Tattoo artists are unique in their craft that every one of their projects achieves a level of permanence.
Their “doodles” and “sketches” are worn by clients for a lifetime. NYC artist Rob Green, who currently works at Bang Bang Tattoos, sat down with me to talk about his path to becoming a tattoo artist, and share his current approach in honing the art form.
Photo by Jennifer Cooper
His story was one different from the traditional path of a tattoo artist. Deciding to not take an apprenticeship, Rob hustled as the sole artist at a small shop in Sunset Park. He paid his dues while humbly learning to better his technique.
Although preferring to work in a vibrant illustrative style, Rob is neither stranger nor novice when it comes to minimalism (which he remarks is currently extremely popular). Despite his favorite style not being in as high demand, Rob finds bits of inspiration in every tattoo a client requests, no matter the style. He gives off the impression of a college professor equipped with the hunger of a young student.
Rob Green’s skill is easily visible to even the quickest glance, but understanding the circumstance and effort that birthed it gives you a stronger sense of appreciation. Now working at Bang Bang, having made it in most respects, Rob remains hungry for inspiration. Constantly learning how to be better from his fellow in house artists, Rob is perpetually becoming a better artist.
We spoke at length, and so I want to share highlights from our conversation below.
Arthur: As a tattoo artist, do you start out fixated with tattoo art or do you start doing regular art?
Rob: I started doing regular art first. I was always doodling in school. I went to the highschool of art and design so I was always into some form of art.
A: So you were doing art in high school, and then did you start doing that kind of art professionally? How did the jump from regular drawing to tattoo art occur?
R: The jump started when I first got a kit. One of my homies started letting me get stuff done on him. But I wasn’t good. It wasn’t good at first…I wasn’t bad but I wasn’t good either. It took me some time to get a feel for it. I was doing it for a couple of years like that until I landed a job in a shop. It wasn’t a big thing.
A: But it was a gig
R: Yeah it was a gig. I worked regular jobs before that like box shelving and whatever, but from that it just took off. I went there and started learning as I went. It was a self taught kind of thing.
A: Hold on, your homies would let you, knowing that you ain’t never tattooed anything in your life, do work on them?
R: Yeah because they trusted me and knew I had art skill. They knew what I did, they thought he’s a dope artist, he’s gotta be able to do some dope tattoos.
R: That’s how I got started, but normally you wanna get an apprenticeship and take that road.
A: So you never did an apprenticeship?
R: Nah, I went straight in, and it could’ve saved me a lot of headaches if I did an apprenticeship.
A: Do you think though, that you’ve learned some lessons that you otherwise wouldn’t have through an apprenticeship?
R: Well, it took me a lot longer to get where I needed to be. Not getting it, definitely got me used to figuring stuff out. It really helped me with that. As far as technical aspects, and really getting into the culture of it, it would’ve been a lot easier making that transition if I did a formal apprenticeship. I recommend that’s what anyone does.
A: And how does a tattoo apprenticeship work?
R: Basically, if you find somebody that will take you it’s a lot of shadowing, but also a lot of sh*t work. Mopping, cleaning, it’s a lot of that stuff.
A: It’s like an internship almost.
R: Yeah, like they would tell you go get coffee. But also, you would be able to shadow, you are able to ask questions, and you are able to see techniques and styles so it makes it a lot easier in the long run.
A: So when you’re working for an artist as an apprentice are you sort of guaranteed a spot working at that shop when you finish?
R: Chances are no. Sometimes at the end of the apprenticeship they’ll just let you go, tell you to spread your wings and find a job. I mean of course you’ll be doing a few tattoos while you’re there. Sometimes they’ll groom you to work in the shop, but other times they’ll tell you we don’t need you anymore it’s time to go. Peace.
A: And are you getting paid during that apprenticeship?
R: Hell no! Nobody is getting paid during an apprenticeship. But you’re getting lessons and I’ve never went through it, but I’ve seen people go through it and they’re a lot better for it.
A: How did it feel when at your first gig being a new artist around people who’ve been there for a minute.
R: Well at my first gig I was the only dude working in the shop. I was working on Sunset Park and I was the only person there so I was like sh*t i gotta fake it till I make it. I knew the basics, I went and got tattooed and I figured I would ask questions while I got tattoos, and I knew the procedures so it got me in.
A: How did it work out that you got your first gig in a spot you were the only artist?
R: They didn’t know. They had me come in and tattoo somebody and the tattoo came out dope so they were like alright you got a job. I was thinking that when I got in there would be other artists there and I was thinking I’d made it. But still they were good people to work for and I got my feet wet. I was looking at the artwork on the walls and trying to master the flash sheets and they had artists that would come in and give me little pointers here and there, and then it took off.
A: So you had those pointers but still you had to hustle on your own and figure it out.
R: Yeah it took a lot of figuring out.
A: You think that helped you find your own signature style in tattooing?
R: I think that with me, it’s constantly evolving and I’m always changing with the times. Of course a lot of things get better like line work and shading and just overall design because you get a better understanding of it. So it’s always evolving.
A: I noticed as I scroll down your Instagram, every section is a different style, you get minimal fine line stuff, and then the polygonal pieces.
R: Yeah because that’s pretty much what my position is right now. I’m constantly doing what clients want, so nowadays it’s all geometric, that’s what the people are asking for. My style is more like an illustrative style like if you think of one I did that’s a big wolf head, that’s more my style. A lot of color, a lot of saturation, that’s the kind of stuff I’m into. 
A: How do you feel now working in a shop where you’re watching all these artists right next to you?
R: I get inspired man. Everybody is pretty talented and they all got their own niche. I’m more all over the place but I try and hone it in and if I needed to do something similar to that I could watch them. And you always ask questions. I can see them working and I like watching how they approach their jobs. I can take a little bit of everybody and everything helps. I take it throw it in the pot, mix it up, and boom.
A: It sounds like you’re in a really good headspace for that environment because you got all these people that got their main niches but since you do everything you can pull from every single one.
R: Yeah I get to pull in a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
A: You mentioned earlier how currently people for the most part want a few particular styles from you. With that in mind, do you think it’s harder to introduce a new art style in the tattoo world because it’s so service oriented?
R: I think you gotta put it out there first, show it to them and people will inevitably gravitate it. It’s like a canvas. You put it out there and people are gonna say, I want that and then they’re gonna come to you. It’s a trickle down.
You can follow Rob Green and see more of his work on his Instagram @robgreennyc
art by Arthur Banach. Check out more at @wildhxir
