Can you describe yourself in one sentence?
I'm a daughter, wife, mom, and friend, a perfectionist, professional, friendly, sociable, spontaneous, patient and creative.
How long have you been piercer?
I got to meet my teacher in 2013, In march 2017 opened my second shop.
Why this profession?
I'm originally a nurse ( still am). From an early age I was intrigued by body art. My husband is an artist (rattlecanned) trough wich we often had a stand on conventions. My enthausiasm was becoming stronger. When I was 35 I set my mind to learn about body modification and have made every effort able to be a piercer and voila
How or from whom did you learned the skills?
Once I had it in my head to become a piercer, I wrote two letters to two piercers I had in mind I wanted to learn from. One could not do it of private circumstances, the other one I had conversations
with, I even wrote an essay to him. He gave me the opportunity to be his apprentice, still very grateful for that. We became good friends. I still keep learning from situations, from colleagues around the world. Fantastic, I'm just like a sponge, want to know everything especially the why
What was your first piercing?
Labret
Who or what inspires you?
Ilya Langbein, Luis Garcia and Sharon Looy are the people I admire very much and gives me inspiration. Other colleagues, APP and BMXnet inspire me in addition to a number of modification artists.
Can you tell something about your studio/workplace?
In Krommenie I have a place in a big tattoo studio, between new beginning and experienced tattoo artists.Talented and super friendly people.
In purmerend I have a private studio.
What type of piercing do you prefer?
...Eeeuhm..the "tricky" piercings. People with a particular anatomy or people with special needs, the so called "projects"
But really I do like everything, because it makes people happy and every piercing is different with different anatomy.
What is the best piece of advice you ever got when you started out and think it would help other starters in this industry?
Take your time, don't go to fastStay honest to yourself and your clients.
Keep thinking. Do not take anything for sweet cake. But discover, research and continue to learn. If you want to get rich, find another job.
You have a nice or weird experience you'd like to share?
Each client is special, the one that remained with me the most is a man, his kids came along and sat in the waitingroom, his wife was with him. at the time I pierced the skin I was expecting an "auch" or an " F#ck" but he said "Cow meadow" I finished the procedure and after I asked him neatly where it came from, he said: " My kids are at a hearing distance"
Does your work involve more than just piercings?
Yes and No
I just pierce alone, but sometimes I feel I'm half a psychologist hahaha.
How do you see yourself in 5 years?
No idea, I have dreams afcourse, like High end jewelry only, shadowing Idols, attending the APP conference in Las Vegas, as well as UKapp and the BMXnet in Germany. working on that.
I want to be a excellent reputable piercer, who people know, and willing to travel for.
Do you have a tip or do you want to add something to this interview?I detest people who give courses, people that tell their students you can be a piercer in 6 days for plus €2500,- Rip off
Everyone can pierce a hole, but to be a good piercer is something totally different.
In addition, people who go for quantity and seriously mutilate their customers, Piercers take at face value and take for granted because they're not explained only seen or read it somewhere.
Anyway, do it good or just don't
http://www.dejama.nl
-Angie
Pictures and answers: Debbie Bijster
Published Tattoo Planet eMagazine 133/mei2018
