In the world of tattooing, where every design etches a story onto the canvas of one’s skin, there exists an artist who dives deep into the realms of the sea for inspiration.
Lau Mestre, a tattoo artist with a penchant for maritime themes, weaves intricate tales of oceanic wonder with her delicate and detailed work. From the sandy shores of Mallorca to the bustling streets of Prague, Lau’s journey as a tattoo artist has been as adventurous as the creatures she brings to life on her clients’ bodies.
Tattoo artist Lau Mestre
Tattoo artist Lau Mestre
Describe how your style developed. What particular aspects would you highlight in your work?
Like the majority of tattoo artists, I took my first steps with simpler designs, and when I felt confident enough, I started to do more realistic pieces. I have always done tattoos related to nature like animals, flowers, and landscapes. However, after a while, I started just doing what I enjoyed most: sea animals! I would say that my tattoos are very delicate, and despite their size, they are very detailed.
Tattoo artist Lau Mestre
Your portfolio is filled with maritime themes. Why did you choose this particular theme for your tattoos?
I was born and raised in Mallorca, Balearic Islands, so I have always been in touch with the sea. Every time anybody asked me for a sea tattoo, I was very excited, so much so that I decided to specialize in marine tattoos.
Tattoo artist Lau Mestre
What is the smallest tattoo you’ve done? Tell us about this piece.
It was a 3-centimeter killer whale that I did for a girl in Prague.
Judging by your Instagram, you’re always on the move. How much do you travel as a tattoo artist?
I would say that I spend more time traveling and participating in conventions and guesting than being settled in a studio. Last year, I tattooed in 10 countries and multiple places like Lyon, Zurich, Budapest, Rotterdam, Brussels, Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon, Mallorca, Ibiza, etc. That is the reason I haven’t opened my own tattoo shop yet.
Tattoo artist Lau Mestre
Have you won any awards?
I have participated in a few tattoo conventions, but I haven’t won any awards. But it is not relevant to me because normally judges in tattoo conventions recognize bigger pieces.
Tattoo artist Lau Mestre
Do you have favorite tattoos, clients, projects, or perhaps some unusual stories in your career?
I enjoy the most when people ask me to do a whole arm of sea animals, so I can create a composition with shells, starfishes, corals, at the bottom, seahorses, octopuses, in the middle, and turtles, rays, whales, sharks, at the top, so it looks like an ocean full of life.
Tattoo artist Lau Mestre
What is the most important aspect of being a tattoo artist for you? What goals do you set for yourself? Share your creative plans for the near future.
I think that the most important aspect for me is that, as a tattoo artist, I can travel so much to different places and meet people from everywhere around the world. Also, that makes me learn from different studios and helps me to find more precisely what I want for my future ideal tattoo shop. Someday when I plan to settle, I would like to open my own one, and I believe that when I do, I will have accumulated a lot of ideas! But for now, I plan to be around different places in Spain like Madrid, Barcelona, Mallorca, and the Canary Islands.
