When Sameer Patange took to designing tattoos for some extra pocket money, little did he realise that his tattoos would find their place on Bollywood celebrities. He recalls how, as a college student, he joined a local tattoo artist in Mumbai to make Rs 200 per week. “ It was big money then. The artist was impressed with my designs and let me assist him for a short while,” he says looking suave, as he watched his team mate tattoo the journey of a pig becoming a plate of pork on a chef’s hands.
Since then, there was no looking back for Sameer who became the first Indian tattoo artist to be sponsored by California-based Quantum Inks. Having established himself in the field, now he is one of the most sought-after in the country, with the likes of Sushmita Sen, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan.
Getting there, however, would be at least 10 times tougher if one had to start now, feels Sameer. “Tattoo artists are increasing these days and more and more people have broken their apprehensions about getting inked. As someone who’s been observing the trends for more than a decade now, the creative take to tattoo designing, the same way they took to advertising earlier,” he tells us.
But there are some stereotypes as well, he adds, with a trace of disappointment. Taking a dig at the number of youngsters who want certain designs because they feel it’s the ‘in’ thing, Sameer finds that it sometimes proves to be a hurdle to the flow of creative juices. “Everybody wants to get a Shiva tattoo after Amish Tripati’s trilogy. Regardless of whether they connect to Shivji or not, they need his tattoos and such stereotypes need to disappear,” he says. But there are also some who want to have a little chat, through which the artist gauges the person and designs a tattoo that reflects their personality. Ideally, he adds, that’s how tattoo aficionados should sport the designs.
Sporting a skull among the other abstract patterns in his arms and legs, Sameer has not only been tattooing in Krayonz, his studio at Mumbai but also training aspiring tattoo artists. He finds their creativity encouraging and this, along with more wanting tattoos on themselves, breaking apprehensions and taboos, the future is bright for tattoo artistry as such.
Sameer and his team are currently tattooing as a part of the Tattoo festival at The Park. The festival is on until March 30.