Chats & Tatts

What role do tattoos play when life gets impossibly dark? Live from the Golden State Tattoo Expo in Pasadena, Aaron Della Vedova sits down with tattoo collector and mental health advocate Koichi to share an deeply moving story of survival and transformation.
Diagnosed with schizophrenia at 22, Koichi faced severe mental health battles before turning to tattooing as a way to physically rebuild his identity. Alongside artist Ricardo Camargo (Zenith Tattoo L.A.), Koichi transformed his body into a canvas of fine art—enduring the process completely sober as a form of grounding meditation. Together, Aaron and Koichi discuss tattoos as psychological armor, physical vs. emotional pain, and finding community through ink.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Live from Golden State Tattoo Expo
02:00 - Diagnosed with Schizophrenia at Age 22
05:30 - Tattoos as Physical Armor & Reinventing Yourself
07:30 - Aaron's Story: The War Veteran's Bodysuit
09:40 - Surviving Dark Times & Finding "First Light"
13:25 - Meds, Stability & Promoting Men's Mental Health
17:30 - Finding Community in the Tattoo Industry
20:45 - No Numbing Cream: Pain as a Teacher & Meditation
25:48 - Physical Pain vs. Emotional Pain
28:30 - What Happens When the Bodysuit is Complete?
 
CONNECT WITH KOICHI:
Instagram: instagram.com/koichimynichi
CONNECT WITH AARON & CHATS & TATTS:
Chats & Tatts Instagram: instagram.com/chatsandtatts
Aaron Della Vedova Instagram: instagram.com/aarondellavedova
Official Website: chatsandtatts.com
Guru Tattoo: gurutattoo.com
Listen on Spotify: Chats & Tatts on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts: Chats & Tatts on Apple Podcasts

What happens when an experienced henna artist and documentary filmmaker steps into custom tattooing? Aaron Della Vedova sits down with Portland-based artist Erika Ryn (Living Ritual Body Arts) to explore the deep connections between ancient body adornment and modern ornamental tattooing.
Erika breaks down the sacred history of natural henna, her documentary trips through India and Morocco, the dark side of toxic chemical "black henna," and the reality of navigating Oregon's mandatory tattoo licensing laws.

Are client-prompted AI designs taking over custom tattooing? Aaron Della Vedova sits down with Australian tattooer, shop owner, and podcast host Jake Straat (Rats Get Fat Podcast) to break down the global state of tattooing.
From navigating the post-COVID economy to handling clients who run artist flash through ChatGPT, Jake and Aaron discuss the fine line between technical execution and true artistry, modern numbing creams, and why classic watercolor painting remains the ultimate discipline for tattooers.
TIME STAMPS
00:00:00 — Introduction & Australian Geography
00:04:00 — Australian Tattoo Styles: Realism, Trad & Japanese
00:08:00 — Post-COVID Economy & The Shift to Smaller Tattoos
00:15:00 — Running a 20-Artist Studio vs. a 2-Man Trad Shop
00:21:00 — The 30-Year Evolution of the Tattoo Industry
00:25:00 — Pricing Differences: USA vs. Australia
00:30:00 — Creating Identity: Tattoos in the Age of Social Media
00:38:00 — AI in Tattooing: Clients Using ChatGPT for Designs
00:45:00 — Will Handmade Art Become a Luxury Flex?
00:52:00 — The Truth About Numbing Creams & Modern Healing
01:15:00 — Why Young Artists MUST Paint Watercolor Flash
 
QUOTES
"Every single client is bringing in AI imagery now... It's no longer Pinterest, it's fucking AI." — Jake Straat

"We're at a crossroads right now. Are you technically just going to rip tats and do what's asked of you, or are you going to say, 'No, I'm going to draw something'?" — Jake Straat

"I don't think there's a lot of people fighting it as much as I thought there would be... Everyone should be able to do anything they want as long as it doesn't hurt people." — Aaron Della Vedova

"The iPad art is cool, but it's just ones and zeros at the end of the day. You're not making an artifact when you create iPad art. Paint more flash." — Jake Straat

📲 CONNECT WITH JAKE STRAAT:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/straats_tatts 
🎙️ CONNECT WITH AARON & CHATS & TATTS:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/chatsandtatts
Aaron Della Vedova: https://instagram.com/aarondellavedova
Official Website: https://chatsandtatts.com
Guru Tattoo: https://gurutattoo.com

In Episode 121 of Chats & Tatts, host Aaron Della Vedova sits down with Kirk Nilsen—a pioneer of medieval, woodcut, and architectural ornamental tattooing.
In this episode, we discuss: • The early days of ornamental blackwork and overcoming industry backlash • Horror stories from 2000s-era apprenticeships (drug dealers, fake papers, and Sink-or-Swim moments) • The trap of defining your personal identity solely by your job • How AI, Procreate shortcuts, and pattern brushes are eroding original art—and why handmade work will ultimately skyrocket in value • The reality behind 14 years of tattoo shop ownership and making the pivot to Charleston, SC
Quotes
"Everyone hated it... When the ornamental shit started really going off, every tattooer fucking hated it. I was definitely the new young guy everyone fucking hated." — Kirk Nelsen



"Handmade things will increase in value because it's going to become rarer and rarer. When clients see artists bragging about AI, they realize: this guy doesn't give a fuck about your tattoo." — Kirk Nilsen



"Potential beats talent if talent doesn't work hard. You've got to be God-given to some degree, but if you're working, getting better, and have that little 'it' thing, it's next level." — Kirk Nilsen



"Stop trying to be someone else. That's not how it works. Jackson Pollock was Jackson Pollock—he wasn't trying to be the next guy." — Kirk Nilsen



"I don't care about owning a business anymore. I don't want to deal with paperwork or people. I just want to draw pictures, tattoo the pictures, and go home." — Kirk Nilsen

In this episode of Chats & Tatts, host Aaron Della Vedova sits down with world-renowned tattoo artist Julian Siebert from Munich, Germany. Known globally for his incredible large-scale bodysuits, Julian shares his 21-year journey in tattooing, having completed over 200 backpieces and 100 frontpieces.
 
Together, they dive deep into the mindset of high-level tattooing, the controversy surrounding numbing cream, technical setups for maximum efficiency, the real impact of AI and social media on tattoo culture, and why Julian decided his current apprentice will be his last.
 
📌 TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction & Welcoming Julian Siebert

01:43 - 200+ Backpieces & 100+ Frontpieces: Managing Massive Workload

03:16 - The Sacrifice of Passion: Balancing Work, Family & Friends

04:32 - The "Glass of Water" Philosophy: Choosing Not to Have Kids

07:00 - From Slayer & Slipknot to Quitting School After a Car Crash

11:02 - Tattoos as Psychological Armor: Building Client Self-Confidence

15:50 - Session Lengths: Tackling 7 to 9 Hour Tattoo Sessions

17:25 - The Numbing Cream Debate: "You Want a Tattoo? Earn a Tattoo"

23:32 - 21 Years of Change: Social Media, iPads, & The AI Threat

28:18 - Over-Saturation in the Tattoo Industry & Copycat Styles

33:05 - "We Have Enough Tattoo Artists": Why Julian's 6th Apprentice is His Last

38:34 - Pure Passion: Young Artists Giving Away 3 Days of Free Tattoos

41:45 - The European Economic Crisis & How It Affects Tattooing

45:37 - Technical Masterclass: Layering Blacks, Colors, & Sculpting Lines Last

50:20 - Machine Breakdown: Direct Drive, 4.2mm–4.5mm Stroke Lengths, & Speed

54:25 - Staying Inspired After 20 Years: Out-of-the-Box Thinking

1:02:55 - How to Book an Appointment with Julian Siebert

 
Follow Julian on Instagram: @julian.siebert
Follow Chats & Tatts: @chatsandtatts | @aarondellavedova