Meet Lain Freefall | Tattooer and all ‘round nice gal

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lain Freefall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lain, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
A lot of people don’t know my job is non stop. After a customer has explained their tattoo idea, it’s important to me they understand why, perhaps their tattoo might need to be a certain position or size to ensure a solid tattoo that will age well and last a life time. Once we’ve worked out all the details during a consultation, I then have to draw, this may take some time which I have to fit in between tattooing or down time at home.

On occasion my drawing time requires research. I have to think like the person getting tattooed because… well, some people have some far out ideas that really work and it’ll be fun to see what we can put together. After hours or days of putting a drawing together, it may work out or maybe the person wants to make amendments or change their idea completely. This rarely happens but when it does, it’s the whole process again.

After I’m done tattooing in the studio, I go home and keep working. I have to prepare and draw for the upcoming customers or keep producing art to ensure I keep tattooing. We literally eat, breathe and sleep tattoos.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been tattooing 14 years now (plus 2 years of my apprenticeship). When I started it was a different time and our community was a lot smaller (but very spread out). Even for me, I felt like I barely made it into, what felt like a tribe.

My mentor Tomas Tomas took me on as an apprentice purely based on my “being mental (crazy)” after telling me how tattooing really is not all it was cracked up to be (no sleep, no personal time etc) but I still wanted to do it! An apprenticeship was so hard to come by and this incredible tattooer saw that I was worth a chance.

Tomas worked at Alex Binnie’s Into You in London back then. Honestly, hands down one of the best shops in the industry. It was intimidating but also the best place with lots of memories made there. I was in awe of Alex Binnie. His work was nothing like I’d seen before. His shop housed some of the best tattooers of our time. I had been getting tattooed by Jason Saga at IN2U prior to meeting Tomas. I was in the presence Xed LeHead, Duncan X, Taz; Nikole Lowe and so many more tattooers travelled to visit that shop. In tattooing, our heroes are much more accessible unlike rockstars and celebs. We could walk right in and meet them.

Tomas and Xed LeHead were the only people I’d seen developing this dotwork style. Mixing tribal with sacred geometry, even the neck tattoo I adorn was trial and error. It was a ballsy piece. No one was getting these tattoos back then because it was unheard of.

My apprenticeship wasn’t easy by any means, Tomas put me through the same apprenticeship he went through and even then, I think he had probably taken it a little easier on me from time to time. I respect the process. It wasn’t meant to be easy. I’m dealing with human skin, human emotions.

Later Tomas introduced me to his first shop when he started tattooing in London, Evil from the Needle. It was important to work in a place like EFTN. It was constantly busy with walk in tattoos and you were expected to handle each tattoo no matter what it was. It helped you build speed, patience and progress quickly. Here Dave Bryant watched me like a hawk. He looked over every drawing, every tattoo, taught me how to take apart and put my machines back together. Where Tomas taught me everything he knew, Dave tied it all up and help me build the confidence to take on everything. Over the years, I’ve been so fortunate to have met, worked with and been tattooed by so many tattooers that honestly has made tattooing what it is today. With the Blackwork/dotwork/tribal style I pushed to do more of, it lead me to the US! I met a Oliver Peck back in London and bonded a great friendship! He made me an offer to work at his shop in LA and Dallas telling me I’m good, but I’ll be great by the time I leave. How could I say no?

I’m still learning now. If you feel like you know everything, then what’s the point in living? Tattooing has evolved so much. So it’s important to keep moving with the times. Not just in tattooing but in general. Social media has changed everything. There’s good and there’s bad but it’s better to just keep working and let your work speak for itself.

I’m here to produce good clean work and help people tell their story through tattoos. Equally, life is meant to be lived and since having my daughter 18 years after I had my son, I’m living life quite differently. I’m still trying to find a balance. Tattooing hasn’t been so kind to my body so it’s up to me to make sure I get my gym, BJJ and Muay Thai time in (but also mum guilt is real)!

I’m so fortunate that within my time apprenticing tattooing I was also modeling from time to time (I can’t deny the money was good and I needed extra cash since apprenticeships don’t pay and making time to take on make up gigs since was near impossible) it’s landed me in many tattoo books, magazines, the box of Diesel perfume Loverdose Tattoo, Dr Martens, Adidas for the England Olympics but the most memorable to date is being Star Wars cannon Nayley Frifa! It felt so amazing to represent an Asian character, (a female tattooer no less) in such a huge franchise. We are at a time where I can stand proud of being a Chinese woman and be proud of my career as a tattooer. I’m finally comfortable in my own skin and if I and my life experiences can help other make a difference in the world, well I’d love to put it out there through my work!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I think I’m completely biased but for me it’s the tat shop! Head over to Elm Street Tattoos and you’ll meet array of people and personalities! Beautiful and technical tattoos of all styles well done as well as great conversation. When I’m working, I’m spending anything from 10-14 hours of my day there so I’m always acquainted with places to eat in the area. I’ll get my daily coffee fill from Merits, my go to pizza place is DaLat, their pho in ZaLat is also great! If you want to go for a lovely high end sushi dinner I recommend Uchi!

Take a walk around Dallas Bontanical Gardens and Perot Natural History Museum. There’s also some great spots for thrifting!

Deep Ellum is never short of great shows! Every music genre in great venues! Check out Three Links and Trees to see whose coming to town because I guarantee it’s going to be intimate and so much fun!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m so grateful that Tomas Tomas took a chance on me and gave me an apprenticeship. I honestly wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for him. Equally I’m thankful to Dave Bryant for teaching me all the in between and everything I needed to know about the tools to keep me going. To Oliver Peck for offering me the opportunity to move to the states and believing in me, giving me the freedom to work and travel. My friends and family for constant support and faith in my work. It’s difficult to keep up when you feel like the world is moving so quickly but they keep me grounded and mindful and that’s what we all need.

Instagram: @silveransalt

Linkedin:

Twitter: @lainfreefall

Facebook: @silveransalt

Other: Find me at Elm Street Tattoos in Dallas The Queens Head Tattoo in LA and check my IG for regular dates in London England and across Asia.

Image Credits
Portraits by @ejdelfin_