Monika Maier aka Greidahex: Master of Fineline and Artistic Creativity

How did you discover your passion for tattooing, and what inspired you to make it your career?

I handpainted bridal shoes for a decade, shipping worldwide and at some point every design could’ve been a tattoo design. So i thought, lets try it. I am an artist all my life, so i ordered a machine and started on fake skin. I got the hang of it very quickly so tattooed myself and as soon as that worked out.. well :) i love the feeling, when people see their first tattoo. The process of them watching me work, going through the pain and being proud of them self after a finished session is what gets me going.

How would you define your tattooing style, and what makes it unique?

I love doing lasting fine line tattoos, im challenging my self in crisp lines, because very less artists are able to do that, so i found my niche :) i also love to play with combos of vintage flowers and mandalas and im still working on my technique, trying other things, so im not getting bored, add habit i guess XD

Which artists or styles have influenced your work the most

Oh at the beginning filouino for sure, at the moment Deanna James and all the great fineline artists, there are so many!

 
What’s the most meaningful or challenging tattoo you’ve ever done, and why?

The upper leg sleeve i did on the tattoo convention in Brussels. It challenged me big time, the hair alone took me 5 hours. The other tattooers where very nice and complimented it a lot, what i needed after 3 days of straight tattooing. And it made me realize, that this is, what i want to do for the rest of my life. Surrounding myself with generous, welcoming and kind people with a quirky and creative mind and also quirky and creative solutions . 

How do you handle the emotional connection between a client and their tattoo?

It depends, sometimes clients read way too much emotion into a really small tattoo, so everything has to be there because everything is meaningful to them. I know the struggle :) so i try to make them understand that although they want it all, we have to figure out a way to make it happen. They are there during the process of designing, so they can give their input and have a better feeling. And after all, when they look in the mirror, at their new tattoo…. Priceless 

What is your process for designing a custom tattoo for a client?

Like i said above. If the project is bigger, clients are usually a bit easier to handle. They know what direction the design should take and then they say, do whatever you want, thats why i chose you. And thats when the fun starts XD

What’s your take on how the art of tattooing has evolved in recent years?

I think its way more accessible than a few years ago. It’s not just bold will hold, its art!! And thats so great! The sheer amount of great artists and styles is overwhelming but great at the same time. 

What advice would you give to someone considering their first tattoo?

Take it easy, not everything you want has to be in one single tattoo. And not every tattoo has to have a meaning. Just have fun with it. It’s art! Let the artist you chose work in their style, because thats what we love!

What are your goals or future projects as a tattoo artist?

I would love to travel more, see the world and getting to know more artists. That would be awesome :)