Today we’d like to introduce you to Hans Kook.
Hi Hans, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a 26-year-old tattoo artist, and I’ve been tattooing for five years now. Honestly, I never imagined myself becoming a professional tattoo artist. When I first started, I had no idea what my future would look like.
I’m originally from Colombia and have been living in Jacksonville, FL, since 2015 where I finished high school at Wolfson High. Still unsure of what I wanted to do with my life, I worked a string of different jobs, construction electrician, fast food cook, delivery driver, front desk at a gym, just to name a few.
Around 2020, a friend and I bought a tattoo machine just to have something to do in our free time. We started practicing on oranges, bananas, fake tattoo skin, anything cheap enough to be worth practicing on. What I didn’t expect was to fall in love with tattooing the way I did. That love sent me down a rabbit hole of YouTube tutorials, basically around the clock. I practiced on myself, friends, my sister, my dad, and anyone willing to trust me with a needle. All the while, I was working a night shift from 10pm to 6am and doing deliveries on my off time, just to afford the materials I needed.
I tattooed out of my house for about nine months. It was during that time that I met my then-girlfriend, now fiancée, Ketsia. Once we started dating, she became my right hand in everything. Eventually, we found a studio that was hiring, Maddiel’s Tattoo, and I reached out to ask if they needed an apprentice. Maddiel welcomed me into his shop, and it turned out to be the only shop I ever worked at. I spent about two to three years there and learned so much from my coworkers; a special shout-out to Maddiel, Xavier, Omar and Aldo.
In the beginning, I tattooed whatever style came my way. It didn’t matter what it was, I just wanted to tattoo and keep practicing. Eventually, I started slowing down and relearning the basics: line work, shading, packing. I noticed that a lot of tattoos, once healed, looked “bulky” instead of clean, so I started focusing more on fine line work, chasing that perfect, clean line.
Some coworkers and clients encouraged me to branch out into color, traditional, and other styles. But here’s a piece of advice I’d give anyone entering the tattoo industry: if you try to do everything, you end up doing nothing. I’m not knocking artists who love doing it all, but for me, specializing was what made the difference. I wanted people to come to me because I was good at something specific.
So I leaned all the way into fine line and micro-realism, since that was the style I loved most. About three years into my career, one of my Instagram videos went viral, and it brought in a much larger clientele. My work kept improving, my schedule kept filling up and eventually, Ketsia and I decided to open our own shop, Just a Scratch Tattoo Studio. It was a huge, intimidating step, especially since neither of us knew much about running a business. Ketsia then became the full-time business operations and marketing director for Tatthans, my art and business name.
We kept the shop open for about a year. During that time, I gave my life to Christ and grew closer to my faith. Once we were saved, we realized just how impulsive opening the shop had been, and that it simply wasn’t the right time. Closing it felt like a huge step backward in the moment, but trusting in the Lord, we made the decision and looking back now, it was absolutely the right one. We learned a lot from that season and grew a lot as people and as a team. Eventually, we found an excellent private studio, a solo suite that was the perfect fit for me and my work. And that’s where I’m at today, still growing, still learning.
My business keeps growing, and we’re looking ahead to expanding even further through classes, merch, and more. It’s been an eventful five years, and I’m ready for everything my career still has in store.
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?
It hasn’t been, and I’m sure there will be more rocky stretches ahead, that’s just part of it. There have been struggles like losing clients, moving between shops, closing my own shop, slow tattoo seasons, and last-minute cancellations. But alongside the hard moments come the amazing ones too like great clients, constantly learning new things, incredible experiences. Probably my favorite part is getting to know so many different stories through my clients. It’s a great feeling.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in fine line and micro-realism tattoos, only black and grey, that’s what I’m best known for. I’d also say I’m known for showing my faith through my work and the tattoos I create.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I wouldn’t be where I am now if it weren’t for Jesus, He’s the true owner of this business, and I’m just trying to steward it well. I also want to thank my fiancée, a wonderful, Godly woman who is truly the brains behind Tatthans. Another mention goes to my dad and sister for their support in the beginning, and to all my clients who have been with me since day one. I can’t wait to see what’s ahead.
Pricing:
- My minimum starts at $150
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tatthans
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tatthans
