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Back to (Almost) Normal: First Class Tattoo Keeps Things Moving
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Published Apr 14, 2021
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Published Apr 14, 2021
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In June 2020, we spoke with Mikhail Anderson, owner of First Class Tattoo, about his experience closing up shop and adjusting to life during COVID-19. We recently caught up with Mikhail as First Class Tattoo is coming back to “almost normal” over a year after lockdown.
Who or what was your inspiration in becoming involved in the tattoo industry? Have you worked in any other mediums?
I studied graphic design in college, and we used to draw with pencil and charcoal, and I also love painting in watercolor. My inspiration was the freedom of living anywhere I want while tattooing, not tied to a country or area. Being a tattoo artist gave me that freedom and introduced me to a lot of new and interesting people as clients and artists.
When you meet with a client, what is the creative process like?
I prefer to meet in person to get a feel for what the client wants and what the best approach for the process should be. I also love creative freedom because it gives me more possibilities to create something unique and beautiful. I usually take pictures of the person’s placement on the body, review the references and ideas and take it from there.
Your wife is a tattoo artist herself with her own room at your shop, how is it working alongside her and what do you learn from each other?
My wife Savannah does cosmetic tattooing such as powder brows and lip blush through her own branch of FirstClass over at firstclasscosmetics.net. She actually started tattooing after she met me and I’ve tried to help her along the way of her journey. We still chat about technical stuff all the time. It’s great having someone to bounce ideas off of.
What are some of the most memorable tattoos that you’ve done?
I love all of them. I try to do my best every time I tattoo someone and make them all memorable. Some that come to mind are two lion cubs and a father lion that I did on Grayson Dolan’s back, about a year ago, right before the lockdown. That was a memorial for their father that passed away.
As we pass the one year mark of the pandemic, how have things changed at First Class Tattoo and how are you feeling about the future of the industry?
It’s finally been back to being almost normal, especially since most of my employees have received the vaccine. Throughout this time the shop has had some renovations, we changed the walls to be white and the floor to black so it gets more light inside. As for the future, I think tattoos are becoming more and more popular, especially with restrictions and limitations when there is nothing much to do. At least you can carry a beautiful piece of art with you.
When did First Class Tattoo start offering laser removals, and how has that process been going?
We got our first laser machine two years ago and it’s been a learning process for us. Due to a lot of requests for cover ups, I decided that it was time to explore the new industry so we can do that in the house and direct clients down the right path with their process. The Laser tattoo removal industry in New York has a lot of competition, and nearly every dermatology or doctors office has a laser. So we decided to educate ourselves and perfect the craft. Right before the pandemic I leased the new Candela Picoway laser, that was a big deal for us. We also use a cryo zimmer to keep clients as comfortable as possible.
What’s your favorite tattoo that you have on your own body?
I really love the color portrait of Jesus on my right upper arm. It reminds me to be humble.
What advice do you have for aspiring tattoo artists?
Study art and draw, create, try different mediums. If you want to get better at tattooing, get tattooed by people whose work you admire the most and see how they approach the process. There is a lot of online information and courses available, but I think practice is the best experience. Learn from your mistakes and try to be better every time.
Who is your dream person to tattoo?
I would love to tattoo Justin Bieber and Conor Mcgregor one day. I don’t know why but I always loved them, how they do business and how active they have been throughout the past five years.
What are some of the misconceptions about tattooing? Some people have the wrong idea about how long tattoos can take.
Good work takes time and what you see on tv sometimes is false. Also tattoos change over time, so overcrowded designs with tiny details might not look the same after a year or so. You cannot live the same lifestyle after you get tattooed, especially with sun exposure. When it comes to fresh tattoos, being out in the sun will damage the work or the brightness of the ink. It takes about six months for the skin to be fully recovered. Be sure to use sunblock and mind your skincare every day and your tattoo will look as good as new. Definitely consult with your artist about making the best decision in designing a tattoo for yourself, and the tattoo(s) will make you happier. They can bring more attention to your life -- even make you famous.
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?
Check us out at firstclasstattoos.com. We’re always looking to hire talented artists to be a part of our shop, so if you want to join our team send an email to [email protected].
This post is a sponsored collaboration between First Class Tattoo and Gothamist sponsorship staff.
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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