Rhonda Mulder, 37

Five Cents

Influences on your art? Folk/naive art, tattoo artists from the turn of the 20th century, antique scientific etchings and drawings.

Common motifs? Flowers, animals, skulls, hearts.

Differences between what women

and men ask for? In general — but not exclusively — guys tend to let me use bolder lines and more black.

What is it like being a woman in this traditionally male-dominated

field? While it might still be viewed as a male-dominated industry, I think it’s important to acknowledge that there has been a female presence in tattooing throughout its very long history, across various cultures. So I’m a part of that lineage. On the day-to-day level, I don’t think about being a “woman tattooer” — I think about trying to be a “good tattooer.”

Current trends? Designs?

Innovations? There is nothing new under the sun. There are so many styles of tattooing now that there is something for almost any taste. The woodcut/engraving look seems to be quite popular at the moment, but it will evolve into something else in time. Subjects that are a hit at the moment: palm trees, The X-Files, old-timey crescent moons.

I definitely benefit from how far the industry has come in the past two decades in terms of the availability of higher-quality inks and equipment. I never had to toil away making needles or mixing pigments. Older tattooers would say my generation is soft because of that. Apprenticing versus schooling? I’m against teaching it in school. Tattooing is a very intimate thing. It is very up-close-and-personal. And that is the best way to learn it. Even just figuring out one’s path into the industry is a big part of learning about the industry. Potential tattooers would be better served by taking some drawing and business courses, getting customer-service training, getting tattooed a lot. And then learning the craft under a skilled artist with significant experience (like 10-plus years), who they will hopefully work with for several years as they develop.