top of page
rosi bert

Welcome to the Dark Side

Updated: Mar 3

The Tattoo World

🌊Navigating Its Rich Seas & my Story

My name is Rosi Bert

I started my tattoo artist journey in 2018.

Here's how my story started 😇

I got my first tattoo at 19 years old with my sister. I haven't thought much about it for like a year or two, until I learn about stick n poke from a friend in college... I did my first one, and I will spare you all the malpractice, cause it's embarrassing.

But I will focus on a blog post in the future about this specifically... promise! In the meanwhile I will link at the end of the article a few good resources where I first learn about the basics to keep you and others safe if you are practicing.  


From Scratcher 2018

I had written GRL PWR on my foot with a sewing needle and some India ink from my graphic design project. It took me so long... at least an hour. After a few pokes, I felt like it was too late to stop now. And how fucking painful it was, is all I remember.

As I know better now, I look at young Rosi with a palm on my head.


But I did this one, got better tools; then I did another, and then another... Then on my sister and my friends. And I would spend hours tattooing small things, but I loved it. That art is just so chill. I would put a movie on, and the sound of the needle was just so soothing, and the pain is way chiller than an electric tattoo 🌶>🌶🌶🌶


But I still felt like I was missing out on a whole world. I'd gotten some small tattoos in shops as walk-ins and a bigger one on my thigh, which I didn't like as much (This one is a story for another post). Shop tattoos VS Home tattoos felt just so different; one felt like it operated with many rules, and I was intrigued but didn't quite understand. And the other had only the rules of physics and freedom to transform as I please.

I don't know why the jump between handpoke and electric felt so scary, but it did.


This was 2020, I was tattooing a stick n poke on one of my legs, and I had the thought of


''Hmm, I could tattoo every day.''

I was in the flow, the vibes were right, and I wanted to try electric and expand my world.


So I got myself an Amazon kit as one does...

AGAIN, see my PSA below if you're about to do this!

I did a poll on my Instagram story, and I asked what my tattoo should be. One of my girlies said butterfly. And I went ahead and tattooed this butterfly on my thigh.

butterfly first electric tattoo
This was my big step into the rabbit hole. 2020

To Apprenticeship 2021

At this point, Covid restrictions were raging on, and most shops were closed. And people were itching for tattoos, and so was me and my bestie.  Our spark for tattoos was always a part of our friendship; even when we were in art school, we'd be tattooing each other already. We spent all of the quarantine practicing and building our drawing portfolios and learning all we could about tattooing together.

In the summer of 2021, we both presented ourselves to North York Ink (Toronto) and many other shops, too. But as destiny had it lined up, we both got the jobs and started training under our new mentor, Ben (@BC_ink).


The night we became juniors
The night we became juniors

Now 2023+

Real Tattooer⭐️

Since then, I moved to Alberta, closer to my family. I started tattooing in Calgary at the iconic Smilin' Buddha in 2023 under Lindsay Martland. The shop itself deserves a whole series, but that's for a later time...


I am writing this blog to delve deeper into my tattoo journey, and this is an invitation into my underworld. I'll bring you along on my present journey, some stories from my past, and my future hopes.


All things related to the beautiful and dark tattoo world!


Rosi in the reception of the tattoo shop smilin buddha
Picture of me in the reception of Smilin' Buddha 1 month after starting at my new studio.

Welcoming YOU Into The Dark Side

My whole life has been devoted to tattooing and its world for the past couple of years. The moment I started getting tattooed, it was inevitable; I would only get more and more covered. Tattoos became my obsession, and I learned so much about what it means to commit your body to the cravings.

And little did I know when I started that I would also transform others.

I am now guiding my clients into making better choices for their own tattoos!

What is the right tattoo for one could be totally wrong for another, and part of my job is to ask the questions that will lead you to the right decision for your commitment.

I made a whole other blog post about picking the right idea for your future tattoo...

See you there 🥰



⭐️PSA if You're About To Tattoo Yourself 🌈

Please learn about all possible risks and best practices before putting something in your body... Especially if you plan on tattooing others, treat others as you would want to be treated.

The key rules:

DON'T BE A DICK🌈

GO SLOW 🧚‍♂️

YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD, NEVER TAKE BACK 💀


Tattooing keeps challenging my ethics every day, and most of the mistakes I regret making involve this part. I regretted having taken risks blindly for my friends. You really don't have to learn the hard way as I did 💁‍♀️ Ignorance is never good enough. Hence why I am conflicted to talk openly about my story. I know better now than I did then, and I wrote this thinking about what I wish I read before I started tattooing myself!


🌈LINKS⭐️

Reads

Very easy read that covers a lot of the groundwork. I would buy this before buying any supplies. Tattooing contains real risks of infections, and there are some dumb mistakes that are avoidable.


Tattoo History is also filled with great teachers who taught me so much about what attitude I should have for a successful path. Learn from your elders, as this art has been passed down from them.


Videos to start watching

No Gatekeeping here


Every artist has seen this video for their safety training:

Tattoos around the world: https://youtu.be/Mt4QZOMYjsQ


Designing is the basis of all good tattoos. Even with a perfect application, a bad design has the most impact on the final look. Learn the basics in as many styles as possible and familiarize yourself with as much of the global tattoo culture as possible.

This video of a Hannya Mask by Chris Garver is one of my favourite artists to learn from. You should check the subject matters that interest you and practice learning it's structure.



Precare + Aftercare is should be the same or very similar no matter who made the tattoo. Check my FAQ for the instructions I use to care for a fresh tattoo.


Comments

bottom of page