Nikk Dycha

IA: What’s the name of the shop you work at?

ND: Krol Body Art.

IA: Where is it located?

ND: Sweet Home Chicago, IL.

IA: How long have you been working there?

ND: It’s been a year this month.

IA: Where did you work before that?

ND: Well, I owned my own shop for about 2-3 years and I also worked at Lunchbox Tattoo for 2-3 years.

IA: How long have you been in the tattoo industry?

ND: Since 2003.

IA: Did you work guest spots, apprenticeships…?

ND: I did apprentice for about 9 months. I definitely paid my dues to get into the business at quickly as possible.

IA: How old were you when you got your first tattoo?

ND: I was 18- I waited until I was legal and got it done properly.

IA: What made you decide to get into this business?

ND: Being able to get recognized for what I do.

IA: Explain what you mean by that…

ND: Well, while I was in college I learned a lot about the corporate world. I could have worked as an artist for a big company and gotten paid well, but at the end of the day it’s the company’s name on my work. I wasn’t interested in being apart of that world. I definitely want my name on everything I do.

IA: Where did you go to college?

ND: I went to the American Academy of Art in Chicago. I have my associated in illustration, with a minor in life drawing.

IA: Where do you find your inspiration?

ND: Inspiration is all around you, just open your eyes.

IA: If you had to pick you most inspirational outlet- the one you go to that never fails, what would it be?

ND: Music. It can put me into this mood that drives the creative juices and forces me to visualize images. It’s like reading a book- you create pictures in your mind when you’re reading, right? Music has the same effect on me.

IA: How would you define your tattoo style?

ND: Realistic.

IA: Realistic- such as?

ND: Anything, really. Using natural lines, using as little black as possible (black doesn’t exist in real life, so I try not to use it in my work), color textures, and so on.

IA: What is your favorite part about tattooing?

ND: The artist/client relationship- you never know who you will meet or the personality they bring with them.

IA: Are there any artists you look up to?

ND: Too many to list.

IA: Have you received awards or magazine press for your work?

ND: Yes and yes- I’m not big on bragging about it.

IA: Are you working any upcoming conventions?

ND: None scheduled as of right now. I will most likely attend the Detroit and Chicago conventions, and just about any convention in the Midwest.

IA: What do you like to do in your free time?

ND: Free time? What’s that?

IA: The two shirts you have on our site- bomber girl and zombie Jesus- is there a story behind these?

ND: Not particularly. I did zombie Christ because I just really like zombies. If you think about it, Jesus was the original zombie. The bomber girl, well, who doesn’t like hot pin up girls?

IA: Do you have plans to do more tattoo shirts with us in the future?

ND: Yes, definitely. I have the ideas in my head, and some on paper and I’m just looking for the time to complete them!