Polish couple making their mark as tattoo artists in Clonmel

Becoming a tattoo artist requires a lifetime commitment, years of training and perfecting the art of establishing trust between client and artist.
One couple has mastered this art in their parlour Clonmel Ink Smith, which is located in O’Connell Street.
Artists Samsara Black and Richard Black are a distinctive looking couple, adorned with body artform head to toe.
Samsara has her trademark blonde dreadlocks stacked in a beehive, with her friendly and welcoming demeanour brightening up the studio, which is furnished with vibrant jewel accents.
Richard stands by her side, his expressions complemented by the intricate black ink body art on his face. While he is more reserved, together the pair complement each other as they retell the sparkling success story of their move to Ireland and forming their thriving business that draws clients from all over the country to their sleek Clonmel studio.
Hailing from Gdansk in Poland, the couple met as children growing up on the same estate. They both shared a predilection for the alternative, discovering the world of tattoos as teenagers. They explored different aspects of the ancient world of body modification, with Samsara’s interest in the alternative spurring from finding photos of neck rigs derived from the South Ndebele tribe of Africa.
The couple describe the Polish attitude towards body modification as conservative and post-communistic, with many Polish people covering their tattoos when they are in public for fear of scrutiny.

SUBCULTURE
This hostile reception did not act as a deterrent for their interest in the subculture, and they began to forge a career in tattooing from the age of eighteen.
“I remember when we would try to be punks, I used to put paper clips in my ears,” muses Samsara.
There is a stark difference between Gdansk and Clonmel, with the pair citing the Irish as having a laid back and accepting attitude. “Ireland is a very open-minded country,” said Samsara, noting that on the first day of arrival she was left perplexed at the number of strangers smiling and greeting her on the street.
Tattoos are one of the world’s oldest art forms, with the earliest evidence of their existence dating as far back as 3370BC. The rich history laid the foundations of inspiration for the couple who home in on detailed, elaborate styles for their craft.
Samsara practiced her trade by starting with basic tattoos on herself as a way to get used to the delicate process of using the tattoo gun.

DESIGN ON THE SKIN
A tattoo is a permanent design on the skin, with ink pigments inserted through pricks into the skin’s epidermis. The handheld machine acts like a sewing machine, with needles piercing into the skin in quick succession to create the permanent body art.
While Samsara’s earliest tattoos are now covered, she maintains that none of her early works are regrettable and fondly remembers the early pieces as representing her long journey into becoming a professional tattoo artist.
Samsara originally had her own smaller tattoo parlour which she sold to work in a larger tattoo studio in the city.
The transition to working a large renowned team was an essential component in developing her skills as an artist as she learned from her colleagues and enjoyed the collaborative feel of the studio
Richard and Samsara established Ink Smith 2018, when they learned of a tattoo parlour for sale in Clonmel and took over the reins from the previous Polish owner.
The couple made the decision to buy it quickly, trusting their instinct with the business venture. The move was a risk, and the pair had no idea what to expect upon arrival into Ireland, but they quickly upscaled their business after experiencing incredible growth and support from around the country. They moved to a larger venue and now employ six staff members. “Our idea was just to open a small tattoo parlour for ourselves,” said Richard. “Every single year we are growing,” he said.
When the business began to expand, the couple put much consideration into hiring staff to develop their team.
The couple never intended on training tattoo artists, but they now have apprentices they train to become future talents in the industry.
While some are naturally gifted at using the machine and take to it easily, the average apprenticeship takes four years to have the skill of a proficient professional.
The six current employees come from different walks of life and nationalities, all united by a common love of the craft.

DYNAMIC TEAM
Samsara describes the dynamic of the team as tribal, with everyone having a close bond and often calling into the parlour on their days off to chat.
While one perception of the life of a tattoo artist is drawing and smoking, Richard believes the real components to making it in the industry are hard work and determination.
Despite ten years of experience, both Richard and Samsara say the career is constantly keeping them grounded due to the intricate nature of the art.
“Even if someone comes to me with a super basic thing I have drawn fifteen times in my life, I would say to forget all about that as a mark of respect to someone’s body. It’s very easy to make a mistake so every tattoo needs to be treated as important,” said Richard
One popular request is covering tattoos, which involves placing another artwork over an existing tattoo to mask it. Both Samsara and Richard have had tattoos covered, and noted many people get tattoos they regret during their life such as past lovers' names or badly drawn artwork acquired on a booze-filled holiday.
The couple found working together an interesting dynamic at the beginning and finding a balance between work and home life was a confusing boundary to navigate.
They have two daughters and their youngest was born in Ireland.
“We have two daughters, and this shop is our third child,” said Samsara, who found the key to managing it was creating a firm distinction between both home and work. Once they enter the studio, they are colleagues.
Tattooing can be addictive. Samsara maintains that while some may only get a tattoo once, few stop at two.
The parlour welcomes many returning customers from all around the country, with social media an important player in developing the business and maintaining their client base during the pandemic.
When the pandemic struck, Richard dedicated his time solely to developing his painting. His art is inspired by the popular tattoo design of the mandala, a symbol used in Hinduism and Buddhism and is a popular emblem used for mediation and sacred practices.
The large, intricate golden patterns are dotted around the state-of-the-art studio, with the black and gold line-work set off by the contrasting moss green walls.

DIVERSE CLIENT BASE
The couple have a diverse client base and note that tattoos are becoming very popular with young people.
Some get tattoos that symbolise something meaningful in their lives, while others pick designs that are purely for decoration on their skin. Every consultation begins with a pre-interview, where artist and client establish their expectations for the tattoo.
A big gripe is many people look for extremely detailed tattoos on a small surface area of skin, which is near impossible due to ink feathering and spreading over time. Richard explained: “Every single artist in our studio believes it is more than just a drawing on the skin, taking the money and calling it a day. All of us believe the tattooing process is a ritual, you must establish a connection.”
Samsara added this personal connection is a key to their success.
“It’s a thing that most of the top tattoo artists forget. They think as the artist, the client must just accept whatever art you decide to do. We try to think differently, we think each client is coming to us and our job is to build exactly what you are trying to express.”
The process requires an abundance of trust between the artist and client. While the procedure is sore, Samsara describes the pain is less than a bee sting and many clients cite the trip to the dentist as more traumatic. At the end of this, any discomfort is rewarded with a permanent piece of body art.
While the art is a crucial element, Samsara believes the magic of tattooing goes deeper than simply the work on the skin.
The process is almost like meditation and the endurance of the pain rewarded by the final piece is a process that draws many of the customers back.
“It’s very refreshing for your mind, because you are proving something for yourself,” said Samsara. “You’ve survived the battle and you’ve gotten something just for yourself nobody can ever take away from you,” she said.

Two books, Artisans of Clonmel and Artisans of Cashel, were published before Christmas.
They were launched as part of Clonmel Applefest and the Cashel Arts Festival. They both carry the stories of craftspeople in the community.
Over the coming months The Nationalist will carry stories from both books.
The article for this week was written by Aislinn Kelly. Aislinn Kelly is a journalist and fourth year Journalism and Digital Communications student at the University of Limerick. She has worked as a staff journalist with Tipperary’s The Nationalist and as a freelance writer. Covering everything from agriculture to the arts, her work is defined by a love of storytelling.