Cody and Fabiana Philpott travelled a unique road to their studio and they鈥檙e excited to share their inspired designs with the Okanagan.
The two opened the doors to their inviting Lake Country studio in August and since then have shared their creative talents with clients ranging from age 18 to 70.
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, has had a lifelong passion for art. After graduating with a degree in textile and fashion, she was inspired to begin tattooing following studies with a Japanese painter popular with the Sao Paulo tattoo community.
says he鈥檚 been an artist since before he can remember, but became captivated with tattooing when living in Japan as an ESL teacher. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an art form that鈥檚 still done by hand and that鈥檚 a real draw for me,鈥� he says.
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Today, using a combination of state-of-the-art digital technology and traditional fine art techniques, the two specialize in custom tattoo designs for clients鈥� individual tastes, styles and bodies.
How can you get the tattoo you want?
- Meet the artists and review their work: Some people emphasize the length of time they鈥檝e been tattooing, but Cody advises clients also look at the creativity, technique and passion artists bring. 鈥淲e鈥檙e young, but experienced, and we鈥檙e excited about all aspects of tattooing,鈥� he says.
- Look at the studio: Make sure it鈥檚 clean, bright and well-organized, and that the business license is clearly displayed.
- Bring ideas and inspiration: If you have an idea about the tattoo you want, look at pictures across various art forms, Cody suggests. Review samples that catch your eye with the tattoo artist and discuss how they might work. 鈥淣ot everything translates well into a tattoo and a good artist will be honest about that because they want you to have the best tattoo possible.鈥�
- Go with an open mind: Be open to the tattoo artist鈥檚 ideas about how they might interpret your tattoo goals, but don鈥檛 let them talk you into something you don鈥檛 want. Do ask for clear advice about how the process will go, Fabiana suggests.
- Winter is ideal for ink: While people often think about getting new ink in the summer when the sun鈥檚 out and skin is showing, winter is actually best. A new tattoo can鈥檛 be submerged in water, so fun in the lake is out, and physical activity should be lighter while the tattoo is healing, Cody says, noting that depending on the skin and tattoo style, expect healing to take about two to three weeks.
Save with a Christmas flash sale
NSI Tattoo is holding a Christmas flash sale, Dec. 2 and 3 from noon to 9 p.m., and will be accepting walk-ins! Get a tattoo and T-shirt for $120. First come first serve, cash only!
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Just 15 minutes to 琉璃神社 and 25 minutes to Vernon, visit from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, or at other times by appointment. Follow them on Instagram at @nsitattoo
