David Ritchey, aka Kip, an African-American tattoo artist and mentor from Miramar, is hoping to change the tattoo culture in Tallahassee.
The 34-year-old says the Roman Renaissance plays a major role in his art. An avid drawer since age 7, it wasn’t until Ritchey got his first tattoo that he awakened a cutting-edge vision for a tattoo enterprise.
When he was required to write an essay on why he wanted a tattoo, the 17-year-old Ritchey drew an imitation of Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel painting with a minor enhancement. His hands were incorporated into the drawing. With a couple of scriptures included and passionate reasoning to win over the approval of his Christian mother, he was allowed to get the tattoo. However, the image symbolized not only the creation of mankind, but marked the birth of Ritchey’s vision to create as well.
Ritchey embodies the characteristics of a true Renaissance man as he explains how being a musician and a martial artist is revealed in his tattooing.
Other art forms pour inspiration into his craft, he says.
Ritchey says that jazz music and hip hop culture also spark creativity for his pieces.
However, the inspirations that often resurface in his work weren’t always encouraged; especially early on in his career. The South Florida-based tattoo artist reminisced on the obstacles he faced entering the tattoo industry.
“There weren’t a lot of Black tattoo shop owners. So, because of that, there was a cultural barrier between trying to learn the tattoos, finding ways to express myself, like my culture, versus maybe American traditional [style],” Ritchey said. “I didn’t want to do only bald eagles, pinups and stuff.”
He wanted to be able to relate to an audience that resonated with his art. Instead of conforming to traditionally-styled tattoos, Ritchey created his own lane where he could showcase a style that showcases who he is as an artist.
Lana Williams, who has been one of Ritchey’s clients for four years, says she always chooses him as her artist.
“Something unique about Kip is his ability to take any idea you may have and really bring it to life,” Williams said. “I am most proud of my sleeve that he has done. It represents both of my cultures beautifully.”
After 12 years of thriving independently, Ritchey decided it was time to expand his career. He decided to open a tattoo shop and school in Tallahassee.
In a less-reformed industry, the unconventional artist talks about what concerns prompted his transition from a technician to an owner.
“I know that I have to create a foundation for myself where I will be able to sustain my life,” he said. “There is no retirement. So, what do I do when my hands become brittle and how would I have an income generated?”
Ritchey said that he had to direct his focus to the business aspect.
“With social media, everybody’s doing tattoos. But there’s still a learning curve because there’s not a lot of knowledge out there,” Ritchey said. “You can get a nail license or go to hair school, but there’s not a lot of tattoo schools.”
He said that since tattooing has the potential to make a lot of money, this caused considerable fear in the clientele-based industry and prodded many artists to “gate-keep,” or not share what they’ve learned.
One of Ritchey’s apprentices, Kenny Roberts, says that he was denied opportunities in Jacksonville due to this gate-keeping.
“When I was really motivated to be on it, I was trying to get me an apprenticeship, but nobody was trying to teach nobody anything. They say they’re not doing apprenticeships, but it’s really about who you know. They want to teach who they want to teach,” Roberts said.
Roberts says that Ritchey’s mentorship is equipping him to tattoo every style, but most importantly it provides him the space to develop his own style; especially in an industry with a close-minded atmosphere and limited circulation of tattooing knowledge.
Roberts says this will enable him to excel in his anime-inspired work.
“So if you were to say you want a special piece, anime-wise, I want to be known for bringing those pieces to life. But at the same time if you were to come for a dove or praying hands, I want it to be the same way,” Roberts said.
Amid the recurring trend of shielding information and opportunities, Ritchey says that he wants to change that by widening opportunities for emerging artists to grow.
“Back in the day, it was like, apprenticeship only, and the way you learn as an apprentice, you might spend like three years tracing only and mopping floors. And you don’t get paid for your time and that’s just how it was. But in today’s world, with the age of information, anybody can learn fast. So I want to, like, open that gate up, and I want to teach them like immediately, and help them develop their skill versus put them through some weird initiation for three years, getting Starbucks and Skittles from the gas station, or something like that. I want to see students in here learning. I want to see people in here unlocking their potential and developing what they already have,” Ritchey said.
Coming from a long line of teachers who are all of the women in his family, Ritchey defined teaching as something that he carried with him and knew that as he developed, he wanted to continue this regenerative stream of cultivation.
An Indonesian tattoo shop is an inspiration for the interior design of his studio and school.
“[With] putting plants in the shop, I’m trying to merge nature with tattoos,” he said.
Ritchey says the inspiration of hard rock dominated the traditional tone of American tattoo shops, which can be aggressive.
“I’m looking to relieve tension, to ease stress because going into a tattoo can be stressful if you know that you’re going under the needle. Some people whine, some people cry, some people’s hearts start beating like a marching band,” Ritchey said.
The presence of nature in the shop helps alleviate anxiety and create a comforting experience for the clients and artists.
Ritchey’s serene aesthetic for the interior of his shop redefines what a tattoo shop should look like. Trinity Tattoos is located at 4727 Crawfordville Road, Suite 17 and is expected to open later this year. For more information about Trinity Tattoos, contact Ritchey on Instagram @trinitytattoos850 or trinitytattoosllc@gmail.com.