Brazen Black And Grey, Illuminating Illustrative Tattoos: Think Before You Ink’s Q&A With Tattoo Artist Mike Miller
By Sidra Lackey
Michael “Mike” Miller knew he wanted tattoos at a young age after being influenced by the tattoo culture in entertainment growing up in Ohio, as well as his tattooed friends. He has been drawing all his life and evolved from being a self-taught artist, to an accomplished artist. His artwork has not only gained celebrity collectors and admirers but his art has recently been showcased at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland. He decided to give tattooing a try since he was already an artist into tattoos. As a tattoo artist, he has an illustrative background and his strong suit is black and grey tattoos. His talent in the tattoo world has amassed him celebrity clientele too. He can be found at Green Light Tattoos and Art Gallery — adjacent to musician Machine Gun Kelly’s 27 Club Coffee — in The Flats neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Green Light Tattoos may be green in the fact that the studio opened just last year — but between the three tattoo artists/owners: Miller, his brother Marcus Miller @tattoomill and partner Derrick Black @d_tattoo — there is over 30 years of tattooing experience between them.
Think Before You Ink had the pleasure of picking Mike’s brain for an enlightening interview:
THINK BEFORE YOU INK: Where did you grow up? And did that have an impact on you becoming a tattoo artist? (ex: Were you around tattoo culture via your family / friends / people in your neighborhood?)
MIKE MILLER: “I grew up in Shaker Heights, OH. It’s a suburb in Cleveland. For some reason I knew I wanted tattoos at a young age. I was about 11 or 12. I think I was influenced by guys I thought were/looked cool like Allen Iverson for example. Also probably why I rocked cornrows too haha. But yea, just influenced by the culture in general, athletes and entertainers. Then around sophomore year of high school, a bunch of my friends started getting tattoos so that definitely compelled me to finally go for it.”
TBYI: How long have you been a tattoo artist?
MM: “13 years.”
TBYI: Did you choose to be a tattoo artist or did tattooing choose you? (ex: did you always want to be an artist or did you fall into it?)
MM: “I’d say it chose me. I’ve been drawing all my life, but never thought to make a career out of my art… not since I was a child at least. But after some trials and errors in life, I realized I didn’t want to work for anyone. And already being an artist who was into tattoos, I figured it’d be wise to give it a try.”
TBYI: Did you have a tattoo apprenticeship or were you self-taught?
MM: “Apprenticeship.”
TBYI: Who are the tattoo artists you look up to or who inspires you? And why?
MM: “There are so many, but I’d have to say Nikko Hurtado was one of the first huge inspirations to me as a tattooer. Though our styles are completely different, he was the first artist that I became aware of who pushed the limits of what can be done on skin. After discovering his work I realized that there are many levels to this craft, and there are almost no bounds.”
TBYI: Do you think tattoo artist’s tattoos should be regarded as art, even if the tattooist doesn’t have a formal art background? Why or why not?
MM: “Yes, regardless of the tattooer's background. It’s still an art form and art is the product of the work. However, I do feel one shouldn’t tattoo if they aren’t artistically inclined.”
TBYI: What is your style specialty when it comes to tattooing? Is there a style you feel you want to get better at?
MM: “Illustrative, black and grey. I do enjoy realism but because of my illustrative background it always seems to kind of have that feel. I’d say I’d like to get better with realism.”
TBYI: What types of tattoos do you enjoy and dislike doing most?
MM: “Full color pieces. I do love the outcome most times, but the process is a bit messier and definitely more time consuming. Not the most enjoyable at times.”
TBYI: How do you collaborate with a client on a piece who has no / little idea what they want? Do you prefer that or do you prefer if a client already has a set idea on a piece?
MM: “I typically ask how open they are to ideas/is there anything off limits. I may ask what they’re into. Although a lot of the time, people who are fans of my art (paintings) trust me to just do whatever I feel — and will let me put an original piece of my own art on them — which is always fun. If that’s the case, I prefer that. But if it’s a super indecisive person, I’d rather have a client with a set idea. So it all depends, I guess.”
TBYI: What are your thoughts on the European REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulations that ban the use of pigments blue 15 and green 7 due to health concerns? Do you think the American tattoo industry can face a similar fate with banned inks? Are you and your studio prepared if that happens?
MM: “I’m not very familiar with these bans but we’re mostly a black and grey shop so I don’t think we’d be too affected.”
TBYI: Do you have any advice for tattoo artists in training or those just thinking about entering the tattoo industry as a tattoo artist?
MM: “Focus on the work FIRST (not the money/business) and never stop trying to improve.”
TBYI: As a Black tattoo artist, what are some of the hurdles you've had to overcome in becoming a tattoo artist in a still mostly White dominated industry? With the rise of Black tattoo artists in the mainstream over the past decade due to the debut of the 2013 tattoo reality show Black Ink Crew — do you think this movement of seeing more Black artists will keep growing within the tattoo industry? Why or why not?
MM: “Fortunately, I haven’t had many hurdles because the shop I apprenticed at was Black owned, so they took me right in. Also, it’s where I got all my tattoos from prior to my career as an artist, so it was all love. I definitely think brown artists will continue to rise and grow with the industry because it’s already happening. I don’t see it stopping or slowing down. It’s a huge part of our culture.”
TBYI: Your tattoo studio Green Light Tattoos seems to have a neat green theme. What is the significance?
MM: “The green theme came after the name. “Green Light” came in the midst of a group chat with my co-owners where we were brainstorming shop name ideas. I thought of coming up with something that has nothing to do with tattoos. Sort of like the word “Apple” has nothing to do with technology. Or the word “Nike” which isn’t even a thing. So I looked at the most major, successful brands and stole from their model. I happened to be driving during this convo and the first thing I saw was a green light. I said it very nonchalantly, “it could be anything, like… green light.” And they instantly loved it. It gained more significance after the naming. Green lights not only tell you to go, but also to keep going, which is a big mantra of mine and some of the guys around me. Also, it’s something everyone will likely see if they leave their home, a green light, so it’s kind of psychological. Something everyone recognizes and can identify with. It’s usually what one is waiting for, the green light, their chance to go. Literally and metaphorically. Also, it’s a great color. It’s associated with money/fortune, which I think we all can appreciate. So yea, there’s actually a lot to the name/theme haha.”
TBYI: Who are the other tattoo artists who work alongside you? How many years have they been tattooing? What is their style specialty?
MM: “Marcus Miller who’s my blood brother and Derrick Black who’s a partner of ours that we linked with at the previous shop we worked at. Marcus started tattooing about 6-8 months after me, so about 12 years. Derrick I believe it’s been close to 10 for him. They both specialize in black and grey realism, but we’re all pretty versatile artists.”
TBYI: Also, your tattoo studio is an art gallery as well. Can you talk a bit about the art side of it — what type of art do you create? Where does the inspiration for the art come from?
MM: “Well, back to my point earlier about tattooing and art going hand in hand, I think it’s necessary to have artistic abilities beyond tattooing in order to do this craft any justice. I began to deeper explore my artistry a few years after I began tattooing, and painting became the preferred medium. I create art with no rules/bounds. I want to birth a new style but of course I’m influenced by the greats who came before me. My psychedelic experiences have played a huge role in how and what I create, but I’m simply inspired by life.”
You can follow Mike on IG @mikexart @greenlighttattoosandartgallery
And make sure to check out his eye-popping artwork on his website: