Talisman

We are Chennai’s first professional tattoo artists

In the Indian tattoo business there are no certifying bodies. So a pro is someone who has the technique and experience to consistently produce quality tattoos.

We (Amar and Nisha) were drilled in proper tattooing technique by masters of the art, from abroad. We then spent 3.5 years gaining the experience we needed to become professionals. We did this at Irezumi (on College Road), thus making it Chennai’s first professional tattoo studio.

We started Talisman for our community of tattoo-lovers

In our profession, news travels best by word-of-mouth. While at Irezumi, clients who appreciated our work told their friends and soon a community of tattoo aficionados evolved. We started Talisman to do justice to this community.

By cutting down on our overheads, we’ve been able to create the quality tattoos we’re known for, but at competitive prices.

Nisha

“The first tattoo I worked on was a dragon. It was MASSIVE! It covered my client’s entire back and took me 3 days to finish … working six hours a day. I still remember wanting to run away because it was such hard work … lol. But I hung in there and it came out beautifully. And now I’m always hoping a client asks for a large tattoo!”

“Helping a client express emotion … I guess at the end of the day, that’s what it is about tattooing that I enjoy. The better I am … the better the tattoo is … the clearer the expression.”

“It’s challenging being Chennai’s first professional female tattoo artist, but I think it’s great that at Talisman we can give women this choice. It makes tattoos accessible to women who would have otherwise been reluctant.”

Nisha’s portfolio

Amar

“I had no idea I’d end up being a tattoo artist. I had just finished studying to be an interior designer when the opportunity came up. And I never looked back.”

“The world seems to melt away when I’m working on a tattoo. Nothing else seems to matter. This is something I hope to pass on to my students. There’s no describing the feeling…”

“You can’t afford to make a mistake … that’s the thing about tattooing. You’ve gotta be spot on 100% of the time. You don’t get a 2nd chance. And that’s such challenge.”

Amar’s portfolio