Certified Artist 2026

Jennifer Lanoy

Realistic Portraiture with Personal Floral Symbolism

Interview

How did your journey into tattooing begin, and what inspired you to pursue it as a career?

Originally, I wanted to pursue a career in fashion design. I studied STD2A (Sciences and Technologies of Design and Applied Arts). However, everything changed when I discovered the TV show Ink Master. It was a real revelation for me. I completely fell in love with the profession, and that moment made me decide that I wanted to become a tattoo artist.

With nine years of experience in the industry, what moments or challenges have shaped you the most as a tattoo artist?

One of the biggest challenges is when other tattoo artists open studios near yours. It pushes you to constantly innovate, question yourself, and improve your work.

I also started taking courses to develop new skills and explore other styles that I liked but hadn’t practiced much before because I was afraid of not being good enough.

You specialize in realistic portraits and floral compositions. How would you describe your artistic identity today?

My artistic identity is quite simple. I create most of my work based on photographic references. If necessary, I combine them with freehand drawing, especially for backgrounds.

Sometimes I also incorporate minimalist elements. It really depends on the project and the style my client is looking for.

What attracts you most to portrait realism, and what emotions do you aim to capture in these tattoos?

What fascinates me most about realism is the precision required to capture movement and bring a portrait to life.

Every detail matters: wrinkles, smiles, and especially the expression in the eyes. These small elements are what give the portrait emotion and realism.

Floral elements often appear in your work. How do they complement your realistic compositions?

I always try to make every tattoo personal to the client. I often ask if they would like to include their birth flower or a flower that has a special meaning to them.

This makes the tattoo more unique and meaningful for the person wearing it.

Can you describe your creative process when designing a custom tattoo?

I always begin by listening to my client — their story, their experiences, and what they want the tattoo to represent.

I then take a photo of the placement on the body and start designing directly on it using the Procreate app. Once the client approves the design, I already have the exact dimensions needed to print the stencil.

What technical aspects are most important to ensure accuracy, depth, and longevity in realistic portraits?

For any realistic portrait, a strong black foundation is essential. After that, I work gradually with grey shading to create depth and smooth transitions.

Before the tattoo session, I usually prepare three versions of the reference image:

• One with higher brightness to identify the darker tones
• One darker to identify the lighter tones
• One with normal exposure

This helps me clearly understand the full range of contrast before tattooing.

How do you adapt your designs to the natural movement and shape of the body?

I always take a photo of the exact placement chosen by the client and design directly on that image using Procreate.

This allows me to ensure that the tattoo flows naturally with the body.

How do you build trust with clients, especially when working on meaningful or memorial portraits?

I have a simple rule in my studio: we speak informally and create a relaxed atmosphere right away. This helps the client feel comfortable.

It’s important to build a good connection and create a space where the client feels at ease sharing their story and ideas.

Looking ahead, what artistic goals would you like to pursue in the coming years?

In the future, I would like to improve my skills in color realism portraits.

My goal is to eventually combine several styles together and develop a more diverse artistic approach.