The Dark Side of Tattooing ft. Derek Noble

Chats and Tatts

Derek Noble's work is deeply rooted in a traditional aesthetic that he has cultivated over the years, drawing inspiration from a diverse range of sources. Influences such as medieval religious panel paintings, Tibetan and Japanese art, horror movies, and metal music have all played a significant role in shaping his distinctive 'dark side' style in both tattooing and painting.

Noble's fascination with medieval religious panel paintings is evident in the composition and themes of his work. He values the traditional layout and composition found in these historical artworks, incorporating them into his own pieces to imbue them with a sense of timelessness and depth.

Moreover, Noble looks to Tibetan and Japanese art for inspiration in the composition and layout of his pieces. By blending elements from different cultural traditions, Noble creates a fusion of styles that adds complexity and richness to his art.

Additionally, Noble's passion for horror movies and metal music influences the darker aspects of his work. Themes of horror, demons, and gore find their way into his tattoos and paintings, infusing them with a macabre and edgy quality that reflects his personal interests and adds a captivating element to his portfolio.

In this episode of Chats and Tatts, Aaron Della Vedova chats with Derek about his loyalty to the craft and his unique voice in tattooing as they delve into discussions on traditional mindset, AI in tattooing, and anesthesia techniques. Tune in to hear about the artistry and old-school mentality that sets this tattooer apart in the industry.

Chat Breakdown:

[00:01:46] Traditional Mindset in Tattooing.

[00:05:43] Composition and skin in tattoos.

[00:09:24] Apprenticeship challenges and successes.

[00:10:59] Making tattoo needles by hand.

[00:16:51] Tattoo innovation and influence.

[00:19:59] Traditional tattoo machine preferences.

[00:29:31] Discovering artistic freedom in tattooing.

[00:31:36] Work ethic in tattooing.

[00:36:41] Opening a new tattoo shop.

[00:43:03] Embracing change as an artist.

[00:47:31] Anesthesia tattooing.

[00:52:46] AI art emerging.

[01:01:40] The future of handcrafted items.

[01:07:34] Evolution of tattoo culture.

[01:09:58] The Renaissance of the industry.

[01:13:26] Tattooing as a way of life.

Quotes:

"The skin of a human body is your brightest color."

"I did get offered an apprenticeship when I was 18, but I had just gotten a scholarship to play football."

"I can now see the priceless teachings you gave to me, and I appreciate them. But I will say, there's one needle you taught me to make that fucking sucks, dude."

"I did a sleeve, and it's a pretty fucking good sleeve still. The layout, the composition, but I decided I'm gonna reinvent this shit, you know?"

"You can take those building blocks of tattooing and turn them into whatever subject matter you really want to, you know?"

"You brought that to tattooing, you know, this get up, fucking go work hard."

"I don't give a fuck if I was up till 2 a.m. Absolutely, yeah. I'm still getting up at 6 a.m. and getting this piece ready."

"Jesse Roberts is the best tattooer in Seattle. Like nobody knows about him, but underground secret."

"Some new shit's coming out of you. Because you've broken up the channels. You've shaken up the mind. And you're gonna love it."

"It's just the biggest, like, poser cop-out... You can possibly do, right? I mean, tattooing, like you got to kind of earn it."

"Dude, yeah. I think AI, there's some great things that it can do. I think when you get into the artistic side of it, that's where it gets a little like, okay, now you're taken away from the human condition"

"That's going to go up in value, human-made things. Right. With drops of sweat, with pubic hair stuck inside of them."

"His art is on another fucking level. His tattoos are on another level. He's one of those."

Stay Connected:

Connect with Derek:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/dereknoble36

Connect with Aaron:⁠

Website: http://www.chatsandtatts.com⁠

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

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

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

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

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