Q&A with Beth Swilling

Q: Where did you grow up (what part of the states or did you grow up abroad?) Did you travel/move a lot growing up or stay in one area?

BS: I grew up in the mid-west and moved to California once I graduated high school. We moved to Spokane as a family about 15 years ago and really love Washington and Spokane. Nature is so accessible here; heck, you can go outside the studio and hike the Centennial Trail and see the Spokane Falls.

Q: Did you grow up around tattooed people?

BS: No, tattooing was not any part of my ethos growing up or even in young adulthood. My husband got his first tattoo early in our marriage and I literally asked him, “ What the f*?”

Q: What made you decide to get into tattooing?

BS: It is a bit of a story; I may add to this later or make a video of the story for your viewing enjoyment. But I was highly influenced by my first tattoo session and also witnessing my husband and his work by Damian Leigh. I say witness because it hasn’t been just experience getting tattooed or watching my husband, Tim, get tattooed. It is the interactions that happen when you are tattooed. Watching these spontaneous, positive, human interactions that happen because you have ink…that is what inspired me to become a tattoo artist.

Q: Have you always been an artist?

BS: Yes, I have always expressed myself artistically even though professionally, I spent my early years in corporations doing event management, marketing and project management always hoping to move into something more creative.

Q: Did you always know you wanted to be a tattoo artist?

BS: No; I actually didn’t ever think I would be a tattoo artist until my husband prodded me to ask Damian to teach me tattooing. I am so lucky Damian agreed to show me the ropes; I absolutely love that I get to create art that walks around and interacts with people.

Q: Do you have a preferred style that you like to work in? How did you arrive at your style?

BS: I love photo realism and illustrative styles. I do dabble in more abstract watercolor every now and then; which I really enjoy as well.

Q: What is your favorite subject to tattoo?

BS: People, nature, botanicals, animals.

Q: Where on the body do you like to tattoo most?

BS: I love arm and leg sleeve projects.

Q: Do you like to do small/shorter tattoos; medium size projects or large/long projects?

BS: I prefer larger scale work but every once in awhile a smaller piece comes my way and I enjoy that challenge as well.

Q: What do you love most about tattooing?

BS: I love the interactivity and authenticity of tattooing.

Q: Do you work in other mediums as well as tattooing? How does this influence your tattooing?

BS: Yes, I used to do a lot of color pencil work. I lately have really enjoyed digital media with my IPad and have started working in acrylic painting; trying to get my courage up to work in oils.

Q: What do you like to do when you are not tattooing?

BS: I spend time with my family and pets; I love to snowboard on fresh powder in the winter and sit on the back deck in the summer. We also love to travel and I love to snorkel when we get to go to Hawaii or any place like that.