The Phoenix-based tattooer does some of the best old-school traditional.
When old Sailor Jerry and Owen Jensen designs were first being done, there weren't a whole lot of women tattooing. Actually, it's only been in the last handful of years that more ladies got into slinging ink, and plenty of dudes have mixed emotions about that.
But Meg McNiel isn't one of those ladies.
McNiel does old-school American traditional designs as well as anyone, regardless of sex. By sticking to the classics and traditions used for much of the last century, McNiel has carved out a spot as one of Arizona's top tattooers. It's a well-deserved title for someone who's been tattooing since she was 13 and has seen numerous ups and downs in the industry.
Recently, the Washington native gave up ownership of one of Phoenix's major tattoo shops in order to balance her schedule better between working at a private studio and being a hockey mom for her two sons.
Myspace sat down with McNiel at her new secret location to talk about everything from being a woman in a masculine industry to creating the perfect traditional tattoo.
What are some of the keys to making a really good traditional tattoo?
One thing I love is a rule my friend (and fellow Phoenix-based tattoo artist) Tony Klett said. It's the "20-20 rule." You should be able to tell what a tattoo is within 20 seconds from 20 feet away. That, and the "1/3 rule." A tattoo should be one-third black, one third-color, and one-third skin. For traditional tattoos, you don't want to use more than six colors, and that's including black. You've got red, green, yellow, blue, brown and black.
I like bold lines and strong black, so I make tattoos that are built to last. People say they want their tattoo to last 5 years or 10 years, but I want to still see what it is in 50 years. It's also about subject matter. If it wasn't on your grandpa or great-grandpa, it probably won't make a good traditional tattoo. A fox wearing a monocle and a top hat might have bold lines and only four colors, but it's not traditional. No sailor wore a fox with a monocle and a top hat. Lately there's been a fad of putting human clothes on animals, and that's not a traditional tattoo.
A lot of people out there still think women can't tattoo as well as men. What do you think about that?
I generally agree with them. I think the media and shows on TV have only confirmed all of that. I have a client who got tattooed on Ink Master, and he got the worst tattoo of the first episode where they tattoo people. His artist should've gone home, but one of the only two girls who were on that show ended up crying and literally quit before even being judged. It was fucking embarrassing. I was embarrassed for her and for our gender as tattooers.
I think some girls ride their boyfriend or husband's coattails into the industry and learn to tattoo that way. I don't think that's the way to do it. I think girls need to work extra hard to put out good tattoos. Not just traditional tattoos, but all tattoos. No matter what your style is, as long as you're doing a good, long-lasting, solid tattoo, I'm cool with it. Guys are going to be hard on us, and that's fine. I'd rather have that because it pushes you to get better. I don't want someone to look at my work and say "Oh, that's good for a girl..." I want them to look at it and say "That's fucking sick!" I don't want to be judged in a girl's category, and I think some girls put themselves in that category. I don't know that many good female tattooers, so I think they get the shit they deserve.
What's one thing you think people don't understand about tattoos?
That it's not a fad and they don't just go away. I donated $100 toward any tattoo to a raffle for charity, and this guy who won it wanted his knuckles tattooed. I asked him if he was tattooed, and he told me he only had two little stars. He came in for the consultation, and he told me he wants to start with his knuckles and work his way up his arms. That's just stupid.
If you haven't lived with being a heavily tattooed person, you don't know what it's like. If you start where you can hide it, then you can know what it's like to be out in public as a tattooed person before you commit to becoming really heavily tattooed. I only used to notice how people would look at me when I'd go out with friends who weren't as tattooed, but then I got my head tattooed and I started noticing it even when I'd just go into a Circle K. People don't understand that living as a heavily tattooed person is different than just having one or two tattoos, and you shouldn't get your first tattoo somewhere where you can't hide it. They're called job-killers. People are doing it because it's cool right now, but it won't just go away when it's not cool anymore.
