Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas.
Hi Thomas, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Thomas Fernandes and I have been tattooing in Dallas, TX for 18 years. I moved to Dallas from San Antonio back in October 2005. I was enrolled in the Art Institute of Dallas, where I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. I studied 3D modeling, specifically hard surface modeling and character modeling. I got my first tattoo in Nov 2005. It was at that point I fell in love with tattooing and the culture. Specifically the old style of American traditional tattooing. I loved the simplicity of it and the folky, sometimes cryptic imagery of it. I wouldn’t get my first tattoo machine until the spring of 2006. I tried to get an apprenticeship with Waylon Harp, he had given me my first tattoo and was still tattooing me. However, I couldn’t be at the shop as much as was required, he had an apprentice already at the time, and I was in college. This didn’t stop me though, . I knew I could handle both if given the opportunity. While I don’t recommend it, I decided to jump into the deep end. One of my really good friends from high school, bought me a set of tattoo machines in 2006 and I started to tattoo myself, family, and any of my friends that wanted to get tattooed. I would take pictures of my work with a digital camera and then print them out and started a portfolio. I would show the tattoos I did on my legs to Waylon to try to get pointers on what I was doing right or wrong. That went on until Nov of 2007. That’s when Waylon got me into my first shop along with his apprentice, who had just finished his apprenticeship. From that point on I worked at several shops in the DFW area. I have since day one strived to learn and be better than I was the day before. I spent lots of time drawing for appointments or tattoos I wanted to see. I would paint tattoo related imagery in my spare time as well. I’ve tattooed in several states, either doing a guest spots at another tattoo shop or working at a tattoo convention. Speaking of conventions, I was fortunate enough to get to tattoo at a tattoo convention in South Africa back in 2017. It was such a amazing experience and it was all thanks to this craft. So after 16 years of working in shops, I finally decided to open a private studio. Rather than go the traditional route of opening a stand alone private studio, I opted to rent a studio suite in the Salons by JC in the Casa Linda Shopping in June of 2023. At that point in my career I was busy enough to sustain myself and I wanted to have more of my time to do things outside of the craft, instead of being at the shop for most of the day. I’ve been here in my private studio now for almost 3 years. I don’t know exactly where I will go from here. Maybe I will decide to open a stand alone private studio with a little more space. For now I’m content with working like this.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
At the start, I was told no a lot by established tattooers when I would ask about trying to get into the industry. At the time, I didn’t understand all the roadblocks. I do now understand. I was asking for information that could lead to me being one of their competitors. Not just that, but you want to at least have gotten a bunch of tattoos from the person who you are trying to get trade secrets from. Other than that, I kept my head down and worked towards just getting better, and doors would open as a result of those two qualities I possessed. As for the challenge of learning the technical side of the craft. It was like learning a new medium of art. I didn’t take me too long to get the application of a tattoo. Things like that come easy to me for the most part. I had a head start too as I already knew how to draw. I just had to learn how to draw for tattooing. I wish i had more sensational challenges to report, but I don’t. It wasn’t easy to get where I am, but it wasn’t hard either. It did and still does require a lot of discipline on my part. You get out of this what you put into it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I think what best describes my tattoo style today and sets it apart from others is a modern illustrative approach to tattooing, but I still include elements of the American traditional style of tattooing. I also have a fondness for the Japanese style of tattooing. I incorporate my modern illustrative style of tattooing, with the Japanese as well. The imagery and the composition in relation to the body are, in my opinion, some of the coolest. That’s before you get into the mythology of the imagery! Animals and floral imagery are mostly what I like to tattoo. But clients bring me all sorts of ideas as well that I work with in my style. My style has evolved over the years. It’s probably going to continue to evolve some more with time. I’ve done a few large-scale front torso tattoos over the years. I like doing large-scale work the most. I will tattoo at any scale, but to sit back and see a completed back, front, whole arm, or leg is impressive. I would say these types of tattoos are what I’m most proud of. It’s an honor when people come to me to tattoo anything, at any size, on them. The ones who commit to projects at this scale, though, are a different breed. When someone asks me to do something that large, it typically will take several hours over the course of several sessions, for months. That scale of work requires a lot of planning on my part and commitment on the clients’ part. So when one is completed, it’s a proud moment for both of us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thomasftattoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/t_fernandes_tattooer/?hl=en
