With over 1.7 million followers, r/TattooDesigns is one of Reddit’s most popular communities. It’s a lively space where people not only share their stunning tattoos but also swap creative ideas, discuss various techniques and styles, and offer professional advice. To learn more about what goes into this craft, Bored Panda got in touch with Andrew Borisyuk, a talented tattoo artist from Ukraine and an active member of the subreddit.
“My journey into tattooing was kind of a fluke,” he tells us. “Although I’ve been drawing since childhood, I was more interested in piercings during my teenage years. Getting a tattoo myself, let alone becoming an artist, never even crossed my mind.”
“Then, one day, I found myself hanging out at a tattoo shop as a guest and decided to talk to the local artists. The whole process fascinated me, and I peppered them with basic questions, like how much the equipment cost and what all the tools were for. Curiosity eventually got the better of me, and I started practicing on myself and my friends.”
“I started tattooing quite early for our region, in late 2007,” Andrew recalls. “Globally, the industry was already well-developed, but here in Ukraine, there weren’t many artists around, finding information was tough, and equipment was hard to come by.” Back then, with no Instagram and none of the resources he has access to today, Andrew relied on online forums and a lot of trial and error. “In the beginning, I was terrified of messing up, so I shied away from complex designs for a long time,” he admits. “I mostly did simple tattoos, like quotes or phrases. Gradually, though, I started analyzing the work of other artists online and experimenting with different techniques.”
As Andrew gained more experience, word-of-mouth helped grow his client base. After two years, he and a friend rented their own space, and he has been tattooing full-time ever since. His versatility as an artist is on full display on his Instagram, where you can find everything from detailed, colorful arm sleeves to classic black-and-white designs, and even quirky tattoos of popular memes. Among his many serious works, Andrew’s favorite recent piece is a cartoonish bird with a whimsy side-eye. He can’t quite explain why he loves it so much, but its simplicity and humor never fail to make him smile.
“I wouldn’t say I have a signature style,” Andrew muses. “Looking back, I gravitated towards old-school at one point, then later, neotraditional. But for various reasons, I ended up embracing a mix of styles and techniques.”
This creative freedom is a big draw for him, but ultimately, his clients’ wishes guide his work. “People often come to me with something specific in mind, which isn’t always what I’m most interested in doing, but that’s fine; it’s just part of the job.”
“During consultations, I often hear things like, ‘I love your work, but can we do this picture I found on Pinterest?’ So, I don’t have any illusions about the tattoo industry. It’s definitely visual art, but I see it more as a skilled craft.”
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Andrew’s work process revolves around careful planning and having in-depth talks with his clients about their desired tattoos. “It’s almost always a compromise between what the client wants, the limitations of working on skin, and my own taste. If we’re all on the same page there, the rest is just about technique and time,” he explains.
“The stuff I find truly interesting, my creative experiments, often don’t get as much love as the more popular and straightforward designs,” Andrew candidly shares. “But that’s what keeps me going, this constant pursuit of creating the perfect tattoo, both technically and conceptually. It’s a fascinating process, but I keep it separate from my everyday client work. Just keeping it real.”
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Andrew’s favorite aspect of tattooing is the connection he builds with his clients. “I love easy sessions when the client’s wishes coincide with my ideas and vision. It makes the whole process effortless.” And of course, seeing the final result is incredibly rewarding. “I’m always excited to witness how my work looks once it has fully healed,” he adds.
