Conversations with Mika Lohrenz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mika Lohrenz.  

Mika, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I would have to say it started with my mom. As a very heavily tattooed woman, she was a large inspiration in the development of my interest in the tattoo industry. Growing up in tattoo shops my whole life, it always seemed like something I would eventually fall into, let that be from a collector’s side. Traveling around the world and collecting art from amazing artists, or being an artist myself I always knew I would take my place in line at some point. My older brother started his apprenticeship at our stepdad’s shop down on south broadway in Denver. As most younger siblings. I was my brother’s biggest fan, I truly wanted to do whatever he was doing (looking back now I imagine it was probably insanely annoying for him) he was genuinely my person. 

I would take the bus after school most days down to shop to hang out, clean the shop, draw and really just observe. Doing this for a couple years, I definitely grew a very strong passion for the art of tattooing. Not only the art side of things but also the family mentality that comes from building relationships with these people you see every day. It’s extremely amazing to have a group of people willing to teach you something they’ve spent their whole lives trying to perfect. Being a part of something that is always growing and changing, you can continue to keep learning. 

Unfortunately, my brother ended up passing away pretty quickly after he had been turning out as an artist from his apprenticeship in 2011. His passing definitely motivated my interest in wanting to pursue tattooing as a career. In a real corny way, it seemed like something that would bring me closer to him. Thus, beginning my journey into my apprenticeship. In the beginning, I was still pretty young, I had just dropped out of high school and made working at the tattoo shop my full-time priority. I spent most of the beginning as most people do learning the ins and out of the tattoo industry and more or less taking the brunt of whatever the artist around me tossed my way. 

I feel like being so young in the beginning, there were definitely more times than I’m willing to admit that I didn’t take my learnings as seriously as I should have. For a few I definitely allowed my passion to become backburned to the “fun” of being a young adult. It’s easy to not give yourself the discipline needed to progress in an environment where the only person who can push you forward is you. Fortunately, I was able to see the setback I had made for myself. Manage to see the opportunity I was given, since then I have made it a point to keep pushing forward. 

Fast forward several years to current time. I’ve worked at a couple shops, now landing at Crimson Hilt tattoo on Colfax. Still trying to maintain structure in becoming a better artist. I’ve been honored in meeting so many people from clients to other artists who’ve taught me so much about this trade and myself. I still have so much growth to go, but I’m excited to walk that path and continue to meet more people who share a similar passion that I do. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I feel like there will always be struggles in anything you try to pursue in life, you consistently have to deal with the outside influences of whatever life may throw at you let that be positive or negative while trying to maintain and continue to push yourself forward. I feel like as an artist, it’s a lifestyle that you carry with you always. In most passions, you will more than likely experience a time when you’ve become burnt out and tired of what you do. Those moments can be some of the most challenging, some people break underneath that pressure and may step back from something they’ve always seen themselves doing, sometimes for mental health reasons, or physical health reasons. Others may be able to push through and progress. Art, to me, is like a drug. You’re always chasing the dream. Getting better, progressing more, trying harder. It’s an everlasting learning lesson. That can be a hard pill to swallow for some people, knowing that there will always be someone better than you, someone more advance in a skill you’ve spent so much time trying to obtain. That in itself, to me is an everlasting struggle with in any artist that you will never truly be able to outgrow. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I can’t really say that I am known for anything or that I specialize in much. However, If I had to choose something that I really enjoy tattooing. It would have to been Neotraditional or Anime. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Anime. I’ve grown up watching it as a little kid with my brother. Now being able to apply that into my artwork is definitely a stunning feeling. It satisfies a part of me that is a bubbly person, who enjoys bright colors and nostalgia of my childhood. 

For neotraditional, I really enjoy the color pallets that are typically used. The darker muddier colors. The art designs that people are able to create in this style are remarkable. Still very simplistic, but yet filled with so much detail. I’ve just always loved the way people are able to execute their art and make this style their own. Most of the artists I see, do it so well. I enjoy learning how to draw in this style, eventually being able to seamlessly accomplish it like some of my idols in this industry. 

We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I feel like there really isn’t much surprise to me, I am very transparent. I pride myself in being an honest, open person. In all aspects of my life. I feel like what you see is what you get. Typically, the most surprised reaction that I usually get from people, is that I’m not as intimidating once you get to know me. Apparently, I am not very approachable in my first interactions with people (which probably isn’t great for the career path I have chosen for myself) I often get the response from people “I didn’t think you liked me when I first met you” In reality, I’m just a very socially awkward person. It probably comes off as short or annoyed. But really, I just don’t know what to say most of the time. I like to think that I’m a pretty nice person, I am pretty blunt, and I feel like that can come off as rude sometimes. However, I’m a pretty goofy person. At the shop we all joke around a lot, and typically Jenga off of each other pretty well. Once the ball gets rolling, I quickly become less intimidating. I feel like a pretty decent hand full of people who are heavily tattooed manage to fall into that category of being relatively intimidating to one extent or the other. 

Most people are pretty surprised when they come to the shop and see my station is pretty much all pink and “girly”. Me being more of a tomboy in some ways mostly the way that I carry myself. It definitely seems to shock some people to know that I’m actually (for lack of a better word) super girly. It’s very comforting to be within an industry that for the most part allows you to be whoever you want to be. That satisfies both sides of who I am. A tomboy and girly. 

The most exciting thing people usually enjoy the most about me definitely has to be the fact that I have a pet goat. He is a pigmy goat. His name is Beerus (from dragon ball z super) He’s about 2 years old now. He lives in the house with us, just like our dogs. Everyone gets very ecstatic when they hear that I have 6 pets, one of which being a goat. 

Pricing:

• I charge 150$ an hour
• Shop minimum is 100$

Contact Info:

• Email: tattoos.made.by.mika@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/staynasty_666/?hl=en