most artists are happy to share their techniques if you’re genuinely interested. That’s actually how I ended up with a full leg sleeve and learned about some of the brands and machine settings I still use today. Of course, experimentation is also an important part of the process.

How do you describe your tattooing style?

I describe my style as full colour with no outline, although I don’t think there’s a proper name for it. Some people say it looks like watercolour, while others feel it’s closer to vector illustration. There’s definitely a geometric aspect to it as well.

How did you hone your unique style? Have you always tattooed in this way?

It was during my fifth attempt at tattooing that I decided to try this style for the first time, mostly because lining terrified me (no one wants a tattoo with wobbly lines), and I wanted to avoid it until I felt more comfortable using the machine. Taking inspiration from Mexican art and other tattoo artists I followed on Instagram, I developed what later became my style.

At the time, I only had two or three colours and didn’t know how to create gradients, so it has definitely evolved over the years. I still think there’s room for improvement and I want to explore new techniques, but I’ve reached a point where this style feels like a true representation of the ideas in my mind.

What’s your tattooing process? Do you freehand a lot of designs?

It depends. I like to prepare the day before an appointment so I have enough time to design and focus on all the details I want to include. I don’t usually like doing same-day designs. However, there are certain animals I tattoo often, and I feel confident enough to freehand them, knowing they will turn out just as well as if I used a stencil. This is something I want to keep improving, doing more freehand work. It’s been challenging with my personality, since I like having control and everything planned out, so drawing directly on the spot is definitely outside my comfort zone.

Do you bloodline your tattoos? What’s the technical aspect of creating them without bold lines?

Yes, I do bloodline my tattoos. I usually work from dark to light tones, outlining each area with the same colour I use for filling. This helps create solid edges while maintaining the no-outline look.

When it comes to the outline, It can be tricky to achieve smooth gradients with liner cartridges, so I use a magnum instead. I make sure to feather out the tips of each stroke to blend seamlessly into the next colour.

What inspires your work? Is there a subject you particularly like?

I love drawing animals and plants, they’re definitely my favourite subjects. I take a lot of inspiration from Mexican art, like Huichol art or Mayan symbols. Mexican culture is so rich in colour and movement that it’s easy to find inspiration in my surroundings. The subjects themselves are also very inspiring, animal patterns, plant shapes, and natural colour combinations. Nature is an incredible source of ideas.

Where can people get tattooed by you, are you doing guest spots?

Currently, I’m working in Mexico City, but fortunately I’ll be visiting other countries soon for guest spots.

You offer one-on-one classes can you tell us more about them?

I offer one-on-one classes for beginner artists who want to improve their use of colour. I focus mainly on colour theory and working with darker skin tones, which are very prominent here in Latin America.

This includes understanding different types of ink composition and how they affect tattoos, as well as learning how to apply ink properly without damaging the skin. After covering the theory through a demonstration, I join the student during one of their tattoo appointments and guide them through the process so they can apply what they’ve learned in real time.

It’s a really fun experience, and I’ve met a lot of wonderful people through it.

What’s been your proudest moment so far?

Quitting my job to pursue tattooing was definitely a proud moment for me. Looking back, it was both brave and a little reckless and dumb, in the best way. I’m grateful it worked out, but it required a huge leap of faith and a lot of hard work. Recently, I also returned to university to pursue a degree in Psychology, which I’m very passionate about. I hope it helps me become a better listener for my clients.

What does the future look like for you?

I would love to relocate somewhere new and learn more about different cultures, while continuing to explore and evolve my style. Most importantly, I hope I can keep doing something that makes me feel happy and fulfilled.

Thank you Ferfy for chatting to us and being part of Things & Ink! Follow Ferfy on Instagram to see more tattoos and get booked in.

Stay up to date with Things&Ink

Things&Ink is an online tattoo magazine celebrating tattoo culture, highlighting some of the most talented creators in the industry, and providing a space for their voices to be heard. Stay connected with us on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates and features! You can view our other blog posts, here.

The post “I returned to uni to pursue a degree in Psychology – I hope it helps me become a better listener for my clients,” Ferfy appeared first on Things&Ink.