About Me
Hi everyone, I'm Alina. I have been tattooing for the last six years, and worked as a freelance artist for 8 years prior. I discovered my love for making people feel comfortable in their skin early in my artistic career, and now as a tattoo artist I feel like I get to do that every day!
I am likely one of the most energetic and extroverted people you will ever meet, but I can match energies really well and pride myself on making my clients feel comfortable during their time with me. In a day my goal is to stand out, make people smile, and leave lasting impressions wherever I go.
Let me tell you a little more about me and how I became a tattoo artist...
I actually never imagined myself working in the art industry. I attended Carleton University straight out of high school and took psychology, but after one semester I realized that it wasn’t the career path for me, and I dropped out. The life I wanted to live was not one confined to a desk or office, but one that allowed me to express myself and more importantly help others express themselves.
A few months after dropping out I enrolled myself at Versailles Academy in Ottawa. I graduated a year later with honours in both Professional Makeup Artistry and Advanced Makeup, and Sfx Techniques. I went on to pursue a professional makeup career in TV/Film for the next several years. After learning my strengths and interests within the industry, I became a body painter and temporary tattoo artist using mehndi (henna) and airbrush techniques.
A combination of finding my artistic ability, helping people feel more comfortable in their skin, and years of being tired of washing away my masterpieces, lead me to realize that there was another career option for me. I looked into becoming a tattoo apprentice but I had no idea where to start, as I wasn’t a typical artist and did not have a drawing portfolio. I pushed the idea to the side until one day, about a year later, the position fell into my lap. I met my mentor Andre by fluke and after he discovered my artistic ability, he asked me to apprentice under him.
After spending all of lockdowns drawing and practicing, I was introduced into the tattoo world when things opened back up, and became a sought-after artist over the next couple of years.
I left the studio I worked in to start my own business in Summer of 2022 and am now the owner and manager of
BLACK FOREST TATTOO COMPANY located in MANOTICK, ONTARIO.
I wouldn't have it any other way, and am thrilled to leave my mark on amazing people every day.
xox Alina
2024
