Conversations with Ian Robertson-Salt

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ian Robertson-Salt.

Hi Ian, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started painting murals in 2011 while earning my Bachelor in Fine Art. I was interested in ways to create art as a form of social engagement and murals were a great way to continue my journey as a painter. I was fortunate enough to have a string of jobs doing mural conservation throughout Los Angeles and Long Beach throughout my 20s which taught me a great deal about color theory, public art engagement and how to paint in various styles and techniques that will hold up in the natural elements. Tattooing had always been an area of interest to me but it was extremely difficult to find a path into the industry. I talked to many tattooers over several years who had apprenticeship programs that were extremely one-sided and it was clear they were trying to take advantage of me. I have heard similar stories time and time again from other people searching for tattoo apprenticeships, and it’s clear that they are hard to find. Eventually, I connected with June Jung who agreed to take me on as an apprentice, and she taught me the foundations of fine-line tattooing. I began my professional career as a tattoo artist in 2020 and it’s been an amazing journey. So far I have tattooed in L.A., New York City, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and this year I plan to go to Toronto, Chicago, and Austin.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like any small business or self-driven creative venture, it has its ups and downs. Starting out and building a client base can be very tricky but social media is a huge resource for artists to grow their business. Having residency at a good tattoo shop is also a key factor in getting your tattoo career off the ground. I’m very grateful to have started out at such an amazing and welcoming shop. I have found that traveling and doing guest spots in other cities has helped grow my client base as well.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in fine-line realism, photorealism, and illustrative styles. Generally, I enjoy art that blends multiple styles into one cohesive composition so I love tattoos that have elements of realism, fine lines, graphic illustration, and geometry. My botanical illustration tattoos are fairly popular but my signature style resembles my paintings and features vibrant and colorful geometric overlays on top of images. Whatever the style of the tattoo I’m doing, my top priorities are giving the client what they want, and creating something that will heal well and last for the long term. My background creating murals in ways that are meant to last already gave me this mindset of prioritizing how the artwork will hold up in the future, and I think that is a very important trait in selecting a tattoo artist.

What does success mean to you?
To me, success would mean having a lifelong career as an artist working in various mediums and being able to travel while doing it. Whether it’s tattooing, public art, or fine art, I want to continue doing all of them for as long as I can.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.anthroe.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/anthroe/
• Other: https://www.junejungart.com/ian

Image Credits
(personal photo) Photo © Tami Lima