Namboga Immanuel aka Sean Newman: Tattoo artist

A tattoo artist is a person who does permanent decorative tattoo application, frequently in a well-known establishment known as a 'tattoo shop', 'tattoo studio' or 'tattoo parlour'. Tattoo artists typically gain their skills through an apprenticeship with a qualified and knowledgeable instructor.

Namboga Immanuel, also known as Sean Newman, is a well-known Namibian tattoo artist who says: "Since tattoos go against the customs of my culture and other Namibian tribes, I personally never intended to have one. However, watching others do it made it seem so simple. And people typically create designs that they are particularly attached to. The joy on people's faces after getting a tattoo shows how they are using this kind of art to tell stories on their skin. I wanted to participate in that. I wanted to be known as the person who assisted others in using this medium of art to communicate their story."

According to Sean, the most challenging aspect of being a tattoo artist is the necessity of being meticulous. Making a mistake could result in your client suffering permanent harm. It's crucial to pay close attention to detail because a tattoo artist uses permanent ink.

"Mastering line work is the first thing a tattoo artist learns, but it can be one of the trickiest techniques to get well. A tattoo machine works entirely differently from a pencil or marker when drawing a line."

He says it is difficult to obtain affordable, high-quality equipment. As a result, tattoo artists are often forced to choose less expensive tools.