Ink, Inspiration and Preserving Tattoo History ft. Kari Barba

Longevity in the tattoo industry is a crucial factor that necessitates both physical and mental care to sustain a high level of tattooing. In a podcast episode, host Aaron Della Vedova sits down with Kari Barba, a seasoned tattoo artist with 45 years of experience, shared valuable insights into her routine and practices to uphold her ability to tattoo five days a week. She stressed the significance of maintaining one's body and mind to ensure a successful career in tattooing.

Kari discussed various strategies she implements to maintain her physical well-being, such as wearing braces, doing stretches, working out, and using ergonomic equipment like a comfortable chair. She also emphasized the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle, including eating well and limiting alcohol consumption. Additionally, she highlighted the need for regular stretches, foam rolling, and other physical activities to prevent strain and injury from the repetitive nature of tattooing.

Tune in to learn about the rich history and insights into the world of tattooing from this iconic guest.

Chat Breakdown:

[00:01:31] Tattooing industry history and future.

[00:06:37] Rough tattoo shop encounters.

[00:09:37] Tattooing Renaissance.

[00:12:38] Tattoo art inspiration.

[00:15:30] Tattooing experimentation and techniques.

[00:20:07] Longevity in tattooing craft.

[00:24:34] Yoga for physical health.

[00:29:55] Tattooing and meditation synergy.

[00:34:06] Tattoo shop history.

[00:39:13] Tattoo heritage project.

[00:46:30] The power of tattoos.

[00:48:18] The gift of karma.

[00:51:33] Overcoming health challenges.

[00:56:49] Stress and perspective.

[01:00:09] Finding solace in nature.

[01:05:09] Anesthesia tattooing.

[01:14:44] Evolution of tattoo design.

[01:17:32] Pros and cons of AI.

[01:24:14] Family tattoo traditions.

Quotes:

"I thought this community would be filled with artsy, fartsy people, and they were rough and gnarly, and that pissed me off."

"But yeah, you were definitely in that era and that's, in its own weird way, beautiful."

"I started seeing in tattoo magazines, you know, I saw Ed Hardy's work, which was very influential for me later on. I was like, oh my God, you know, you can do whatever you want, you know."

"I love it. I've been tattooing so many octopuses. And everybody asks me every day, don't you get tired of doing octopus? And I'm like, never."

"The key is can I keep good work flowing? That's important to me because I don't want to be tattooing people and messing people up. You know, I want to be doing good work, right?"

"Some people, not all people, I don't want to generalize, but some people were upset that I got the shop, you know, they didn't want a female to own the shop because it was It was their club."

"The art deserves it. You know, that's the thing. I mean, look at the history of tattoo all across the world, all across the country and how everything's grown and, you know, tattoo artists are artists."

"It's the most important, as a tattoo artist, to recognize that and to honor that. It's the most important thing a tattoo artist can do."

"Yeah, and what a gift, God. Thank you, universe person, whoever shoved me into this thing, because I can't imagine having done anything else with my life. Yeah."

Stay Connected:

Connect with Kari:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@karibarbatattoo

Outer LimitsTattoo:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@outerlimitstattoo

Website: https://www.outerlimitstattoo.com

Tattoo Museum: https://lbpost.com/news/a-tattoo-museum-aboard-the-queen-mary-prominent-artists-are-making-their-pitch-for-one/

Connect with Aaron:⁠

Website: https://www.chatsandtatts.com⁠

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chatsandtatts

IG: https://www.instagram.com/chatsandtatts

Chats & Tatts YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/chatsandtatts

Aaron IG:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/aarondellavedova⁠

Guru Tattoo: https://www.Gurutattoo.com