Trailer Trash Tattoo
Archerfield, QLD, Australia

07 3274 6645
http://www.facebook.com/mimsystrailertrashtattoo
trailertrashtattoo@hotmail.com


FRESHLY INKED: What year did you start tattooing?

MIMSY: Jeez, you’re making me do maths here (not my strong point). The year I started to tattoo was 1999.

FRESHLY INKED: How did you get into tattooing?

MIMSY: I started out at a shop in Brisbane called Wild at Heart. I was privileged to work with many inspiring and talented artists in my time there.

FRESHLY INKED: What conventions have you worked at?

MIMSY: I haven’t worked at many tattoo conventions at all. Due to the amount of time I spend tattoo- ing in my home studio, I would feel bad leaving my kids too much. They come first—we’re all pretty obsessed with each other, so mostly I hang out in Brisbane with my family. Sometimes I feel envious of my colleagues who travel and work in exotic locations, but really, it doesn’t matter—my beautiful Bisbee, 7, and Lulabelle, 5, are my whole world. Maybe in the future we can figure a way to all travel together. I have a lot of respect for successful tattoo artists who are also parents. It’s a difficult juggling act—and a tricky industry to “have it all.”

FRESHLY INKED: How do you describe your style?

MIMSY: Well, it’s hard to say how I describe my style; mostly I hear others describing it and I don’t really think about it too much. I have a very simple outlook and I like instant visual gratification. I guess I am lowbrow—I don’t get into fine art, high detail, realism. It’s just not how I see the world; I’m too lazy to look that hard at something. So the way I tattoo is real simple, strong lines, bold colors, a little bit of the old style, a little bit cartoony. Mix these elements with silly, girly things like bows and hearts, add some sprinkles with a cherry on top! Just fun and silly.

FRESHLY INKED: What inspires you as an artist?

MIMSY: I am inspired by things like packaging design, like on a candy packet, or a cute children’s storybook. I’m inspired by clean, old-style tattooing, though I may not get to do that style as often as I wish to. I aspire for more clients to ask me for real traditional imagery, so I like to look at the art of other tattoo artists doing that type of tattoo ... and go, “Oooooohhhh ahhhhhh.”

FRESHLY INKED: What sets you apart from other artists?

MIMSY: I have been tattooing on my own in my home studio for quite a few years now, so there’s not much room for comparison. I have noticed over the years that tattoo artists and artists in general are very competitive in their own way—how strange, and yet it makes sense. I don’t want to compare too much or think about being set apart, but I am focused on my own humble daily jobs and liasing with my clients on a more personal level. I am afforded the luxury of dedicating myself to each customer without too many time constraints as there would be in a street shop. It’s a very relaxed atmosphere and I enjoy the feeling of being able to make my victims as comfortable as possible.

FRESHLY INKED: Can you tell us about the vision behind Trailer Trash Tattoo?

MIMSY: Trailer Trash Tattoo—I guess the name says it all. I like to share my passion for midcentury design and style. I carry this through my life, just with, I guess, furnishings, the trailers, the this, the that, the everything. I had always dreamed of owning an old trailer, so when I finally found a suitable rig, it just made sense that I should tattoo in it. I guess at the time I started the business it was quite an oddity, and people were and still are quite fascinated. I’m just doing what makes me happy, and I think when you are being yourself and are honest in your approach people will be drawn to you. My love of 1950s and ’60s style is just a part of the way I see the world, and I like to surround myself with visually pleasing things from that era.

FRESHLY INKED: What other mediums do you work in?

MIMSY: I also paint with acrylics, sometimes watercolor. I like to do craft.

FRESHLY INKED: How have you branched out from tattooing?

MIMSY: I tattoo six days a week. I paint, I draw—not too much time for anything else. It’s a one-man (or gal—me) show here, so I’m also doing things like producing sketchbooks, ordering T-shirts, getting prints made, booking appointments, scrubbing tubes—and, of course, Facebooking and Instagramming!

FRESHLY INKED: What tattoo artists do you admire most?

MIMSY: Tattooers I admire most are as any people I admire the most. I admire a tattooer who is humble, respectful, kind, patient. If you add talent, vision, and ability to this mix, whoa, baby—you got a pretty special person right there. I am inspired by the art of Angelique Houtkamp, obviously Jerry Collins. So many of my friends blow my mind with their absolute dedication and just full-on, God-given talent—like Rose Hardy, like Andrew McLeod, like Steve Jovic, Luke Muller, Ben Rorke, Clarity, Toby, Stacey Ann, and so many, many more. You know, these guys are all Australian. We have so much tattoo talent in this country.

FRESHLY INKED: What kind of tattoos do you look forward to doing?

MIMSY: I look forward to doing big, simple work... full back pieces are fun, it’s just such a nice, relatively flat surface to showcase your work. I look forward to having a customer who just lets me go wild and run with my style—that’s the stuff of dreams. More girls—tattoos of girls. Girls’ faces are the best fun thing to do.

FRESHLY INKED: Is there a tattoo that you haven’t done yet that you are dying to do?

MIMSY: Ohhh, a tattoo I am dying to do? I just want to do more traditional stuff. I’d even be happy to reference straight-up Sailor Jerry style; I just dig that stuff, man. Probs don’t need to do too many more cupcakes at the moment ... but I have got a panther booked in soon. That’s gonna be fun.