Tattoo Artist of the Week Tyrone de Bruin

While down in Cape Town recently we had the opportunity to meet up with Tyrone de Bruin, better known as Tyrone InkSlinger, at the SkullBox and Tattoo Company. What better time to hook up our Tattoo Artist of the Week feature with this talented Cape Town artist. Check out our interview with Tyrone about tattoos and his career, and the photo gallery of some of his masterpieces.

Full Name: Tyrone de Bruin

Nickname: Tyrone Inkslinger

Age: 33

Hometown: Cape Town

Shop: SkullBox and Tattoo Company

Years tattooing: 6

Tattoo style: I am an all round artist but love doing cover ups Tattoo

Hourly rate: I don’t agree with charging per hour, I prefer to charge per piece. Then I can take my time to produce a masterpiece instead of chasing money.

When getting into tattooing, what did you find helped the most when learning how to tattoo?
I found it helped quite a bit being open minded and taking advice from wherever I got it. Also not being scared of taking that plunge into the deep end whether it’s your first portrait or your first new school tattoo piece. I find it helps having good reference no matter what you do or how easy the piece.

What do you do to progress in your tattoo styles, work and career?
I always keep updated with the forerunners of the tattoo industry and try break down their tattooing styles and adapt it to my own so that I can try to have the cutting edge above the rest. Trying to be as unique as possible and not imitate and do carbon copies of other artists work. The only way to get ahead and progress is by staying true to your own style.

“I think it is defiantly bigger in Cape Town due to the over saturation of tattoo artists. I also think the art culture here has a big impact on the industry”

What are your thoughts on the progression of machines and inks? What types do you use?
I find the progression brilliant however frustrating at times as it progresses so fast and it’s hard to keep up with all the new products out there which also creates a huge market for knock offs and sub standard equipment. The products get distributed and are easily accessible to all the scratchers and ” wanna-be” tattoo artists who end up damaging not only peoples body’s but also the industry. I have recently been introduced to Infinity Pro which is a phenomenal product. For my stencil transfer I use Electrum. I prefer to use Hustle Butter Deluxe during the tattoo and for the aftercare. The machines I use are the Neo Tat rotary as well as the Dragon Fly.

What type of tattoo style do you enjoy doing the most?
I have always been drawn to the macabre side of life and of late I have been enjoying the macabre in full colour.

What has been your most challenging tattoo to date? Did you enjoy doing it and how did it come out?
My wife’s tattoos, as it never seems to get done and no matter how hard I try she is never happy as she likes all the other tattoos I do. It never gets done as we always end up having sex and yes, I enjoyed it.

Where would you like to see your tattooing career go?
I would like to be at a new level of tattooing where I only have a client base where I am sought out, only do tattoos that are my own unique style as well as seeing my name brand of clothing on the shelves. I also want to see the SkullBox team and myself grow into a heavy Jugernaught name brand, ready to take on any key players in any field and also branch out to more than a tattoo and retail store and to see the brand name on an international level.

The tattoo culture in Cape Town seems to be bigger than anywhere else in South Africa. Why do you think that is?
I think it is defiantly bigger in Cape Town due to the over saturation of tattoo artists. I also think the art culture here has a big impact on the industry.

Which international shop and what international artists would you like to guest appear with?
I would like to guest artist at Black Anchor with Nikko Hurtado, Night Gallery with Bob Tyrrell, Calos Torres, Mike DeVries, Florian Krag and Damantas Parvainis.

When you’re not tattooing, what do you get up to?
When I am not tattooing I normally spend time with my two girls and also keep up with my drawings and paintings. I also get commissioned to do private paintings and of late I have been toying around with the idea of getting back into airbrushing.

SkullBox and Tattoo Company Details

Contact Number: 021 007 1163
Tyrone de Bruin Contact Number: 074 641 3065 – Email: 123inkslinger@hotmail.co.za
Address: Shop 17, Piazza Center, Corner of Link and Parklands Main Road, Parklands, Cape Town
Follow SkullBox and Tattoo Company on Facebook and Twitter.