· By Lochlan Charlton
MEET THE ARTIST - KEEGAN BLAIR 💚🥒
Whats your name & where do you tattoo out of?Hi, my name is Keegan Blair (@keeganblairtattoo) and I work out of Youngbloods and Good Times in Perth which I own with Jackson May and Steve Hanley.
How long have you been tattooing?I got an apprenticeship at the end of 2015 and qualified fully in 2017, so around six or seven years now.
What is your tattoo style?I like to mix it up, I’m not really interested in being tied down to a particular style. I guess one constant is I try to always do bright, bold, high-contrast tattooing! I love traditional, neotraditional and realism portraiture and lately I’ve been doing a fair bit of neo-Japanese work which I’ve been enjoying.
What is your fave tattoo you have ever worked on and why?That’s a tough one! Probably a collaboration piece I did with Kim Davies at the Brisbane Tattoo Expo last year. We did a two-day, two-person Godfather themed tattoo where we were given free reign by a really good client. I was able to bring some of the principles I adhere to in tattooing to the fore, got to work on subject matter I have a passion for, alongside a great friend and found that it was big step forward technically in my tattooing.
Do you have any shitty/ funny tattoos on yourself?I’m far too vain and OCD to get shitty tattoos!
Have you ever tattooed anyone famous?I’ve tattooed a few AFL players which was pretty cool as I’m a big West Coast Eagles fan. Probably a highlight was tattooing the whole 2018 premiership side the week after their Grand Final win.
What tattoo artists do you look up to?There are so many great artists in the industry that I admire, but I do still find myself coming back to the guys who taught me how to tattoo for most of my ongoing inspiration. So lucky to have learned under my mentor Jackson May and Khail Aitken who are two of the best artists in the country and continue to inspire.
What tattoo will you never tattoo ever again and why?I think I’ve sold out of realistic octopus.
Worst tattoo aftercare story?Not my piece, but someone at our shop tattooed a hand and the guy came back a couple of weeks later – all fallen out and had clearly been infected. Proceeded to tell us he was a plumber and in the week that he’d been tattooed he’d had his hands in a blocked toilet. Maybe steer clear of the bowl until it’s healed mate SMH.
Tattoo fun fact?Your artist knows best haha.
Why Dr pickles?The product has a fantastic reputation in the industry as an aftercare that works. When a client leaves after I’ve tattooed them, I can trust they will return with perfectly healed work because they used Dr Pickles – and that’s the most important thing for me.
Fave Dr Pickle product and why?Can’t go past the Original Formula Tattoo Balm! I love using it for aftercare and as a glide - especially when I’m doing multi day pieces because it keeps the skin nice and smooth and silky.
Where can we find you?@keeganblairtattoo @youngbloodstattoo @good_times_tattoo www.keeganblairtattoo.bigcartel.com
