Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Motel.
Hi Annie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
All my life I have been an artist. I received my BFA from The University of Washington, and two weeks after graduation, I moved to Los Angeles. My first tattoo mentor’s name was Evil Artist, and he gave me lessons in his garage in South Gate. I also trained at a shop in MacArthur Park, and this is where I began my professional career.
In 2017, I opened Little Annie Motel Tattoo Parlor in The Jewelry Manufacturing Building in Downtown Los Angeles.
I am so grateful for my shop, and the opportunities it’s granted me. I have been able to tattoo at conventions all around the world, and even spent a few months in Italy working at Medusa Shop Tattoo Parlour in Palermo, Sicily. Collaboration with all my amazing clients is my favorite part of the job, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I love to travel, it inspires my art. The pandemics travel limitations have been a real drag, but I’m grateful to be able to start visiting my friends in other cities soon. I’d love to go and tattoo with my friend Lex at her shop Sacred Rose Tattoo in Austin, Texas, and my friend Amy who owns Pretty In Ink Electric Tattooing in Oakland, California.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am very inspired by Old Hollywood, The Wild West, and Vampires. These subject matters influence my paintings and tattoos. I like to do fine line, traditional, and black and grey tattoo styles.
Aside from tattooing, I am working on an oil painting series about twins with a heavy American traditional tattoo influence. I also am a filmmaker, and I have made over thirty short films. My latest film, “Vegas Vamps,” will be premiered soon. I’m currently working on a collection of songs called “Vampire Melodies” with accompanying music videos. I’m also working on a book of short stories called “Shankit,” about a small strange fictional Southwest town.
The thing that sets me apart from others, according to my clients, is that I am so comfortable being myself, staying true to my style instead of trends, the creativity and style in my subject matter, my willingness to step outside my boundaries and create art in different forms, and my dedication to my art and clients, making sure they get the tattoos they love. They said that my broad scope of inspiration, style and creative output with the talent, drive and integrity to beautifully share it with the world makes me unique. They also said that I have a good bedside manner, and am not pretentious and bro-y and that they enjoy chatting with me and feel safe. I agree with and am so humbled and blessed by their kind words and statements.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
For me, the meaning of life is to love and create art. When I entered the tattoo industry ten years ago, there was a scarcity of female mentors. Finding an apprenticeship in which I felt safe and respected as an artist was a challenge. After reaching a point in my career where I felt qualified enough to become a mentor, I took on eight women and non-binary people as apprentices to learn the craft of tattooing. Although I am no longer taking any more apprentices, I am proud of the people I trained who have gone on to have successful careers under my tutelage. In such a male-dominated field, it was important to me to give opportunities to women and non-binary people. I think that by sharing my gifts, it creates a world full of more love and most definitely more art.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.littleanniemotel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleanniemotel/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AnnieMotel
- Other: https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/anniemotel
Image Credits
All photos taken by Annie Motel
