JOSHUA NORDSTROM OPENED Deft Tattoo Studio in Kingsford in 2013. Appointments for now have to be booked six to eight months in advance, he said. (Jim Paul/Daily News photo)
KINGSFORD — When Joshua Nordstrom was looking for a name for his tattoo studio, he turned to the dictionary and thesaurus.
“I was looking for something that was not already taken and I did not want to copy someone else, so I looked for a long time,” Nordstrom said. “Finally I found ‘Deft’ — it means masterful, steady-handed or good at your craft.”
Nordstrom said he was always drawn to art. As a child, his favorite was comic book art. Nordstrom remembers back then seeing someone with a lot of tattoos and he said he was instantly interested.
Nordstrom has been tattooing for 20 years. He started his career as an apprentice in Arizona, learning through trial and error. Nordstrom still remembers the first tattoo he ever did, Lady Luck with a pair of dice. He jokes it couldn’t have gone that bad, as he still talks to the person who has it.
Nordstrom went out on his own with Deft Tattoo Studio in 2013. That decision worked well for him, as he has a long list of satisfied clients and is currently booking appointments six to eight months in advance.
DEFT TATTOO STUDIO is at 1227 W. Breen Ave. in Kingsford. (Jim Paul/Daily News photo)
Nordstrom said that while demand has leveled off recently, he saw tattoos become exponentially more popular around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic as more people sought their own piece of art.
He said some people, especially in the Upper Midwest, still have negative misconceptions about those who do tattoos or get tattoos. “The artists are just regular artists trying to make a living,” Nordstrom said, “and the people getting them just enjoy art.”
When it comes to styles, Nordstrom has several he can do to tailor for each client.
“The people getting the tattoos kind of dictate what my style is versus my dictating it,” Nordstrom said. “It is ultimately what they want.”
Nordstrom enjoys doing American traditional-style tattoos, characterized by bold, clean lines, limited colors and iconic imagery.
He also can do Japanese traditional tattoos, a highly stylized art form that features bold, vibrant colors, intricate linework and designs rooted in Japanese folklore, mythology and nature, often covering large areas of the body.
However, Nordstrom said he is best known for black and grey tattoos. This style uses only shades of black ink to create images and designs, focusing on realistic and detailed shading to achieve a three-dimensional effect without color.
The most difficult tattoos to do, according to Nordstrom, are the realistic type.
“Anything that looks real is the hardest to duplicate on skin, just because there are limitations to how much damage you can do to the skin at a time,” Nordstom said.
Another difficult tattoo to do is anything in the throat area, as the skin is so thin it is uncomfortable for both the person getting and giving the tattoo.
Customer worried about the pain can get a numbing spray, but it has to be applied an hour before starting to give it time to work, he said.
Clean lines and smooth shading are the characteristics of a great tattoo and will create a look that will hold up for 30 to 40 years, Nordstrom said.
Creating that bold look usually begins with an idea from the customer or some pictures from the internet, Nordstrom said. He then will text ideas back and forth before finalizing the design the morning of the appointment, creating something unique for the customer.
“We just keep reworking it, making sure that is what they want and making sure the customer actually wants a tattoo and that they are 100% certain in their decision,” Nordstrom said. “Some people can be a little hesitant but usually by the time we sit down together and hash everything out, they are confident they want it.”
Nordstrom’s advice when getting a tattoo, especially for the first time, is to research the artist rather than taking someone’s word for it.
“A friend will get a lettering tattoo from someone and it looks great, so they go to them for a dog portrait or something that is beyond their ability or skill level and end up with something they are not happy with,” Nordstrom said.
While there are few tattoos Nordstrom will not do, those off the list include gang affiliations or hate groups.
He also does not like to tattoo someone younger than 18.
“I have found over the decades of tattooing that people are not done growing when they are young,” Nordstrom said. “You can put a tattoo at 16 in the perfect spot and by the time they are 25 what was a tattoo on their bicep is now a tattoo on their tricep or it is crooked.”
Nordstrom added he will tattoo someone’s face but only if they already have a lot of tattoos so they know where they are in life and can be sure of the decision.
“Even hand tattoos, even though they are super acceptable, you still have to use a little bit of restraint and caution,” Nordstrom said. “Young people can make permanent decisions that will affect the rest of their lives and not really think about the consequences.”
Health and safety are top priorities at Deft Tattoo Studio. Nordstrom said he works with 100% disposable items, fresh needles every time and sterilized ink and the studio is wiped down like a hospital operating room between each customer.
Nordstrom does not consider himself in competition with other tattoo artists, adding the area has some very good artists. In fact, Nordstrom said he communicates with other artists around the world, keeping each other advised on new techniques and technologies.
“I’m just trying to do the best tattoos that I can do, and my focus is really on just giving people the best I can every day, versus trying to worry about what other artists are doing in the area,” Nordstrom said.
Although Deft Tattoo Studio is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, tattoos are done by appointment only. Call 866-234-9493 for information.
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